Overload

Schizophrenia treatments

Category: Medicines

Type

Involuntary and voluntary

Introduction and description

Sadak in search of the waters of oblivion

Within this class of drugs are a mixture of all sorts of pharmaceuticals, whose only similarity is that they are being marketed as schizophrenia treatments. Many are also being marketed for other purposes. The drug Risperidone, for example is not only being marketed for schizophrenia (including adolescent schizophrenia), it is marketed for “schizoaffective disorder, the mixed and manic states associated with bipolar disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder and irritability in children with autism [sic]”.

Schizophrenia is caused by damage to the brain. There is promising work being done on whether the damage can in fact be repaired using regular prolonged sleep to enable the body to flush the toxins away that may be attacking the brain and also to help it repair the damage. There are also a number of foods that can help in alleviating symptoms and help the repair work. These are all listed under the healing category of observations for Schizophrenia itself. We have also provided a very small number of observations in this section, on cognitive behaviour therapy to show that once you have schizophrenia alternative treatment modalities exist to help you cope with it.

Essentially, however, this section is about the pharmaceuticals that doctors and psychiatrists prescribe to deal with the symptoms of schizophrenia. There is no indication that any of these heal, they simply mask or temporarily suppress the symptoms. If the cause is heavy metals, a parasite, bacteria, fungus or virus, or perhaps radiation such as that delivered by a mobile phone, by giving someone these pharmaceuticals you are not tackling the cause and of course, things will simply get worse.

Side effects

Great Fire of London

Using the figures from the eHealthme website which records the Adverse Drug Reports submitted by doctors to the FDA and SEDA, we can build up a picture of the actual side effects being experienced by those on these drugs. Taking a few drugs at random, we find the following:

General side effects

There are some side effects that appear to be particular to one drug, but very high, for example, convulsions in Tegretol (1,916 reports).

There are also indications that some of these drugs simply sedate and so not even tackle the symptoms. Drowsiness for example is frequently reported, as is dizziness and fatigue. There are also reports of falls eg Fall in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (39 reports) or Humerus Fracture in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (34 reports). In one drug the breathing even slowed or stopped (193 reports).

In contrast, insomnia is a side effect of a number of these drugs:

Insomnia in Serentil (9 reports)
Insomnia in Orap (15 reports)
Insomnia in Seroquel (6,340 reports)

There are all the symptoms of poisoning – nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as fevers, skin rashes and seborrhoea. Some doctors simply report it as it is eg Drug Toxicity in Quetiapine fumarate (197 reports).

Destruction of Tyre

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

NMS is a life-threatening neurological condition producing muscle rigidity, fever, autonomic instability, and cognitive changes such as delirium. It may also produce elevated plasma creatine phosphokinase. Clinically, creatine kinase is assayed in blood tests as a marker of damage of CK-rich tissue such as in myocardial infarction (heart attack), rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), muscular dystrophy, the autoimmune myositides and in acute renal failure.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (39 reports)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in Risperidone (520 reports)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in Promazine Hydrochloride (28 reports)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in Fluphenazine (51 reports)
Blood Creatine Phosphokinase Increased in Promazine Hydrochloride (26 reports)
Blood Creatine Phosphokinase Increased in Fluphenazine (48 reports)
Blood Creatine Phosphokinase Increased in Orap (16 reports)
Rhabdomyolysis in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (36 reports)
Lactic Acidosis in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (35 reports)
Agranulocytosis in Fluphenazine (57 reports)
Pancreatitis in Seroquel (4,683 reports)
Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased in Promazine Hydrochloride (16 reports)

Diabetes

Destruction of Pompei

One of the side effects that appears to be fairly common amongst all these drugs is diabetes, for example:

Type 2 Diabetes in Moban (9 reports)
Blood Glucose Increased in Moban (8 reports)
Diabetes in Geodon (1,419 reports)
Type 2 Diabetes in Geodon (1,194 reports)
Diabetes in Seroquel (11,307 reports)
Type 2 Diabetes in Seroquel (5,869 reports)
Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Seroquel (4,202 reports)
Diabetes in Serentil (9 reports)
Blood Pressure Management in Serentil (13 reports)
Blood Glucose Increased in Serentil (10 reports)
Diabetes in Risperdal (3,728 reports)
Type 2 Diabetes in Risperdal (2,657 reports)

At the same time, possibly as a consequence of or a contributory factor, weight increase is also experienced:

Weight Increased in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (41 reports)
Weight Increased in Moban (12 reports)
Weight Increased in Orap (17 reports)
Weight Increased in Risperidone (592 reports)
Weight Increased in Risperdal (2,326 reports)
Weight Increased in Seroquel (4,219 reports)
Weight Increased in Geodon (955 reports)

Belshazzar's Feast

Heart problems

There appear to be a number of side effects that are all heart related:

