Doctors: Anti-psychotic meds overused for dementia, kids

The American Psychiatric Association has raised (not so new) concerns about over prescribed and questionable uses of anti-psychotic medications.

They are launching a campaign for awareness.

Many concerns have been discussed already about the use of anti-psychotic medications, especially in children.

Some people think these medications, in some cases, actually cause the problem to get worse or even cause other psychotic to display.

Anti-psychotic medications should not be the first treatments doctors or patients think of when dealing with dementia in an elderly person, behavior problems in a child or insomnia in an adult, a leading group of psychiatrists says in a new statement.

The American Psychiatric Association's (APA) new list of questionable uses of anti-psychotic medications is part of a broader campaign to educate patients and doctors about unneeded and possibly harmful medical treatments and tests. The campaign is called Choosing Wisely, and so far more than 50 medical groups have chimed in with lists of common practices that patients and doctors should question — everything from ordering too-frequent colonoscopies to using antibiotics for colds.

The latest list focuses on an area that has been especially controversial: the potential misuse of anti-psychotic medications. These medications include older drugs traditionally used for conditions such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. But newer types, called atypical anti-psychotics, have been more widely used for patients ranging from unruly nursing home residents to children with with aggressive behaviors or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. That's despite growing concerns about misuse and side effects.

Big problem here.

Who is *really* benefiting more ---- the patients or the monopolies ?

Could unqualified specialists be causing more trouble than they would be helping ?

Long term effects are generational it seems.


Doctors: Anti-psychotic meds overused for dementia, kids

*or* ?

reply to post by xuenchen


It's about time, wouldn't ya think???

Is it a wonder that the media never mentions the dangers of taking this crap when one of em goes postal? Think about it! The shooter in DC, on psych drugs! But hey, when the MSM makes over 2 Billion dollars a year advertising these so called meds for Big Pharm, I guess profits trumps telling the truth???

This is a subject that hits me real close. I was put on these bull snip drugs for over five years and let me tell you, I could write some horror stories that would put Clive Barker to shame, with some of the thoughts and ideas that ran rampant in my head while I was taking these poisons!

One thing in common that all of these shooter have had in common???? They were all taking Big Pharms magic pills!!!!

reply to post by xuenchen


These drugs are extremely powerful and dispensed way too often. That said they do have a use.

This issue impacted someone very close to me. They had dementia which progressed extremely quickly and they went from being a sweet loving person to completely out of control, abusive and almost violent. These drugs added a few years of livable life for this person. I know this as I was there and was grateful for the time it provided.

reply to post by xuenchen

At this point, the coincidence of antidepressants and antipsychotics being a factor in seemingly inexplicable violent outbursts of any kind is simply undeniable.

The rate of there prescription in the general population is indefensible and our own doctors admit that they simply do not know how they work.

I realize that people take herbs and other drugs which are approved for use with similar levels of ignorance as to the exact function of the medication but, to give these brand new drugs which have the ability to significantly alter brain chemistry is beyond the pale. And to give them to children? How is this different than feeding a baby methadone to get it to stop crying other than the baby dies when you do that. It represents the same level of negligence.

The only ones that should be prescribing any anti-psychotic or antidepressant meds are people who specialize in these. A GP is not adequately trained in this most times. Some may have studied the basis of the medicines, but if they did they could tell a person the problems they are having with their diet. Most of these conditions can be alleviated by minor changes in diet. These changes can adjust the glutamate levels in the brain. Diet can also adjust the breakdown of tyramines or adjust how these chemicals can be used by the brain. Moderation is crucial but a person needs to know how to moderate, some foods that seem unrelated are actually related. Too many free glutamate can endanger cells ability to use energy and communicate.

I can go on and on but it gets more technical. Eat more natural foods but also have a hot dog once in the while or a pastrami sandwich. Eat some cream of wheat for breakfast once a week. Instead of regular bread, eat some sourdough breads containing a little wholegrain Rye.

An "awareness campaign", eh? Coming from the same people who pushed all these drugs into mainstream psychiatry in the first place?

Sounds fishy to me. Like what they do with cancer, they "raise awareness". Basically they rile everyone into an emotional frenzy--a state in which they're more likely to open their wallets--and don't substantively address what's causing the epidemic, to speak nothing of seriously seeking a cure (which is probably impossible anyway, considering that everything we put into our bodies is poison... and they all know that).

$$$

When a person any age is put on these drugs they should be monitored for adverse reactions. What can help one person can make another go insane. It happened to me. Even psychiatrists miss things that's why GPs should not be allowed to prescribe these drugs.

I can't take things like antidepressants they cause me to rapid cycle emotionally to where I feel like I am losing my mind but they work for some people. There are dangers to being prescribed any medication but more and more they are the automatic go to for doctors.