what's the story with antipsychotics and tardive dyskinesia?

[barbimay]

Okay, so now I have met the head of the lung transplant team, and am feeling very anxious about the prospect of a transplant. As I am anxious I read about various meds. Apparently atypical antipsychotics are also given for anxiety and depression because they act quickly...then I read about the horrors of tardive dyskenisia...scaRY!
aNYONE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE?

[gypsylee]

Hey Barb :)

The first psychiatrist I ever saw (in the early 90s) put me on a cocktail of meds, including old-school anti-psychotics. I turned into a total zombie and after about 6 months my eyeballs started to involuntarily roll upwards. I'm guessing this was a form of Tardive Dyskenisia and it was extremely scary. My mother decided enough is enough, and found a new psych (who I still see now). He took me off everything the other guy prescribed (apart from Xanax) and started again.

The atypical anti-psychotics do the same kind of thing, which is why in your other post I said Zyprexa does help with anxiety but it has a lot of side-effects, including twitchiness. That was after only a few weeks but I reckon the twitchiness is related to Tardive Dyskenisia. They do work fast but so do benzos, and you don't get that nasty stuff with benzos (in my experience anyway).

I've been on a heap of different psych meds and the anti-psychotics (old and new) have had the worst side effects in my opinion. I've stopped taking the Zyprexa regularly and just saved it for extreme episodes of anxiety. I'd rather stick with SSRIs and benzos.

All the best,
Gypsy x

[barbimay]

As always thank you Gypsy. Personally I can't understand how benzo's get such a bad wrap from the docs but antipsychotics don't.
Cheers:)

[Anne1221]

Here's an example of why benzos get a bad wrap: Some people can get addicted or dependent on them. Others don't.
Gypsy can tell you more. For example, she has had some issues with them but I haven't. Of course, I have my own person addiction.
I love all things sweet. As my Psychiatrist tells me, you would cross enemy lines to get to some Oreos. True!

[Boo Bass]

Hi Anne

Benzos are a mystery to me. They have been demonized in England. Some people take for one month then need to raise the dosage to get the same effect (addiction). Others like yourself can take for 12 years effective at same dose

[Dahila]

Benzos are life savers for me, I am on them for ages for decades, I have anxiety from early childhood caused by traumatic expierences. I tried to be off and it worked then I went back, Maturity brought the awareness, and I am very careful now. I am on the same dose of clonazepam for I think it is like 5 years or so. Never needed to up it. the smallest dose.
I tried not to take it, or forgot to take, and always i ended in panic attack. So for the year I had not have panic attack, It is good, one small dose keeps me calm. I would rather keep addiction to my small does of benzo, my safety blanket that the other additions I quit long time ago.
One of our members is on xanax for 18 years and he never upped it either.......... England, yeah there is a lot of things demonized, and a lot that need the attention is seeped under the rag..

[barbimay]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have come across two schools of thought...One doctor (GP here in Australia, or Primary care physician overseas), believes that ativan, given my health issues, is better tolerated and easier to get off than taking something like abilify. He hasn't had a patient have serious problems stopping it, but has had patients have trouble coming off abilify. On the other hand a psychiatrist I visited thinks abilify (he didnt prescribe this for me) is better than ativan for long term use and can be stopped easier than ativan! Confused! Dahila I think my doctor thinks along your lines. He says that given the seriousness and complexity of my health problems, getting addicted to ativan is the least of my problems!

[Boo Bass]

Addictions arent the end of the world. You hear about cocaine and heroin addicts holdhng down high pressure jobs. Not to mention tons of alcoholics.

When the time comes, any addiction can be broken with the will and the guidance.

Whatever keeps you functioning is the right course.

[barbimay]

Thank you Boo Bass, you have a point. I usually like to do things naturally but things are stacking up. I hope things are better for you.

[Boo Bass]

Hi barbimay

Thanks for your nice reply.

I hope you too get through your current challenge OK

Don't forget "And this too shall pass."