High Blood Pressure in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (39 reports)
Cardiac Arrest in Quetiapine fumarate (240 reports)
High Blood Cholesterol in Risperdal (1,222 reports)
High Blood Cholesterol in Moban (10 reports)
Cardiac Arrest in Orap (24 reports)
High Blood Pressure in Serentil (13 reports)
Heart Attack in Serentil (9 reports)
High Blood Cholesterol in Geodon (759 reports)
Breathing Difficulty in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (40 reports)

Ineffectiveness

Here and there one gets an indication that these drugs are ineffective:

Stress And Anxiety in Seroquel (3,731 reports)
Depression in Seroquel (3,637 reports)
Depression in Quetiapine fumarate (191 reports)
Agitation in Serentil (15 reports)
Psychotic Disorder in Serentil (10 reports)
Depression in Risperdal (1,271 reports)
Agitation in Risperidone (632 reports)
Psychotic Disorder in Risperidone (627 reports)
Agitation in Fluphenazine (46 reports)
Depression in Orap (13 reports)
Agitation in Moban (12 reports)
Psychotic Disorder in Moban (10 reports)
Stress And Anxiety in Risperidone (536 reports)
Drug Ineffective in Risperidone (531 reports)
Agitation in Risperdal (1,406 reports)
Agitation in Quetiapine fumarate (206 reports)
Stress And Anxiety in Geodon (812 reports)
Agitation in Ziprasidone hydrochloride (32 reports)
Depression in Moban (7 reports)
Tremor in Fluphenazine (55 reports)
Tremor in Risperidone (499 reports)

The Last Judgement

Completed suicides

The deaths described below are only those which might be termed an ‘adverse effect’, they do not include the number of suicides. The eHealthme site splits up suicides into a number of categories, including attempted suicides and completed suicides, making it somewhat difficult to get a complete figure on how many suicides resulted. If we just take the completed suicides, the figures are as follows [Not all drugs are shown]:

Tegretol – 75
Carbamazepine – 433
Thorazine – 35
Risperidone – 391
Risperdal and Risperdal consta – 566
Quetiapine – 634
Seroquel and Seroquel xr – 715
Geodon – 103

Paradise lost: Lost Bridge over Chaos

Deaths

Using the figures from the eHealthme website which records the Adverse Drug Reports submitted by doctors to the FDA and SEDA, the total number of side effects and deaths for each drug is as follows. These figures were correct as at March 2016 and apply only to the USA and not the rest of the world.

Tegretol and carbamazepine are all the same drug

On Mar, 11, 2015: 23,986 people reported to have side effects when taking Tegretol. Among them, 315 people (1.31%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 1,371 people reported to have side effects when taking Tegretol-xr. Among them, 20 people (1.46%) have Death.
On Mar, 6, 2016: 15,497 people reported to have side effects when taking Carbamazepine. Among them, 222 people (1.43%) have Death

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) — marketed as Thorazine

On Feb, 28, 2016: 2,430 people reported to have side effects when taking Thorazine. Among them, 63 people (2.59%) have Death
On Feb, 27, 2016: 390 people reported to have side effects when taking Chlorpromazine hydrochloride. Among them, 5 people (1.28%) have Death

Iloperidone, marketed as Fanapt, Fanapta, and previously known as Zomaril

On Mar, 19, 2016: 767 people reported to have side effects when taking Fanapt. Among them, 22 people (2.87%) have Death

Loxapine and all its names

On Mar, 10, 2016: 1,161 people reported to have side effects when taking Loxapine. Among them, 42 people (3.62%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 234 people reported to have side effects when taking Loxapine succinate. Among them, 6 people (2.56%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 311 people reported to have side effects when taking Loxitane. Among them, 6 people (1.93%) have Death

Molindone (Moban)

On Mar, 26, 2016: 142 people reported to have side effects when taking Moban. Among them, 2 people (1.41%) have Death

Ondansetron – all the same drug just different spellings has resulted in split figures

On Mar, 25, 2016: 127 people reported to have side effects when taking Ondansertron hydrochloride. Among them, 4 people (3.15%) have Death
On Mar, 4, 2016: 2,845 people reported to have side effects when taking Ondansetron. Among them, 38 people (1.34%) have Death
On Mar, 24, 2016: 1,468 people reported to have side effects when taking Ondansetron hydrochloride. Among them, 23 people (1.57%) have Death
On Mar, 5, 2016: 354 people reported to have side effects when taking Zofran. Among them, 3 people (0.85%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 5 people reported to have side effects when taking Zuplenz. Among them, 1 people (20.00%) has Death

Pimozide (Orap)

On Mar, 4, 2016: 330 people reported to have side effects when taking Orap. Among them, 10 people (3.03%) have Death

