'How Big Pharma Got Americans Hooked On Anti-Psychotic Drugs'

Al Jazeera:

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.

Read the whole story: Al Jazeera

Comments

[JoanMeijer]

06:14 PM on 07/15/2011

This explains why people vote Republican - they're semi-conscious most of the time.

[K August]

04:17 AM on 07/18/2011

It explains why FL voted in the biggest medicare fraud thief in history as Gov.

[tuberider]

02:12 PM on 07/15/2011

Ohh maaann! Crush that schwam, stuff it in the bong with some white wine: The schizizzle!!

[Telemachus]

11:46 AM on 07/15/2011

I want that pill that makes a guy look a little like Clint Eastwood and drive a '69 Firebird. Don't care what it's for.

[Retrofuturistic]

10:05 AM on 07/15/2011

This is what happened to the survivors of the Bush administration....

[SaraSH]

03:18 AM on 07/15/2011

I learned that I wanted to be a scientist thx to my severe attraction to nature.I learned parenting from the wild animals since as a scientist,I KNOW we are nothing but primate mammals ( animals) with bigger brain cortex. When I watch a mother dog or a lioness TEACHes her babies how to survive, hunt,feed, not to make stupid mistakes (e.g by biting the neck, severe practice, anger) I learn that is HOW any living animal in the nature is chemically, hormonally, anatomically, mentally, physically, genetically, etc is evolved to be like in order to survive.Humans are NO exception.
It is NO coincidence that children of rich people most of the time come out weak wimpy crooks,they have been pampered all their lives and have been taken to shrinks over any failure or issue, whereas, I and my six other siblings were beaten, bullied, challenged, traumatized, forced,won games, lost games, socialized, dealt with war, with death, you name it and we passed the many exams of living and surviving in a TOUGH crazy world. Humans are evolved to react to happiness as well to stress.Stress is as much of a brain stimuli for survival and motivation as is happiness. In a phony wimpy modern society of laziness and quick satisfaction & NO NO stress,your sanity is the price you pay. Nature is not fair. U are either strong and resilient and true to your animal self or you are not. And the latter only survives by chance.

[SaraSH]

02:59 AM on 07/15/2011

This is truly disgusting...among other issues of this country. I am VERY SORRY for Americans to have descended this far. My husband & I are migrating to Australia where he is from. He is a psychiatrist and believes( so do I) that the MAJORITY of patients on anti depressants should have NEVER been prescribed such horrible zombie agents. He won't ever prescribe these junk pills that are ONLY appropriate for the few that really are BORN with genes ( & exhibit symptoms) for serious mental conditions to anyone if he is not a 100% sure of the diagnosis. We believe most Americans, due to lack of knowledge in sciences, and also an inherent anti science & gullible trusting nature just don't understand these pills are equal if not worse than narcotics and heroin addiction, they really mess with brain wiring/chemical synopsis to a great extent. I wish people got some more education.

[DannyHaszard]

02:16 AM on 07/15/2011

Eli Lilly Zyprexa,Risperdal and Seroquel same saga

The use of powerful antipsychotic drugs has increased in children as young as three years old. Weight gain, increases in triglyceride levels and associated risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The average weight gain (adults) over the 12 week study period was the highest for Zyprexa—17 pounds. You’d be hard pressed to gain that kind of weight sport-eating your way through the holidays.
One in 145 adults died in clinical trials of those taking the antipsychotic drugs Zyprexa. This is Lilly's # 1 product over $ 4 billion year sales,moreover Lilly also make billions on drugs that treat the diabetes often that has been caused by the zyprexa!
---
Daniel Haszard Zyprexa victim activist and patient who got diabetes from it. http://www.zyprexa-victims.com

[SaraSH]

03:02 AM on 07/15/2011

what happened to all the good old fashioned upbringing? My mom fixed every issue with a slap on the face, serious grounding, and occasional beating with her slipper behind our back/legs....hurt a bit, but nothing out of ordinary and nothing with ever lasting harm. She raised SEVEN normal successful mature responsible children. I am definitely raising mine old fashioned, no shrink is needed for my kids. NEVER.