It always does if we let it

BB

[barbimay]

Thanks for the encouraging words Boo Bass.
In the next 2 months I hope that lung meds kick in because I really do want to avoid having a permanent iv line put in to administer meds 24/7 via a pump, or a lung transplant. Either way, you are right, this too shall pass: everything in life does pass.
Take Care
Barbara :D

[barbimay]

Thanks Anne 1221
I am glad the benzo's keep working for you. I can relate to your "addiction"..... I love sweets, especially anything with custard, and LOVE peppermint chocolate! (or chocolate in general!).

[Boo Bass]

Hi Barbara

On another forum nomorepanic is a guy calle panic down under. His hobby is researching psychotropic drugs. He knows a lot. He had a lung removed. Might be worth your while joining. He is kinda arrogant but helpful.

BB

[barbimay]

Thanks Boo Bass
I believe panic down under had a few posts here too

[gypsylee]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have come across two schools of thought...One doctor (GP here in Australia, or Primary care physician overseas), believes that ativan, given my health issues, is better tolerated and easier to get off than taking something like abilify. He hasn't had a patient have serious problems stopping it, but has had patients have trouble coming off abilify. On the other hand a psychiatrist I visited thinks abilify (he didnt prescribe this for me) is better than ativan for long term use and can be stopped easier than ativan! Confused! Dahila I think my doctor thinks along your lines. He says that given the seriousness and complexity of my health problems, getting addicted to ativan is the least of my problems!

Interesting - even the professionals have different opinions. Benzos are addictive but anti-psychotics make you feel horrible after a while. None of them are as potent as alcohol though so I always tell myself I'm doing ok if I'm not drinking.

[Two One]

The reason antipsychotics are known to cause movement disorders is because they affect dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for movement among many other things. Antipsychotics - both typical and atypical tend to act as dopamine antagonists which blocks the effect of dopamine on certain receptors. Some antipsychotics are partial dopamine agonists (increasing dopamine activity). Regardless of the mechanism of action, modulation of dopamine in the long-term can affect movement. Antipsychotics can provide reduced feelings of anxiety, symptoms of psychosis, etc. however in the long term it can affect an individual's movement. The best use of antipsychotics to treat anxiety is typically when they are used to augment the effects of SSRIs. However, it is not advisable for patients who are not suffering from psychosis to take antipsychotics as long-term treatment.

In regards to benzodiazepines: they are highly effective in the treatment of severe, acute anxiety but the reason they get such a horrible reputation is because of the addiction/dependence risk. However one statistic that most psychiatrists and pharmacists will not share with you is that most of the individuals addicted to benzodiazepines are also addicted to other central nervous system depressants such as opioids or alcohol. Benzodiazepine addiction almost always occurs as a result of cross-tolerance. It is rare for someone who has a diagnosable anxiety disorder to become addicted to benzos alone. That is why there are quite a few posters on here that have taken them for several years with no ill effects. Myself included. I've been on 0.5 mg for Klonopin for three years, and there is no sign of addiction or dependence. I use it on an as needed basis and it helps every time.

I hope I was helpful.

[Dahila]

Two one thanks for the post I am on 0.5 Klonoping aka clonazepam for at least 5 years and do not need to up my dose, In my situation it is the medication that does not interfere with others pill I have to take . ;) Nice to see you posting again:)

[Ponder]

Bares keeping in mind that the term addiction is another word for dependency. Many of these drugs keep individuals dependent on the chemicals they are taking as well as make them predestined for the taking of others; typically to counter the long term side effects which manifest as physical illness. Of course it all comes down to the lessor to two evils. End result is that indeed many individuals taking medicines of whatever sort for whatever reason end up dependent on quite a variety of drugs.

If it helps to avoid pain without creating more discomfort then that's got to be a good thing. I guess it's more a case at where people are at and what your willing to live with.

[Dahila]

It is very individual D. After such long life with anxiety, I can not do without a little bit of meds. Do you think I like it , No. I hate taking my BP meds and my Metformin but it is is a must .............I wish I had not taken anything...