duration of using a med

[adel_ezz]

In one of the sites

http://www.medhelp.org/health_topics/list/A

it is not mentioned the duration of taking risperidone say (Atypical).


However for the Abilify and Seroquel it's written NO MORE than 6 weeks. It is Explicitly said:Do not take aripiprazole for longer than 6 weeks unless your doctor has told you to


However in another site of Dr Jones:

http://www.askdrjones.com/2005/02/14/ranking-the-mood-stabilizers/

it's written: Even after one year or more it continues to work well and has negligeable side effects. Which means use it for longer periods.


Now my question how long am I supposed at most to use these AP's. Usually pdocs resort to low dose AP as a MS at first until they use AC. Is this so ? As to the period one should not exceed it. For instance I am on Benzo for 6 years (ranging from 0.375 to 0.75 mg). My doc says never exceed this dose otherwise it becomes addictive (incidentally, therapeutic dose until 4mg). However all the sites say Benzo should be used only for 40 days at most. So where is the truth here for the periods. Besides, I heard that meds stop working after sometime and you have to alter them which is very tedious and frustrating

thanks

Ezz

[PenelopeAnn]

Oh my! It took six weeks just to get my head on straight when I first started Seroquel! What I mean is, it did clear my head of delusions, but it took at least six weeks for me to feel like I could trust my own thought processes. I've been on it for years. Recently, the dose was reduced quite a bit due to an annoying side effect I was having. It was a disaster. Now I just tolerate the side effect. If someone told me I had to stop taking Seroquel because that is what the literature said, they would have to pry it out of my stealy grip. ;-)

[monkeyc]

Benzos can be habit forming long term which is why many doctors are hesitant to keep prescribing - In reality however they are no where near as addictive as some doctors and sources claim.

Diazepam is a prime example - you get 2 camps of docs - the pro valium and the anti valium - which camp you fall into depend on age, schooling and where you work - Pro valium doctors will use it a the usefull treatment tool it is and anti docs wont prescribe it preferring to chuck in something like atavan which ha its own set of side effects.  Valiums is a safe drug which has been around for a long time but its also historys number one most over prescribed drug and thus was open to abuse and massive addiction issues - Some online sources will tell you valium is addctive in 4 weeks whereas I have takne it 2 years on and off with no worries, going 6 months between doeses.  

Your benzo doses are very small and likely the doctor is not worried about your usage.

Every sinlge drug that has psycho active properties can and does have some form of dependance or addiction profile  - you cannot stop taking an AD drug abruptly nor an MS drug - they will cause problems - any of the drugs most of us take are dependance forming .

As to your question -it clearly says "Unless your doctor has told you to" - this means that the drug, like any of the atypicals, needs medical supervision with use .  This does not mean no one can take more than six weeks.

I can only speak for australia, here most pdocs will go to lithium first and then move to an AP or an AC if the lithium does not work or causes side effects - however I dont know what thats like in other countries - I know the USA is different as lithium is  generic and cheap and thus not pushed by a lot of pdocs and AP drugs seem to be the starting point.

Ultimately what you take is up to your doctor but knowing what it does is a good idea.

[adel_ezz]

Hi therese83

I've been taking xanax for 6 uninterrupted years. My daily dose ranges from 0.375 - 0.75 mg depending on my anxiety.

In fact although the most addictive but the least with side effects contrary to AP or AC.

As you said I know a person on stelazine (AP) for 30 years now.
ezz

[therese83]

Hello

I'm just joining in and not really answering the questions  :-}

I always read that as well.  I dont know why they say that these drugs have not been approved for use for more than six months?

Are they covering themselves against claims for long term side effects?  

Obviously there are a whole load of people out there taking them for years.  

My Dad has been on AP's for 40 years.

About the Benzo's, I thought they were a short term fix 'till the other medication started working eg. six weeks or so or for an emergency, a panic attack or such.  Can you take them for years?