Schizophrenia Drugs

[zack32]

Suppose a person is diagnosed with schizo. after seeing a doctor for only a week and is prescribed anti psychotic drugs. The doctor does not know anything about the patient's history or events leading to hospitalization( such as lack of sleep and food for three days straight). If the diagnoses was wrong and the person doesn't need to be on these  types of drugs, what kind of affect would it have on a person's brain and ability to function? Aren't anti psychotic drugs taken to solve some chemical imbalance within the brain and if so would an unneeded drug have an adverse affect on a person? I hope I have asked this correctly in a way that is understood. Your answer will not affect weather the drug is still taken or not. I realize that to stop ************** without the doctor would be highly dangerous.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You received some verygood advice from Jaquta. You are right to be careful, because antipsychotic medications are strong and do have significant side effects and will effect your brain chemistry. There is no more danger if the diagnosis is wrong, but there is still a danger because of the nature of the drug.

In order to take the risk you have to be convinced  the diagnosis and themedication is correct, and since you don't quite trust that is true, it is logical for you to get a second opinion...the wrong thing to do is simply not follow up....that would be a mistake...get a second opinion and then make up your mind, and face the facts even if you get a diagnosis that you don't want.

[Jaquta]

There is a surprising lack of knowledge about how psychotropic medications work.  The brain is an incredibly complex organ.
As patients, we are often told that medications are used to correct some chemical imbalance within our brains.

Medications affect people differently.
Drug trials are conducted on healthy volunteers and even they can experience side-effects.  Side-effects I guess range from mild to severe.
I don't know how medication would affect a healthy person's brain or their ability to function.  I expect it would depend on the medication, the dosage and the person.

There can be permanent irreversible side-effects from taking anti-psychotics.

It sounds like you're having a hard time trying to come to terms with a new diagnosis.  It can take a while to accept.  I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder because I couldn't accept the label I'd been given.  It is hard!

I think it would be OK for you to get a second opinion.  I expect I would want one.  
I think if nothing else, this will give you peace of mind.  It is difficult to have your whole world turned upside down and back to front by one person's professional opinion.

Is it possible the doctor could have had access to some of your history?  Could family or friends have passed on this information?  

I think that doctors don't always need to know everything before they make a diagnosis.  There is often information that seems very relevant to us, but it can often be irrelevant in the diagnostic process.

Do you think the lack of sleep and food could be related to the new diagnosis?

One week in hospital (I'm not sure if that is correct but that is how I've interpreted it) can be sufficient time for staff (doctors, nurses, etc) to make observations.  Patients can be like goldfish in a bowl -sometimes without realizing it.

I expect you feel a lot of things now:  judged, devalued, hurt.  A diagnosis and our perception to it can create a lot of losses.

I think it is important to find someone you trust to talk to about your thoughts and feelings.
We all go through a grieving process -this is normal.

While schizophrenia is not a diagnosis anybody would want it can be managed and people can lead extremely successful lives.

Please be careful with the medication, this is not something to be taken lightly.

Take care
J