Important development

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · May 5, 2014

I let them spend a week with my daughter unmedicated and then have them spend a week with her medicated.

Do I think the drugs are needed for everyone, no. But they have a place.

BeOne77 · May 5, 2014

Is she better being numbed and unemotional and cognitively impaired with multiple induced unexplained side effect issues...Is she aware of the black box warnings and the thousands of problems associated with taking these drugs...Are you prepared to tell her she is more at risk for dementia and memory problems? Are you letting her know she is more susceptible to kidney failure and sudden death or possibly diabetes...How far are you willing to control her behavior?

macfar28 · May 5, 2014

Wow, such compassion for a mother attempting to provide the best life for her child.

I think it's pretty clear OP that you're here to attack people and pick a fight. No thanks.

BeOne77 · May 5, 2014

Not my intention to pick a fight or appear that I am not compassionate to which I know in my heart that I am, Merely trying to hopefully in my statement to make her aware if she is not already of the significant risks of taking psychoactive drugs. I am sure it was in her best intention to help her daughter and psychiatrists have a way of not informing patients of the inherent risks. I hope for her daughters sake she is aware of this. And I was more looking for opinions on the protest and the comments on that. And the real harm that is being done as a result of participating in psychiatric treatment...This should not be overlooked.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2014

I think psychiatric treatment is important for many people. I think the meds used are not without risks however I view it in line with insulin and the diabetic. The drug has it's side effects but necessary for quality of life.

I have na auto-immune disorder and I take several toxic meds. Csan they harm me? Yes. Do they have side effects? Oh boy do they. Do they make me feel better? YES!

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · May 5, 2014

Is she better being numbed and unemotional and cognitively impaired with multiple induced unexplained side effect issues...Is she aware of the black box warnings and the thousands of problems associated with taking these drugs...Are you prepared to tell her she is more at risk for dementia and memory problems? Are you letting her know she is more susceptible to kidney failure and sudden death or possibly diabetes...How far are you willing to control her behavior?

Seeing that she had uncontrolled anxiety that made it impossible for her to behave like a normal 10 yr old, no matter how much therapy we did. And a child who cannot focus in school, which raises her anxiety to the point where she was shutting down at school. It is not a way to control her behavior, it is a way for her to be able to be a normal child.

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · May 5, 2014

Wow, such compassion for a mother attempting to provide the best life for her child.
I think it's pretty clear OP that you're here to attack people and pick a fight. No thanks.

Eh, I can handle it.

We tried numerous non medical ways to treat her. But tonight, when she sits across from me, without having a melt down that would earn her a trip to the seclusion room on many psych units, doing her homework or on Saturdays when she does not have a panic attack when asked to jump into the pool from the diving block, I am reminded why the combination of medication and therapy is what is best for my daughter. The benefits outweigh the risks.

And OP what type of nursing do you do? I work psych. I get to see patients driven to the point of suicide because of the voices that arent controlled or anxiety that cannot be controlled. And if by teaching my daughter my the skills now that will make her succeed in the future I will prevent in-patient treatments or drug use because her ADHD is not controlled I will always advocate for her and defend my actions.

hiphopRN · May 6, 2014

Yes there are risks to all medications but like Mandychelle79 said once you see people that are driven to attempt suicide because of the voices or their deep depression you see that they meds can be helpful. Not everyone that comes to an inpatient psych facility will need medications, but once you see someone clear up from their psychosis or have them tell you they are no longer thinking of committing suicide, it can be the best feeling in the world. For many people that doesn't happen without medications. And for those medications with possible serious side effects we make sure they are aware, monitor closely and note any changes. I always try to inform my patients of any possible risks from the medications so that they can participate in their treatment. If a patient feels strongly about not taking medications, we counsel them about their options and how to deal with their symptoms without medications.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 6, 2014

I am a psych patient myself and very well-versed in what psychotropic medications can do to a person. I am on five, including two anti-psychotics, and I wouldn't trade them for anything because I know what fresh hell my life was before I was introduced to them. Yes, I have to put up with some side effects, but I figure a little weight gain and some memory difficulties are a small price to pay for my sanity.

Not to put too fine a point on things, but I came close to suicide in 2012 and was tempted to flush my meds because I didn't think they were doing me any good. I was wrong; I only needed an adjustment and was fine within a short time. But if some well-meaning anti-psychiatry activist with an agenda had poisoned my outlook on meds and psychotherapy, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale.

This is not to say that alternate treatments such as diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements are worthless, or that every mentally ill person needs to be on medication. Not everyone does. But for those of us who do, it's a blessing that these lifesaving drugs are available. Just saying.

BeOne77 · May 6, 2014

Not sure if anyone is familiar with Dr. Peter Breggin M.D but he has a very important perspective here that I would like to share:

I am hoping that this link will be able to be posted.......

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 6, 2014

Wow......it's as if he's saying mental illness itself doesn't exist until psychiatric drugs are introduced. So what does he think people do---imagine we're "sick" and make up our symptoms? Do we choose to have thoughts and feelings that frighten us, act out in ways that are harmful to us and those around us, and let our lives go to hell in a bushel basket? Really?

Personally, I don't know if I have a biochemical imbalance, and I don't really care. I only know that what I suffer with bipolar disorder isn't imaginary, and that my treatment is helping me. Pharmaceuticals aren't the answer for everyone, to be sure, but for a doctor (a psychiatrist, no less) to infer that mental illness is induced by psychiatric medications is scary IMHO.