Anti-psychotic medications--ploy by big pharma?

[hyphenate]

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117313948379987.html

Despite the article's origin, this sounds plausible, as someone who has to take many meds every day.
_________________________________________________________

Has America become a nation of psychotics? You would certainly think so, based on the explosion in the use of antipsychotic medications. In 2008, with over $14 billion in sales, antipsychotics became the single top-selling therapeutic class of prescription drugs in the United States, surpassing drugs used to treat high cholesterol and acid reflux.

Once upon a time, antipsychotics were reserved for a relatively small number of patients with hard-core psychiatric diagnoses - primarily schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - to treat such symptoms as delusions, hallucinations, or formal thought disorder. Today, it seems, everyone is taking antipsychotics. Parents are told that their unruly kids are in fact bipolar, and in need of anti-psychotics, while old people with dementia are dosed, in large numbers, with drugs once reserved largely for schizophrenics. Americans with symptoms ranging from chronic depression to anxiety to insomnia are now being prescribed anti-psychotics at rates that seem to indicate a national mass psychosis.

It is anything but a coincidence that the explosion in antipsychotic use coincides with the pharmaceutical industry's development of a new class of medications known as "atypical antipsychotics." Beginning with Zyprexa, Risperdal, and Seroquel in the 1990s, followed by Abilify in the early 2000s, these drugs were touted as being more effective than older antipsychotics like Haldol and Thorazine. More importantly, they lacked the most noxious side effects of the older drugs - in particular, the tremors and other motor control problems.

The atypical anti-psychotics were the bright new stars in the pharmaceutical industry's roster of psychotropic drugs - costly, patented medications that made people feel and behave better without any shaking or drooling. Sales grew steadily, until by 2009 Seroquel and Abilify numbered fifth and sixth in annual drug sales, and prescriptions written for the top three atypical antipsychotics totaled more than 20 million. Suddenly, antipsychotics weren't just for psychotics any more.

Not just for psychotics anymore

By now, just about everyone knows how the drug industry works to influence the minds of American doctors, plying them with gifts, junkets, ego-tripping awards, and research funding in exchange for endorsing or prescribing the latest and most lucrative drugs. "Psychiatrists are particularly targeted by Big Pharma because psychiatric diagnoses are very subjective," says Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, whose PharmedOut project tracks the industry's influence on American medicine, and who last month hosted a conference on the subject at Georgetown. A shrink can't give you a blood test or an MRI to figure out precisely what's wrong with you. So it's often a case of diagnosis by prescription. (If you feel better after you take an anti-depressant, it's assumed that you were depressed.) As the researchers in one study of the drug industry's influence put it, "the lack of biological tests for mental disorders renders psychiatry especially vulnerable to industry influence." For this reason, they argue, it's particularly important that the guidelines for diagnosing and treating mental illness be compiled "on the basis of an objective review of the scientific evidence" - and not on whether the doctors writing them got a big grant from Merck or own stock in AstraZeneca.

rest at link

[azul]

1. Who... are the brain police?

The cost of the atypical anti-psychotics is busting the state and county mental health programs too.

[hyphenate]

2. One of the things that bothers me

is both Seroquel and Abilify are being touted as drugs that help anti-depressants work better. As someone who suffers from major depression, I often find myself dissatisfied with the results of my anti-depressant, and has wondered if these "helper" drugs really do help out. Now, I will avoid them as though they were the ebola virus itself.

[GReedDiamond]

3. "A nation of psychotics"...

...one might come to that conclusion, judging by the Professional Liars & Thieves & Worse, elected into Positions of Power here in the USA over the last thirty years.

The Transnational Corporate Pharmaceutical Drug Pushers are outta control and on a roll.

Good Luck to those of Us not strung out on their mind-altering substances, living amongst those who are, unbeknownst to us, drug-crazed legal addicts/zombies, on the verge of full-blown individual and/or collective Freakout: "prescriptions written for the top three atypical antipsychotics totaled more than 20 million."

That's 20 million out of approx 300 million...that's a lot of Dope in the People...and a fair amount of Dopey People (i.e., "Teabaggers") impacting on the "Political Debate" - coincidence? Maybe..?

I sincerely doubt that 20 million USA residents legitimately need anti-psychotic medications in the good ole USofA...they've been sold a bill of (bad) goods by the legal transnational drug pusher industry, who are cashing in on their patients' insecurities about themselves, the economy, "terrorism," radiation, pollution, etc etc.

This is also why Cannabis is Verboten.

[indurancevile]

4. i agree. it's a very sick arrangement. people have legitimate reasons to be depressed, real,

material reasons, & are sold some fantasy about "brain chemistry" & used as cash cows.

[GReedDiamond]

5. Yes, many people may currently be "depressed,"...

...because, for example, I am too, given the state of current affairs.

However, anti-psychotic medications for the vast general types of peoples' "depression" is overkill.

Cannabis is much more soothing, natural, and organic!

(But only if Legally available in your Local Jurisdiction, nudge nudge, know what I mean.)

[Shandris]

10. You have no idea what 'depressed' means, if you find this even remotely funny.

Try being so depressed as a matter of course that you actually get disability for it. Do you have any idea just HOW depressed a person would have to be to have it multiply verified across several doctors (both medical and psychological) the EXTENT of your depression?

And you think you can get that way because the fucking economy is bad?!?

As a side note, cannabis (and thankfully, it usually worked for me when I could afford twenty-five dollars a NIGHT) does not work well for everyone with acute depression. Alcohol works just as reliably (read: not at all reliably) in some cases.

I get that your post is more a nod towards MJ, and I'd have your back on legalization any day of the week and twice on Sundays. But don't confuse 'Hey I'm depressed' with full-blown clinical depression, that's a world you do NOT want to see the inside of.

[ejpoeta]

12. I agree. And I have to say that at least alcohol was not really a good mix for me.

I ended up alone in a corner. And the last time I got drunk, I apparently blacked out and from what my friend told me lost it in the bar telling everyone I was a worthless no good nothing. She had to take me outside and calm me down.

I think the problem is that they market 'depression' as that thing EVERYONE feels to conflate the two. Sure, we all get depressed and feel down. But depression is not the same as feeling depressed. I have dealt with depression most of my life off and on and it is defintely not something I would wish on my worst enemy. I have a notebook I keep so that I don't forget I guess. Bad shit in there. And I wrote it. Scares the shit out of me too. I don't ever want to go back there. Pain so bad I tried to kill myself. I exhibited self destructive behavior. Cut myself off from everyone. In the end I gave away everything I owned that meant anything to me and became despondent.

My sister found my notebook and convinced me to go to the hospital where I spent two days voluntarily and the rest of the 10 days not voluntarily. I was paranoid. I thought my family was out to get me. But it was the best thing for me in the end. And at least I got the help I had tried to get before. I had gone to the doctor for depression and he sent me to a psychoshrink (that's what I called that quack) who basically told me if I act happy i'll BE happy... i apparently was just not trying hard enough. So it was me then. And that was when I went off the deep end. Because I had been trying for years at that point to no avail.

I try to be positive. At least I know the signs now and can spot it before it gets to a point where I can't get out of it. And they take me seriously now. When I go to the doctor and tell them I am getting depressed they don't just ignore it. I go to counseling and have recently gone on meds for bipolar.... I have noticed I have really bad mood swings and think it may be that... my sister is bipolar.

I think there is a big problem with OVERdiagnosis. There are plenty of people who are on meds who don't need to be. For lots of things. But there is a legitimate purpose for antidepressants and antipsychotics. There are people who need them. Unfortunately I am one of them from time to time. The first step is to get people to recognize that this is a real problem for people and not something in their head. How many times have I had people tell me to just snap out of it. Just pull yourself out of it. Oh, it's just so easy!! Thanks.

Getting insurance to cover things has been fun too. In NY they passed a law a couple two three years ago (?) passed a law requiring insurance companies to cover mental health the same as specialists. Before that my copay was $50!

Marketing drugs to people who are just depressed because the economy sucks and they are broke? I can't do anything about that. Too bad the government is co-opted by the very companies that we are talking about.

[GReedDiamond]

14. I have quotation marks around the word...

...depressed for the very reason you are lecturing me on depression.