Prolixin and fluphenazine are the same drug

On Mar, 25, 2016: 892 people reported to have side effects when taking Prolixin. Among them, 14 people (1.57%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 138 people reported to have side effects when taking Prolixin decanoate. Among them, 4 people (2.90%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 1,132 people reported to have side effects when taking Fluphenazine. Among them, 22 people (1.94%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 312 people reported to have side effects when taking Fluphenazine decanoate. Among them, 9 people (2.88%) have Death
On Mar, 26, 2016: 60 people reported to have side effects when taking Fluphenazine hydrochloride. Among them, 1 people (1.67%) has Death

Promazine (Sparine)

On Mar, 26, 2016: 276 people reported to have side effects when taking Promazine hydrochloride. Among them, 7 people (2.54%) have Death

Risperidone and trade names such as Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Ridal, Sizodon or Riscalin, Rispolept , Belivon, or Rispen

On Mar, 20, 2016: 13,730 people reported to have side effects when taking Risperidone. Among them, 401 people (2.92%) have Death
On Mar, 14, 2016: 41,504 people reported to have side effects when taking Risperdal. Among them, 1,847 people (4.45%) have Death
On Feb, 28, 2016: 5,095 people reported to have side effects when taking Risperdal consta. Among them, 318 people (6.24%) have Death

Asenapine trade names Saphris

On Mar, 5, 2016: 3,985 people reported to have side effects when taking Saphris. Among them, 48 people (1.20%) have Death

Mesoridazine (Serentil)

On Mar, 26, 2016: 137 people reported to have side effects when taking Serentil. Among them, 3 people (2.19%) have Death

Quetiapine developed and marketed as Seroquel

On Mar, 5, 2016: 4,733 people reported to have side effects when taking Quetiapine fumarate. Among them, 166 people (3.51%) have Death
On Mar, 24, 2016: 76,413 people reported to have side effects when taking Seroquel. Among them, 2,391 people (3.13%) have Death
On Mar, 23, 2016: 9,038 people reported to have side effects when taking Seroquel xr. Among them, 122 people (1.35%) have Death

Xyrem is also called Alcover and sodium oxybate

On Mar, 21, 2016: 3,785 people reported to have side effects when taking Xyrem. Among them, 314 people (8.30%) have Death

Ziprasidone marketed as Geodon, Zeldox and Zipwell

On Mar, 26, 2016: 481 people reported to have side effects when taking Ziprasidone hydrochloride. Among them, 20 people (4.16%) have Death
On Mar, 9, 2016: 14,540 people reported to have side effects when taking Geodon. Among them, 371 people (2.55%) have Death

The Plains of heaven

Summary

Using the figures from the eHealthme website which records the Adverse Drug Reports submitted by doctors to the FDA and SEDA, the total number of side effects and deaths are as follows. These figures were correct as at March 2016 and apply only to the USA and not the rest of the world

Total number of people with side-effects from drugs: 227,469

Total number of people who have died: 6,840

References and further reading

The paintings are all by John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) an English painter, engraver and illustrator. He came from a family of eccentrics. Dinner parties at which Martin's brothers were among the guests were famous, “their eccentricities adding to the already exotic flavour”.

One brother Jonathan, a preacher tormented by madness , set fire to York Minster in 1829, for which he stood trial. “Mad Martin" was ultimately found guilty but was not punished, on the grounds of insanity. John Martin’s dives into the depths of hell were accelerated by the deaths of his father, mother, grandmother and young son in a single year. Debt and family pressures, including the suicide of his nephew (Jonathan’s son Richard) brought on further depression which reached its worst in 1838. The result is these vast, melodramatic and apocalyptic paintings. Perhaps painting is, in the end, a more effective therapy than drugs, and we get to see what 'madness' is like.

Observations

Using the figures from the eHealthme website which records the Adverse Drug Reports submitted by doctors to the FDA and SEDA, the total number of hallucinations for each drug are as follows. These figures were correct as at March 2016 and apply only to the USA and not the rest of the world.

The link takes you to the eHealthme website where up-to-date information about all side effects can be found.

Drug	No of hallucinations
Tegretol	262
- Tegretol xr	13
- Carbamazepine	84
Chlorpromazine	5
Thorazine	34
Fanapt	9
Loxapine	19
- Loxitane	4
Moban	3
Ondansetron	30
- Ondansetron hydrochloride	7
- Zofran	1
Orap	3
- Prolixin	20
Fluphenazine [incl decoanate and hydrochloride]	21
Promazine	1
- Sparine	1
Risperidone	222
Risperdal	562
- Risperdal consta	71
Saphris	24
Serentil	3
Quetiapine	81
Seroquel	1,102
- Seroquel xr	110
Xyrem	87
Ziprasidone	11
Geodon	268

The Great Day of his Wrath

Related observations

Helps Me to Live with My Schizophrenia MDMA (Ecstasy) by Respondent 39 020278

WHAT AND WHERE IS HEAVEN?

VISIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS

Navigation

Sub Navigation

Overload

Schizophrenia treatments

Type

Introduction and description