Posted by 49er on September 5, 2009, at 8:19:48
In reply to Re: Suggestions re: Someone Who Refuses Medications, posted by bleauberry on September 5, 2009, at 7:22:53
Bleauberry, thank you so much for what you wrote. I started to respond to this thread several times but just couldn't articulate my opinion very well.
I also feared I would be portrayed as that crazy anti-med zealot and I just didn't want to deal with it. But your post has given me that courage.
Like you, I am not anti-meds even though it may seem like it. For example, I had to admit that for someone I know who has schizophrenia, meds were the right choice initially.
But now, in my opinion, because the side effects are devastating are worse than the cure, they aren't. Another post as I don't want to get sidetracked.
Phillipa, a perfect example of someone who recovered from schizophrenia without meds was John Nash. There is no way in my opinion, he would have been able to accomplish what he did on psychotropic meds.
These are not scientific studies but here is link to several recovery stories from schizophrenia without meds
http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/recovery-from-extreme-states-psychosis-etc/
Robert Whittaker, who started off his research, believing in the miracle of psych meds (he was not one of those crazy scientologists) provided entensive research in his book, Medication Madness, showing that neuroleptics don't work.
To pick up what Bleauberry said about meds leading to a bad outcome repeatedly, why do people keep insisting on this solution even though over time, it has been shown not to work in particular situations? What is that expression about insanity?
People need to get over their misconceptions that meds are the answer for all mental conditions. They aren't for everyone and to insist otherwise, is very cruel in my opinion. Just like it is cruel to insist that people who benefit from meds stop taking them.
Finally, I want to mention that forcibly committing your wife is a big mistake and will make her fear asking for help. In my state, even people who are definitely pro meds fear mentioning that they are suicidal out of fear they will be forcibily committed due to the toughened state mental health commitment laws.
One more thing - I would encourage your wife to reinstate the last med to the dose that she was last stabilized at and taper it very slowly - 2.5 to 5% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks.. It is quite clear from the fact that she has been hospitalized from discontinuing these meds that she cold turkeying them or tapering too fast had an adverse effect.
Yes, it will take awhile but tapering slowly will increase her chances of preventing relapses and ending up in the hospital where she will be drugged against her will.
poster:49er
thread:915268
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090902/msgs/915799.html