My point is similar to your point, which you seem to have missed. I am not trying to be "funny," and I do not mean that I am suffering from depression (in the actual, clinical sense), because of the economy, the sad state of political affairs, permawars, etc.

I am saying I believe that these anti-psychotic medications are over-prescribed, probably often times for reasons that they should not be. And one of the chief reasons for over-prescribing these meds is the Profit Motive on the part of Big Pharma.

I do believe that such medications have a legitimate use for significant numbers of people (I'm not a Scientologist), but not 20+ million people. At least, I HOPE that there are not that many actual cases of depression as you describe in your reply to me.

I also know that cannabis cannot "fix" everything.

[Shandris]

19. If I misread you, I do apologize. Far too often, people give a reaction...

...like that and are serious, it's almost an inborn reaction at this point.

I saw another poster talk about how so many times, it seems as if the ads themselves are trying to 'confuse' people between the two different definitions. The more I think about that (and see the ads), the more sense that makes to me. I don't know that I'd put it at 20 million...the kind I describe is literally life-crippling for those affected. But the biggest problem with putting an actual number on it is this -- often, the truly depressed have been overlooked for so long that they are very, very good at 'faking' it when they have to interact with other people in a face-to-face manner.

And while we're on the topic of prescriptions and depression, another category that is often confused by the clueless (not directed at you, GreedDiamond) is social anxiety. Often confused, often considered 'just in someones head'. Match the two up and you have a nightmare that would make Hollywood blanch.

[Mimosa]

23. ^ Teabaggers taking Rxs impacting the "Political Debate"? ^

A possible Eureka discovery.

Many of them seem psychotic. Look at the comments at Lucianne.com or Breitbart's Big Government. These are people with serious anger issues.

[K8-EEE]

6. My autistic teenager was prescribed 3 psych drugs which I never gave her

Risperdal, Calexa and Xanax, the first two she was supposed to take EVERY DAY for self-injurious behavior that was only occasional. I had to go through hell (and a lot of $$) to get her a medical MJ Rx card which ended up being the answer to our prayers. An under-the-tongue tincture controls occasional anxiety attacks in 20 minutes with zero side effects or addiction; a mild bud leaf capsule at night got her on a regular sleeping pattern. Again, no side effects. THE LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS WITH THE PRESCRIBED MEDS WAS UNREAL. And when I checked with parents in my community they ALL had at least one if not more of the really really bad ones (damage to major organs, "Parkinson's like" symptoms, HUGE weight gain (20 lbs in 3 weeks was usual) and subsequent health problems (juvenile diabetes etc.)

I wonder how many other people with other conditions would be helped by small doses of medical marijuana but are put through this pharma hell for no reason.

[GReedDiamond]

7. You are a Great Parent!

Thank You for doing the best for your autistic teenager, and for relating your and your daughter's positive experience with MJ here.

Best Wishes to you all!

Edited to add the word "positive."

[K8-EEE]

8. Thank you, she is a great daughter too!

It really bums me out to see so many autistic people being on these very damaging meds without trying the obviously milder herbal treatment first. For some reason it's always the reverse; try the one with the most side effects first and if it's damaging THEN ask for the MJ. Huh? Does that make any sense to anybody?? Seems like it should be the other way round.

[rbnyc]

21. +1 (nt)

[Enthusiast]

9. It's like this, the drug industry

has become as much of a scourge on society as Fox News.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Part of the problem may be insurance.

Insurance may pay for limited access to a psychologist or psychiatrist but not enough to really make a difference. OTOH it will pay for long term use of pharmaceuticals. So couple limited visits to a psychiatrist with a prescription for antidepressants that can be renewed, and you have modern "therapy".

[Posteritatis]

20. A lot of them generally *won't* cover long term use of psych medication

Most people I know in the US who need the stuff have a hellish time being able to afford it, and are usually kept off it for months at a time because of insurance problems.

