Antipsychotics Do Help Many With Schizophrenia

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Unfortunately, antipsychotics are all about control. The patient's well being is often not a priority. The vast majority of antipsychotics in use today block dopamine, rendering users parkinsonian, meek and subdued.
If a patient appears calm, less aggressive and compliant on the outside, that doesn't imply better functioning or well being. Antipsychotics cause immense psychological torment that can be understood only by their users, and unfortunately, patients refusing anti psychotics criticized for their so-called 'lack of desire to get better'. What a shame. There are a zillion new compounds out there that can dramatically improve the lives of mentally ill people, but, people with vested interests are not up for developing them.

Jash121 of MA 3:39AM May 23, 2012

I would like to know how the term 'aggressive' is being defined in this article, where the claim is that people given antipsychotic medications are 'less aggressive' than those given placedo. People 'diagnosed' with schizophrenia aren't typically aggressive. Antipsychotic medications are powerfully sedating, so perhaps the term 'aggressive' is being used in place of a person having enough energy and spirit due to not being drugged, to protest the care being given or forced upon them. These medications have serious long-term side effects, some which cannot be reversed, yet no alternatives to supposed 'necessary' medications are being offered people who find themselves in the mental health system. In my opinion, medications should be a last resort.

not buying it of MA 10:19AM May 08, 2012

A patient,victim speaks.
There are two kinds of antipsychotics the 50 year old tried and tested inexpensive *typical* antipsychotics like Thorazine,and the newer so-called *atypicals* like Risperdal,Seroquel,Zyprexa.
These drugs are lifesavers for those with delusional mental illness which is only 3 percent of the population.
The saga of the so called *atypical antipsychotics* is one of incredible profit.Eli Lilly made $65 BILLION on Zyprexa franchise.
Described as *the most successful drug in the history of neuroscience* the drugs at $12 pill are used by states to medicate deinstitutionalized mental patients to keep them out of the $500 day hospitals (*Viva Zyprexa* Lilly sales rep slogan).
There is a whole underclass block of our society,including children in foster care that are the market for these drugs,but have little voice of protest if harmed by them.I am an exception,I got diabetes from Zyprexa as an off-label treatment for PTSD and I am not a mentally challenged victim so I post.
--Daniel Haszard - FMI http://www.zyprexa-victims.com

Daniel Haszard of ME 10:23AM May 03, 2012