Antipsychotics Boost Life Expectancy of Those with Schizophrenia

This article talks about living longer with schizophrenia if you take your medicine. We usually talk about how people with mental illness die twenty five years younger than the rest of the population. “New research shows that individuals with schizophrenia are significantly more likely to live longer if they take their antipsychotic drugs on schedule, avoid extremely high doses and also regularly see a mental health professional.” Take a dose that is not too high and does the job without giving you a relapse or symptoms that is what I get out of this study.
The article also says: “Psychiatrists have long known that people with schizophrenia who stick to a drug regimen have fewer of the debilitating delusions and hallucinations that are hallmarks of this illness, say researchers at John Hopkins University.” Most who take their medication do not have symptoms. I learned also to always take my medication at a certain time of the night. That schedule was taught to me in the State Hospital. We always took it at the same time. You get use to the schedule even out here. “But there are concerns about possible side effects of the medication, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the researchers note.” I believe that is with all medication. As I wrote last week on being healthier, I have cut down on the medications that I believe I do not need.
I believe I was misdiagnosed on some, now I am on blood pressure medication and my Geodon. I believe that if I keep exercising and losing weight I will only be on the Geodon in the future, of course with my doctor’s approval. “We know that antipsychotic medications reduce symptoms, and our study show that staying on reasonable, recommended doses is associated with longer life…The same is true for going to see a psychiatrist or therapist.” Just doing what you have to do anyway. “She added that regular visits to a mental health professional are one way to monitor and encourage drug-use compliance, but the visits themselves also increased survival in this vulnerable population.” You can discuss your medication and how you have been doing. They are saying it will help you live longer that is a bonus we like.
The article says: “Over the decade-long study period, taking medication did not increase the risk of death and there was a trend towards reducing the mortality rate, the researchers found. They also found that each additional visit per year to a mental health professional was linked to a 5 percent reduction in risk of death overall. The study did not rule out all links between increased mortality and antipsychotics drugs. For example, her team found that people who took high doses of first-generation antipsychotic medication daily (1500 mg or greater chlorpromazine equivalents) were 88 percent more likely to die.” Low doses although you have to take what the doctor recommends to keep your symptoms down or none.
They also talk about: “She said mortality rates possibly increased in this group because first-generation antipsychotics have been associated with cardiac disease risks, and among those who died while taking the larger doses, 53 percent died of cardiovascular disease. These drugs work very well, but there is clearly a point of diminishing returns, she said. You rarely need to be on extremely high doses.” They find new things out every day. Although this study sounds very good and is something I like to hear.
The ending of this article is “If people are taking their medication, they usually have fewer symptoms and are able to be more organized in other areas of their lives, said Cullen. We believe they are then more likely to make appointments with their primary care doctors, to stay on top of other illnesses they may have and to regularly take diabetes, blood pressure or cholesterol medication that they may require to stay healthy. We also believe that they are more likely to be socially engaged and have a healthier lifestyle. If your illness is under control, you can do a lot more.” Reading the websites that is what I would like for all that has schizophrenia to do more and have even less negative symptoms. I know they would like the same. It is about time we have good news about this disease.

Diabetes

I came across and interesting article yesterday about diabetes. This study is about one problem that people with a mental disability have. I wrote before that people with a mental disability die twenty five years younger than the general population. One disease they get most often is diabetes. This article confirms what has been written about before.
In the article they are not sure if the medications cause weight gain to happen, and is the primary cause of diabetes. The second reason they are not sure of it is the medicine actually causing the diabetes or is it the weight gain. They really have to look into that aspect. Being mentally ill know this is important to find out which is causing diabetes. If it is the medicine even if you lost weight you would not be able to be free of diabetes. “The department review included drugs sold under the brand names Abilify, Clozaril,Geodon, Reisperdal and Zyprexa.”

They do know this is a big issue. What they do not know is if people were predisposed of getting diabetes before the medication or is it just the result of the medication. This is a quote from the article “In fiscal 2005 -- the 12-month period ending June 30 of that year -- 67,395 adults ages 18-64 were enrolled in Vermont's Medicaid system. Of those, 5,445 got prescriptions for one of the antipsychotic drugs, and 547 of those patients -- a bit more than 10 percent -- also had diabetes, the department's report said.”
I hope they find out soon although I do not know much of a difference it will make. Reading from schizophrenics about their illness, it would seem they would still continue to take the medication because it helps. Diabetes would just be another side effect. Although it could help researchers if it is the medication causing diabetes to find a way to take that side effect out of medication so we have medication that does not cause this side effect.
On a different note I am including this article on genius's that had mental illness.

