Psych Medications

I don't recall any such connection but I could have missed it. This is something to take up with your internest.

A 1996 PDF article on a a study connects elevations with GAD.

http://www.cpa-apc.org/publications/archives/PDF/1996/Sep/kuczmier.pdf

Yes, elevated prolactin levels and blood sugars are well documented side effects of the atypical antipsychotics. Google prolactin and risperdal.

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/risperdal.htm

Elevated cholesterol is reported by quite a few ssri users, but there have been no studies to confirm or deny the cause.

Yes, antipsychotics such as Abilify, Risperdal, Geodon, Risperdal, etc are known to cause increased triglycerides. At our hospital, we run a lipid panel on all admits who are on any antipsychotic, or anyone who is started on one to determine a baseline. I would keep an eye on it.

include there teh side effect of meds--- amenorrhea

E**exor. The worst drug IMHO. my CHO went up to 300 on it, took me a year of weaning brain zaps, ups and downs to get off and now the CHO is >120 I was crying after 9-11 and they though I needed it. once on hard to get off.

Many psychotropic medications are associated with various health risks and the 'newer' antipsychotics are associated with the metabolic syndrome that increases risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Psychiatric services should have a metabolic syndrome clinic, and or liaise with the GP regarding physical health.

I've attached some links that you might find useful.

http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v06s02/v06s0202.pdf

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0920996405003105

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pressparliament/pressreleasearchive/pr539.aspx

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pressparliament/pressreleasearchive/pr771.aspx

In my experience it is best to avoid fast food, preferably eating whole foods (not processed) and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Also maintain a daily exercise routine.

Hope this helps.

There's been some research done recently about such things. Have you noticed that long-time schizophrenic sufferers can tend toward the heavy side? The research was intended to determine if this situation is due to an innate propensity toward heaviness, related to the schizophrenia, or medication with antipsychotic medications, or an interplay between the two. The research concluded there's a likely correlation between heaviness and all of these situations....

Hi Whispera, strange findings indeed. Before the atypicals schizophrenic patients tended to be skinny if anything.

The main difference I find between my patients and their size is the choice and amount of food, although I'm not denying the medication can put more than 40kg on to a person without changing diet. Milky drinks such as iced coffee and mocha plus only eating cheap takeaways equals obesity. But I think this is probably the same with those not prescribed neuroleptic medication.

we do this too on our kids who come in. 8 times out of 10 their triglycerides are elevated. Atypicals are notorious for the metabolic syndrome. We do a coronary risk panel on any antipsychotic and any mood stabilizer (lithium and depakote included). Follow it closely. Get a glycohemoglobin (A1C), cholesterol/triglycerides, comprehensive metabolic panel with liver enzymes, I would even get a CRP (C-reactive protein) to see if any inflammatory factors are putting you at risk of an MI, esp if you've been on these meds awhile and haven't been tested for cholesterol. Do you check your BP regularly? If your cholesterol is high, eat a high fiber diet, lots of omega-3's and flaxseed, multivitamin. Take a cholesterol med for awhile if it's recommended. I recommend 1/2 c. of flaxseed meal to my patients who are known to tend toward constipation. Mix it with any juice and drink daily. It will keep you regular without being gassy and has the side effects of all that omega=3's. My mom went off her cholesterol med by doing flax for 6 months. I take it too to stay regular. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Yes, antipsychotics such as Abilify, Risperdal, Geodon, Risperdal, etc are known to cause increased triglycerides. At our hospital, we run a lipid panel on all admits who are on any antipsychotic, or anyone who is started on one to determine a baseline. I would keep an eye on it.