(The sanctimonious people lecturing them about how they're better off that way, of course, are a huge help.)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. FDA --------> Fatal Drugs Allowed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21501206


J Clin Pharm Ther. 2011 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2011.01265.x.
A review of the possible role of the essential fatty acids and fish oils in the aetiology, prevention or pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia.
Akter K, Gallo DA, Martin SA, Myronyuk N, Roberts RT, Stercula K, Raffa RB.
Source

Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract

What is known and Objective:  Fish oils and other essential fatty acids have been purported to ameliorate the symptoms of schizophrenia or the adverse effects of the drugs that are used to manage it. Our objective is to review the basic and clinical evidence regarding replenishment of the reported decreased levels of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, such as the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid, the omega-6 linoleic and arachidonic acids, in brains of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods:  We summarize the literature related to the postulated mechanistic connection between essential fatty acids and schizophrenia and the clinical trials testing fatty acids in patients with schizophrenia. Results and Discussion:  Fatty acids play critical roles in cell membranes of neurons, and certain fatty acids appear to be abnormally low in brains of patients with schizophrenia.

The attempt to enhance endogenous levels thus seems a rational and worthwhile goal. The value of such intervention awaits the results of ongoing trials. What is new and Conclusion:  Despite the limited evidence that supplements ameliorate symptoms of schizophrenia, given the low risk of harm, some clinicians might opt to add omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid to current drug regimens in hope of better symptomatic control in schizophrenia.

[elocs]

15. Without anti-psych meds my goddaughter would either be dead, in prison,

or locked away in some psychiatric facility. She is a paranoid schizophrenic.

I don't question that anti-psych meds are over prescribed, but they have saved her life. With them she is well enough to hold a job and last week she worked canvassing door to door to get out the vote for Jennifer Schilling in the recall primary here in Wisconsin.

[etherealtruth]

17. That's the truth for many people

Psychiatric drugs have saved many lives ... and have vastly improved the quality of life for even more.

While the drugs can be "over-prescribed" or inappropriately prescribed ... the truth is they are very important drugs that help very ill people.

Wishing the best for you god-daughter

[elocs]

18. It's also not a slam-dunk to get the right meds at the right doses.

She has been living a couple of short blocks from me for the past year and I have been watching over her and although it has often not been easy, at least her anti-psych meds are helping to keep her sane as long as she keeps taking them.

When does she not take them? When she uses alcohol or her favorite drug of choice--marijuana or its synthetic version K-2. Then she stops taking her meds, preferring to be drunk or high, and then she becomes psychotic and suicidal.

So yes, anti-psych meds have saved her life.

[hyphenate]

22. I have no doubt they are effective

but I posted the article to emphasize that those who are in no need of them are getting them prescribed regardless. I've seen both the Seroquel and Abilify being touted as anti-depressant enhancers, which is deceptive advertising in my mind.

I understand that some medications are effective in both their own area of focus and some off label areas, so that's not the problem. I've also been the recipient of some of that off label drug use. But while there is no difference in that application, a drug that has a high level of side effects needs to be monitored closely, and see if the benefits outweigh the risks.

[PassingFair]

16. They are cramming these drugs into captive nursing home patients.

I went to a "med-check" meeting for my Aunt....

They went through the drugs I KNEW she was taking
(I had laid out her drugs, did her shopping, dropped
in several times a week, oversaw her quality of life
until she became unable to walk)THEN they said and
blah blah blah mgs of Risperdal.

I stopped them because I didn't recognize that drug.

As soon as I started asking questions, they got VERY
nervous, told me that the "in-house psychiatrist" had
prescribed it and then told me that if I had any objections
to it, they would take her off of it immediately, then they
wanted me to sign an authorization note, even though they
had been giving her the drug for a month!

I came home and googled Risperdal and called them right away,
and they said that they'd "already taken her off the Risperdal".

Nursing homes are absolutely abusing their patients with these
powerful drugs.

My Aunt is in NO WAY psychotic. She has dementia, and they
were giving her the medication to keep her quiet and so that
she would passively swallow all the other drugs.

She had been kicking up a stink about taking her drugs, so
I had another meeting, this time with the Dr. present, and
I told them that she didn't have to take ANY drugs if she
didn't want to.

Now, for the first time since I can remember, she is completely
off ALL drugs, and is doing better than she was a year ago.

(Still seriously FUNNY, though. Dementia can be a gift.)
She is 86.

[Mimosa]

24. Med prof buddy told me Risperdal is 'evil' n/t