Forgiveness is a Part of Sanity

For many years a brown cloud hung over my head after my mother passed way. I was in treatment then, with medications and I found that it hard to accept that I had unfinished work to do. I never got the chance to explain anything about how I gave up drinking and make amends to mother for my drug use or how I began to take classes to secure work. I never made amends for interfering in her life as she had aged, begging constantly for many years just acting a plain idiot about my life. Being irresponsible is a dog’s life she would always say and inside I didn’t want to understand that I was irresponsible or doggerel towards others. I for many weeks on end had conceived the thought that her passing was my fault and that this passing was my lesson. I couldn’t forgive myself and had thought so many responsibilities were now mine and life was going be become tougher. I wasn’t ready. Again I slipped into a morose attitude, as I hardly listened to her then, I began at this time looking inside my mind for the things she said, for the ways she cared, for the understanding she bore. I needed to make my life work and many other things as well. I needed to forgive myself, and I needed the forgiveness of many other people —how?
In so many ways, people apologize, to be forgiven. They give material objects, talk out their reasons, sing, go to church, seek the reverence of God, yet I found that a quiet place and the understanding of those I seek forgiveness of comes from understanding of what is most spiritual between myself and the memory of those I seek amends of . In a sense I am using certain key steps in Recovery, A.A, N.A and those thoughts learned in Psychotherapy to reach inside and know how change with understanding and forgiveness is greater than the brown cloud of nothingness. To be forgiven is to be understood, it’s a two way street with the horizon awaiting to give you comfort. It’s not something you can force yet you give thought and you give faith because you understand that you or I are not self centered and that reaching that medium is having faith in the spirit between you and those that have been hurt. The idea of spirit is not just some misty cloud or entity unseen, but the energy you carry with you as every else to move thought and awareness with the senses you possess to convey ideas and to make those ideas work. Belief is as spiritual as faith and hope is the material aspect of movement. Forgiveness is parting away from the sorrow and pain and seeing that all those aspects are a part of Recovery and of the self.

Written By Donald Sammons

An Option of Circles

A circle is a circle. We live with such movements, though in lines from one point to another. No one is quite sure when their circle will end or begin, if they are making their debut into the world or into society. People, who face disorders of the Mental Health type, even of the physical health kind, one possibly leading to the other; often disdain from seeking the order of circles, lines and squares to alleviate any problems which may have arisen. There is no sense in such an existence, it’s all spontaneous, from tears, to laughter; even anger.
It’s when this all stops or never ends that many are classified as Mentally disabled; seeking the answer to any particular problem or even acceptance of one’s physical maladies.
I have days when I don’t want to be anywhere amongst the crowd even though the world is complacent. I would rather sleep and wake up knowing today is not spinning in a circle like yesterday, or hasn’t carried onto another day. I take medication especially for days like these and call a few friends for reassurance and advice, and then I walk a few more feet. The people I talk to are my strength when I am depleted, when my mind should care to sleep. Talking to my clinician is assuring, knowing I can trust him with the details when I begin to feel “under the hammer”.
Recovery is part of these dimensions, relying upon our own ability to see through the haze which will not let you believe you are free. Using certain tools you can weld to reconstruct and surpass the lines and circles you cannot measure such as, Cognitive Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. The logic is real in its simplicity it’s just a matter of believing.
Written by Donald Sammons

Medications

I am going to start talking about my recovery which started at the State Hospital. While I was there I was finally started on Moban and Kemidrin after a trial of other medications which had different side effects like making my arms and hands shake. They all had different side effects and the doctor was tired of trying new ones. He told me that when I was out on the porch smoking that I did not shake. I asked him if he could try one more time. He looked in his books and came up with that medication. I could not have that because I already had a dream of rebuilding my life and starting over. I could not type with my arms shaking. I could not go for a job interview like that. By going to the State Hospital it gave me a chance to put away my old life and start a new one. I did not like the fact that I had mental illness it was and is the worst thing that ever happened to me. They tried to make switch from caffeinated coffee to decaffeinated coffee. I did not like it. After finally getting out of the State hospital one night after drinking coffee, and having by mind start racing, and almost having my mental illness come back I decided to quit. It was one of the hardest things to quit. I had already quit smoking with the help of Wellbutrin, and the side effects from that made me stop taking it after thirty days. Quitting coffee made by body go through withdrawals also. I could not believe that it had made such a difference to my body. I am now on Geodon. It is a lot better. I can do a lot more including getting up earlier in the morning. By all means though it is not a miracle drug, if I miss taking it four hours later I will wake up cold and my body feeling weird. I automatically look to see if I took my medicine.

Making a Choice by Decision

Making decisions is one of the most time consuming chores of being human. Being mentally disabled, we find ourselves seeking advice to make choices and often times we don’t always make the right decisions. This may be because of our own intellect, being forced to look in other directions or even the use of drugs, alcohol or prescribed medications.
Being able to make the right decisions doesn’t mean, intense soul searching, yet it does entail a quiet place where you can examine the thoughts in question. Know that you have questions that are a part of solving the problem, which may help you to make the proper decisions; there is an answer somewhere! Adding and subtraction are the basics to solving math problems, and they are the basics to making decisions.
If you look into the world of computers and computer programmers, you will find they use a technique of adding and subtracting to solve very complicated problems which lead to decisions which solve other problems. I have begun to learn many different problem solving techniques which have led to making decisions about my personal life. It doesn’t take logic or computer programming to know what should be right, experience is the best teacher and advice can be solace.
Written by Donald Sammons