Anyone that has known someone or worked with severe mental illness, such as Schizophrenia, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, knows that the proper medication correctly prescribed can make a huge beneficial difference in that person's life.
Agreed. Kurt Vonnegut's son wrote a pretty good book about how drugs saved him from schizophrenia.
I think, though, that most of this psychopharmacology is too much treatment and not enough cure. The assumption appears to be that the brain has lost its ability to work properly, forever. One doesn't take Lexapro just to get through the holidays. Thorazine does not "cure" schizophrenia, and paxil does not "cure" bipolar personality disorder. These drugs temporarily eliminate, reduce or mask the symptoms of these illnesses. If you look up these drugs, you will find that in most cases the manufacturers admit that they do not fully understand why the drug even works. And, it only continues to "work" if you continue to take it. Go off it, and the cure is gone too. Back to square one.
In the process, these incredibly potent drugs cause a host of other medical, social and psychological issues to develop. Ever seen anyone doing the Depakote shuffle? If that is living, then somebody should pull the plug. Yet, these drugs are all so freely prescribed. Tell your G.P. that you've been having episodes of anxiety and you will leave with a scrip for paxil. Tell him you've been feeling kind of down and in a slump and you'll leave with samples of the newest antidepressant. All this might make it difficult to fall asleep. Better add a scrip for Trazadone.
And don't even get me started on off-label prescribing. I went to see a doctor last week for TMJ pain and left with a scrip for Neurontin, an epilepsy drug. legalnewswatch.com
I would love to see the following study: Take 200 people who are diagnosed as clinically depressed. Put half of them on prozak or lexapro, with no other treatment. Give the other half nothing, but improve their diet and have them completely eliminate all mind altering substances including alcohol. Check back in six months. |
