Can psychiatric medications cause permanent problems?

Question

I have been taking effexor for a year without any serious problems, but now I've decided to switch to Cymbalta because effexor doesn't stay in the body long enough. I know every medication has its horror stories, and I was just wondering... do they cause PERMANENT damage or just temporary?

Answer 1

Most antipsychotic medications carry the potential of causing tardive diskenisia which is a central nervous system disease. It can cause a lot of different problems like repetitive, involuntary movements of the limbs, tongue, and throat. It is really quite a bad disease that has no cure. The main culprits are the older antipsychotics such as haldol and thorazine. It is for this reason (among others) that newer drugs are sought and the older ones are used as a temporary "quick fix" or in lieu of other treatments when they don't work effectively. Usually TD develops after many, many years of use.

As far as I know, antidepressants such as effexor do not have any permanent health risks. Diabetes would be a concern if it is causing you to gain abnormally large amounts of weight.

Answer 2

Some of the older anti-psychotics have been known to cause tardive dyskenesia, a mental condition which is usually permanant in which the person who suffers from it will constantly lick their lips and roll their tongue around in their mouth.
I don't know if the more recent anti-psychotics cause it, and I don't know if you are taking an anti-psychotic, but if you like feel free to approach a pharmacist in any drug store and ask them if there are any side effects of the medicine you are taking.
They should give you a printout with the side effects listed on it.
They are obligated to do so. It's part of their job requirements.
Most of the time they are happy to help and answer questions.

Answer 3

You will find the vast majority of people taking anti psychotic medications believe the pills are causing their mental problems. The scary thing is unconventional investigation into it has shown they really could be right. Not all of them, but a small percentage of course. There was a speech on this on C-Span2 one time where they were discussing the effects on the brain of these anti psychotic medications, too detailed to go into here, but there is some evidence to suggest truth to what has long been commonly believe to be just paranoia.

Answer 4

Yes. They can cause permanent damage. One simple example is the side-effect of suicide: This is permanent. Other side effects such as weight-gain and drowsiness if these are long-lasting can cause all types of physical problems. These range from diabetes to cardiovascular diseases. All types of side-effects caused by SSRIs can influence other body functions. It may not be that the direct side-effects continue after stopping SSRI's - but the influence they have had may be permanent.

This is something you should talk to your doctor about.

Answer 5

Yes.
Google Tardive Dyskinesia for one example. You can also Google the meds and read the long term effects. Additionally, anyone prescribing these drugs is required to provide this information when you ask.