Janey's plain language summary blog: antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia

People are all very individual,what suits one person doesnt suit another. My daughter was put on abilify,she felt like her neck was broken,she didnt feel well on it at all. eventually she went on clozaril,which was like a wonder drug. it made her a lot better,able to have a good quality life. The only problems was the salivating at night. She is coming down on the dosage now and that is abating. She has to take topiramate as well which caises weight loss,so her weight is not an issue. I have another daughter who is extremely mentally unwell,and has been on seroquel,olanzapine and risperidone,they either arent fully effective or side affects are severe. I feel clozapine should now be tried,my daughter is unhappy and distressed,her sister is living a happy fulfilling life,and yet she is not allowed to have the same treatment why?

I read what people have said regarding prescribed medicines and what has happened to them regarding side effects and the trouble they have had with some medical professionals regarding correct and full information and denial of side effects and threats of all sorts if the patients do not continue taking whatever doses and medication they prescribe. I know what has been said is true. It is cruel and disgustingly diabolical that in this day and age people are being treated in this way. It is time for the 'truth' - openess - and change. I feel very sad that there are millions of people around the world who are being 'drugged' out of their minds by medically prescribed medicines that are so dis-enabling, toxic and dangerous with horrendous side effects that are blighting their lives. Some of these side effects cause seriously dangerous side effects that remain, even if people come off these prescribed neuroleptics / anti-psychotics / major tranquillisors etc. These side effects fuel stigma and ridcule. All this would not be tolerated in general medicine and treatment by anyone. Surely 'professionals' should be more accountable for what is done to and for people receiving psychiatric care and treatment. Why do mental health sufferers still have less rights than many criminals? Where is the humanity? Thank you RETHINK for your continued campaigning and for offering the opportunities for the general public and sufferers, their families and friends to be able to write about their experiences and express their opinions.

my son is on clozaril and I agree with Rodneys comments the clinicians are in denial or are they? I know quite a lot about the side effects of clozaril and now work for MH services supporting carers. My son has had some worrying side effects from clozaril, I knew it was responsible because I had information I found over 6 yrs ago and hoped it wouldn't happen. I took the info to work and showed it to a nurse with quite a long service in mh. He replied by saying I don't know much about clozaril so I can't confirm what this information is saying. I didn't believe him and thought he was pulling the denial stroke on me...I really did! About 2 months later some clozarol experts arrived and gave a presentation on the medication. There were Dr's, nurses and psychiatrist present and I was firing questions at the "experts" they gave the same information that I had given the nurse. Because I work in the environment I now know the clinicians are avoiding prescribing clozaril as much as possible. It became clear to me that day, they really didn't know what the meds can do. This is what is the more concerning, they know the basic side effects in general terms but do not have enough knowledge of the more severe side effects of specific medications. Which I find alarming and amazing, it seems to be left to the pharmacists. How can someone receive effective "care" (I mean care not treatment) if the people giving this care are not knowledgable enough on the medication treatments of their patients!

i myself have been on a number of anti pychotic drugs includeing aripiprazole , and they all have severe side affects ... its no wonder drug... it wasnt any good for me , but we are all different

hi,I have had mentel issues all my life, i have had no life really. scared to do any thing,scared of people,men mostly .not as shy as when i was youge.i alway thought each decade ,would be my time but i am now 63 and i am no beter,and syc says he can do no more for me. Just been told i have dibetes...I am tired of living but afraid of dying...I am on paroxetine 40mg.Does any one no of any thing better...

At 23 in 1992 I was diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Was drug-resistant to most drugs, but Clozaril eventually stabilised me. Side effects were awful - 2 major fits, ballooned from a size 10 to 24 and was constantly tired. I felt like I was in a drug-induced stupor. I was simply existing. No psychiatrist would entertain trying a different drug. However, a friend worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb, the manufacturer of Abilify, who told me about this new "wonder" drug for schizophrenia. I was sceptical at first but asked my psychiatrist if I could try it. Fortunately he was the most pro-active and supportive psychiatrist I had ever had and he agreed. The change-over took several months but gradually over time I started to feel more like my old self - I shed the excess weight, felt energised, more confident and optimistic about the future. I started to do voluntary work several days a week and my ambition is to get back to paid work. The only side-effect I encountered was a slight restlessness of the legs, but that is minor compared to the horrors of Clozaril. I gave feedback to Bristol-Myers Squibb through my friend and as a result they sent a photographer from the US who accompanied me for the day around my local town of Windsor, photographing me in various situations (felt like a star!). I was featured in a glossy 2 page spread in their shareholders' 2005 Annual Report as a success story of one of their new drugs. Abilify has been a god-send for me and I am now not just existing, but living a much fuller life and feel that I do have a worthwhile future.

This is serious comment which I endorse, Sandra. Just What is the use of medicines which have more Drastic outcomes than what they purport to remedy? Atypicals have not been around enough to come to final conclusions, but a growing list of culpable side-effects all point to the most Damning one - that they are exacerbating the situation where people with schizophrenia die 10 years or more before their life-expectation! Diabetes is the villain of the piece. My understanding is that metabolic disturbance leads to mis-reading the body's needs for sustenance. This leads to excessive weight-gain, strain on the heart, diabetes and many disruptive side-effects, which NHS plus the Clinicians are in Denial that they are Causing! My Shrink hides behind statistical probability in giving Amisulpiride the all-clear. We need, require, Demand the Truth - stranger than fiction - not some brand-name instigated statistical sop to keep us happy for 3 months till they can have another go at our life-style, etc. Compounding our distress is the NICE travesty, backed by Mental Health Act CTOs, which make these poisons Compulsory, under duresse of hospitalisation and Treatment Orders for non-compliance. This tells me the door is now open to Sue these people for every last penny, before we all drop like flies! Well that may be for a caring org. like rethink to pursue. I shall be dead, with no further part to play in this Saga of misery, neglect, Denial, abrogation of responsibility and Professional Incompetence. Alzheimers have worse out-comes. What of us? Disgusting!

Less side effects they may have but they cause serious illness such as diabetes, which can kill cause organ damage blindness and screw your life up with hypo's and hyperglycemia.