[dbrett480]

11:51 PM on 07/14/2011

I'm sure that many anti-psych drugs are overprescribed, but there is definite value in the ones used to treat psychotic breakdowns and other serious acute psychotic episodes.

[JoePharms]

11:49 PM on 07/14/2011

The side effect profile of drugs like Zyprexa and the other so-called "atypical antipsychotics" are horrendous.

We're talking about losing the ability to fight infections because of a condition known as agranulocytosis as the big side effect. Other side effects include features of metabolic syndrome as well as dyskinesias.

And to boot, these meds are being given with more frequency to old folks, even though a black box warning exists against prescribing them to elderly patients with dementia!

Granted, some people need these drugs, but they are starting to be prescribed like candy.

Atypical antipsychotics are now even used in depression (officially sanctioned by the FDA).

Sickening.

JoePharms, RPH

[teachone]

10:53 PM on 07/14/2011

There is no reason anyone should be taking these drugs or any others. Psychiatry is NOT an exact science, as stated they are guessing if people have certain illnesses then pumping all kinds of different brain altering drugs into them that have numerous and very serious side effects! If there are no true tests that can diagnose someone of something 100%, they have no business taking a medication of any kind.! Exercise, vitamins, eating well, sleep, lowering stress, religion,all of the these heal the mind, body and soul! People need to stop looking for a drug to solve everything...that is their problem, they need to instead take care of themselves, cut back on their hours at work, lower their debt load, spend more time with their children, families, pets, and take good care of themselves! It is no wonder so many people are acting so out of control or weird in this country, they are probably all on these medications! You have to take control of your own life and health as money and greed are the driving factors of the medical, dental and insurance industry today and they will do and say anything to get it!!

[Arts4u]

07:56 PM on 07/14/2011

It's about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

It's not about any increase in need.

[BigDaddyWow]

12:22 AM on 07/15/2011

You must not live in America or you have a large trust fund.

[Arts4u]

09:04 PM on 07/15/2011

Nope... have lived in major US cities for many years..... and interestingly enough have had conversations with those in who study mental health trends who inform me that the rate of mental illness has not increased over the last twenty years... what has increased is the professions over-reliance on prescribing pharmaceuticals.... big $ for them & insurance companies are happier as well as they can do away with drawn out talk-therapy.

[Ballsin]

06:26 PM on 07/14/2011

and Marijuana is illegal. Hypocrites.

[ThePeacemakers]

06:49 PM on 07/14/2011

This is an interesting read:

Wake Up and Smell the Terpenes!
How Cannabis Works
By FRED GARDNER

http://counterpunch.org/gardner07142011.html/

[Ballsin]

07:45 PM on 07/14/2011

Thank you. Now someone get this to the DEA immediately... LOL hypocrites the lot of em.

[Jens Weissflog]

06:14 PM on 07/14/2011

I kind of like our European way of not allowing any ads on prescription medicine.

[SaraSH]

03:05 AM on 07/15/2011

exactly...these ads are driving me out of US...having been raised in three continents, I could never imagine such ridiculous things make me want to get the hell out of this place and go back to those ' socialist' countries...which I miss in every way.

[caneca]

06:14 PM on 07/14/2011

And is not only anti-psychotics;

is also anxiolitics, antidepressants, medications for ADD, etc.

[BigDaddyWow]

12:23 AM on 07/15/2011

Mostly ceratonin reuptake inhibitors I would guess. Prozac, Zoloft....

[gman87]

06:00 PM on 07/14/2011

Seeing as Obama was elected, no surprise here....

[Ballsin]

06:26 PM on 07/14/2011

YEAH, ALL OF THE RACISTS'S HEAD BLEW UP WHEN THEY SAW THAT ABLACK MAN WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT.