Posted on 09/24/2012 10:12:40 PM PDT by neverdem
You will never guess what the fifth and sixth best-selling prescription drugs are in the United States, so I’ll just tell you: Abilify and Seroquel, two powerful antipsychotics. In 2011 alone, they and other antipsychotic drugs were prescribed to 3.1 million Americans at a cost of $18.2 billion, a 13 percent increase over the previous year, according to the market research firm IMS Health.
Those drugs are used to treat such serious psychiatric disorders as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe major depression. But the rates of these disorders have been stable in the adult population for years. So how did these and other antipsychotics get to be so popular?
Antipsychotic drugs have been around for a long time, but until recently they were not widely used. Thorazine, the first real antipsychotic, was synthesized in the 1950s; not just sedating, it also targeted the core symptoms of schizophrenia,...
--snip--
Of course, physicians frequently use medications off label, and there is sometimes solid empirical evidence to support this practice. But presently there is little evidence that atypical antipsychotic drugs are effective outside of a small number of serious psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression.
Let’s be clear: The new atypical antipsychotic drugs are effective and safe. But even if these drugs prove effective for a variety of new psychiatric illnesses, there is still good reason for caution. Because they have potentially serious adverse effects, atypical antipsychotic drugs should be used when currently available treatments — with typically fewer side effects and lower costs — have failed.
Atypical antipsychotics can be lifesaving for people who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression. But patients should think twice — and then some — before using these drugs to deal with the low-grade unhappiness, anxiety and insomnia that comes with modern life.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
If the ‘zombie apocalypse’ ever starts, the people coming off their meds will be interesting, to say the least. No malicious intent will be necessary for an army of people who are really messed up...
President 0bama has forced many to seek refuge in medications because currently there is no cure for his recklessness.
These drugs often ironically cause psychotic behavior. Particularly if they are stopped to quick.
marking
I was given this drug several years ago for a Lyme like condition, I only took a half a pill and literally hallucinated on and off for two days.
I have not seen a Dr. since, thank God.
Baby Boomers and their drug culture lifestyle coming home to roost.
Off-label, as a non-addicting PRN soporific, 50mg of Seroquel before bedtime is very effective, and a helluva lot safer than the so-called safe and non-addicting “Ambien” and its cousins.
I was doing research for a trivia book and found that a possible side effect of taking aspirin is headache.
And a possible side effect of an antidepressant is suicide.
But if you saw God, thank your Dr.
<rimshot>
I will be thanking the Big Guy when I see him, I hope and pray.
I have an acquaintance that was prescribed Abilify. It gave what was left of the family their lives back.
It works.
Somebody should warn Hillary Clinton...she looks and sounds like a drugged up mental patient trying out for the part of US Secretary of State in the World Cuckoo’s Nest’s election year play.
My drug of choice is beer, and I ain’t giving it up anytime soon.
It was just such a scenario that helped ruin Asbury Park, NJ. In the late 60's, they closed the local mental hospital, and a lot of them were section 8'd into housing or just plain let out. They turned a seaside mecca into a Carnival of Souls -type empty shell.
Before:
After:
Obviously it's more than just the psychos - it was the druggies and the nearby downtown "civil unrest" of the 60's, let's just say. It's kind of like the pics you see of downtown Detroit.
Hey!...where are those flashbacks we were promised?
Well, then it’s not the drugs causing it, is it?
Sandy, the fireworks are hailin’ over Little Eden tonight
Forcin’ a light into all those stony faces left stranded on this warm July
Down in the town, the Circuit’s full of switchblade lovers, so fast, so shiny, so sharp
As the wizards play down on Pinball Way on the boardwalk way past dark
And the boys from the casino dance with their shirts open like Latin lovers on the shore
Chasin’ all them silly New York virgins by the score
And Sandy, the aurora is rising behind us
This pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh, love me tonight, for I may never see you again
Hey, Sandy girl
My, my, baby
Now, the greasers, ah, they tramp the streets or get busted for sleeping on the beach all night
Them boys in their high heels, ah, Sandy, their skins are so white
And me, I just got tired of hangin’ in them dusty arcades, bangin’ them pleasure machines
Chasin’ the factory girls underneath the boardwalk where they all promise to unsnap their jeans
And you know that tilt-a-whirl down on the south beach drag
I got on it last night and my shirt got caught
And they kept me spinning, babe, didn’t think I’d ever get off
Oh, Sandy, the aurora is rising behind us
This pier lights our carnival life on the water
Runnin’, laughin’ ‘neath the boardwalk, ah, with the boss’s daughter
I remember, Sandy, girl
Na, na, na, na, na, baby
Sandy, that waitress I was seeing lost her desire for me
I spoke with her last night, she said she won’t set herself on fire for me anymore
She worked that joint under the boardwalk, she was always the girl you saw boppin’ down the beach with the radio
The kids say last night she was dressed like a star in one of them cheap little seaside bars, and I saw her parked with lover boy out on the Kokomo
Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin’ fortunes better than they do
For me this boardwalk life is through, babe
You ought to quit this scene too
Sandy, the aurora is rising behind us
This pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh, love me tonight and I promise I’ll love you forever
Oh, I mean it, Sandy, girl
My, my, my, my, my baby
Yeah, I promise, Sandy, girl
Sha, la, la, la, la, baby
It was the 1970s riot in Asbury Park that did it in (although parts of it have come back VERY strong. I’m a few minutes away.) Then some of the shore towns with large Victorian homes/hotels took in the Section 8s - literally taking them off the hands of more prosperous NJ towns. White flight ensued.
Part of the problem with the loonies in Asbury and Ocean Grove were that they WEREN’T taking their meds.
You should visit Asbury again. It’s doing pretty well. I’m not at all fond of the newly designed waterfront but it’s popular with visitors and residents alike.
Seems the use of these drugs has increased significantly since President Obama took to the White House. Any link, per chance?
Hey, Springsteen - how about spending some of your gazillions helping Asbury Park?
Asbury Park has a long tradition of rock music - they still hold festivals there, the Stone Pony is still open (I think?), and there was a place called the Saint that was a mecca for new music. I saw U2 at the Fast Lane, playing to about 400 people way back when.
The school system is in shambles - as it is all over the country. The west side (of Asbury where the black population lives) is in shambles. The east side has really come back - especially third street where the gay guys took over. The downtown has been rehabbed for years as has the waterfront.
You’ve got to update your info on Asbury, OK?
Springsteen gives hundreds of thousands of dollars (secretly) to Asbury. I know because I was part of a museum there that got a Springsteen “grant.” Despite his politics and music which I personally can’t stand, he’s very generous towards Asbury and other shore towns. Sheesh.
So, which is it? "Safe," or seriously adverse?
No wonder the city folks in Hollywood keep cranking out apocalyptic scenario after apocalyptic scenario.
Maybe that's why Star Trek endures...I think it was the last fictional 'future' which was actually upbeat.
Little irritates me more than the phrase, “Let’s be clear.”
Reminds me of bad Bobby J. back in my college days. In heated debates he’d stop and say ‘let me be completely honest with you’ ~ another guy stopped him dead in his tracks once and asked ‘so what were you being with me before that Bobby?!’
I never heard him use that phrase again...
Ha ha.
What if the medication worked for 99.9% of the people who took it, and that without any side effects at all, but caused serious adverse effects for the other .1%. How would you describe such a medication?
"Fictional." Even aspirin has side effects for most users.
Then how would you describe aspirin? A few people suffer stomach bleeding, most find it useful to control small aches and pains.
How was I supposed to know he secretly gives money?
Just seems to me with all his liberal bloviating you’d see a Springsteen hospital wing or Youth Center or something.
Well, you have presented yourself as knowledgeable about Asbury and then posted 10 year old photos. I got news for you: my beloved Tillie is long gone.
So I naturally thought you should be up on Springsteen’s contributions to the town. Maybe the word “secret” was incorrect. His donations are anonymous but it’s an open “secret” in AP.
I thought they preserved the Tillie section somewhere. If I recall, there’s an imitation one up the boardwalk.
Honestly, I have only driven through Asbury maybe three times in the last 10 years.
My folks used to take us there often during the 60s (they had my all-time favorite walk-through funhouse there).
Saw my very first rock concert (Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality tour, yes I’m old) at Convention Hall, followed by a ton of shows over the years.
Back in the 70s - 80s, my best friend from high school had moved there, so spent a lot of time hanging out. After that, I kind of lost track of the goings on down there.
My kids go to the festivals there, even attended one of the zombie-walks they had a few years ago.
Most of my knowledge is admittedly based on fond memories.
The much maligned Tillie was pushed by the city council into a damp, dark storage space. It has not been seen since. Sort of like Richard III’s little nephews. I’m sure it’s a wreck. This same council allowed the gorgeous Art Nouveau Casino designs to be stolen in broad daylight. Talk about heartbreak...
You are thinking of the Wonder Bar which recreated the Tillie image.
The next time you’re there walk around the east side. It is so beautiful! So well-designed by Mr. Bradley! As I’ve said previously: I do not like what the council has done to the waterfront. They built condos which obstructed the ocean view. But the condos sold and residents like it. All of these owners are middle to upper middle-class. I dislike furniture stores on the boardwalk (!!!) but I’m in the minority.
Anyway, I’m sorry if I jumped on you but I kinda like Asbury. I ran a theatre there and was on the historical society.
Back in the 70s my friend was involved in the “Save the Paramount” - he was a projectionist there.
Asbury’s new shopping area reminds me of what they did around Caesar’s in AC. IMHO, AC lost a lot of its charm when the got rid of their old buildings, too.
Wildwood is losing a lot of its wonderfully cheesy motels to condos.
Progress, I suppose, but I miss the old designs.
When we do go to the shore, it’s usually to Spring Lake - they still have those neat design tiles by the pool and concession stand.
Back to Asbury - last time I went, there seemed to be a semi-thriving cafe scene towards the south end. We had just come from dinner, so we didn’t stop. Next time we will.
Nice chatting with you, and keep me posted :)
Yes, I was involved with trying to save the Paramount - and every other building in that town. Sigh...
The only difference between AC and AP is that AP has definitely made inroads within the town. Because so many of the Victorian homes were beautiful and well-designed, a lot of pioneers (young homeowners, annoying gay guys, etc.) moved in. When you are there next, take a walk between Main Street and the boardwalk. The neighborhood - despite some gaps - is seriously coming back and quite lovely. Stop by the Stephen Crane House on Fourth and take a little tour.
Added to my next road trip.....
Good night!
The sudden cessation of taking those drugs does appear to aggravate things. The lesson is to not suddenly stop.
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