I'd like a straight answer about AP's . Brain damage

Medications
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I know Psychosis can cause brain damage but I’m still not clear whether or not Ap’s cause brain damage/brain shrinkage. Some people seem certain they do while others do not believe so. I even see conflicting articles on the internet. Does anyone know the answer to this question or is it still up for debate?

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I don’t know but if you know for sure that psychosis causes it and you’re not sure whether ap’s do or don’t it seems like it would be worth it to take the ap to avoid the psychosis and take the risk of the potential brain damage rather than the certain brain damage of the psychosis of not being medicated at all.

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I agree but taking the minimum dose would seem to be desirable. I’d just like a straight answer so we know what we are dealing with.

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I also agree taking the minimum dose is the best thing. And yes a straight answer would be great. I don’t know. I’m sorry.

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Different studies have conflicting results. The most recent study shows that both cause damage, but psychosis causes more damage than the meds.

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I think it’s more about which AP…
Clozapine is less dangerous for brain then just dopamine antagonists such as Haldol,as shown on MRI scans…

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I’m having trouble with an antidepressant called Paxil. I’ll get up to do something, and then I will forget what I was going to do. I forget very simple words. A week ago I wanted to ask a woman for a paper clip, but I couldn’t think of the name for such an item. Last Tuesday I was buying groceries in the Dollar Tree, and I forgot I had a snap card, and I paid for my groceries with cash. I told my pdoc this, and he told me that Paxil sometimes does that, and he switched me to Zoloft.

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Im under no illusions that anti-psychotics actually protect the brain, by regulating the chemicals in it. And even if it did damage it slightly , i would still take them cos the pros far out weigh the cons.

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Look in these articles…
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Brain-edge-regions-associated-with-total-antipsychotic-medication-exposure-over-time-in_fig2_280135091

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Yeah AP’s could do some damage but I have to be on them.
I have no choice really.

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I think it’s more body damage with ap’s then brain…
Diabetes,hyperlypidemia,high prolactin levels etc

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Damage from psychosis is worse, I get extreme long term headaches when I am unmedicated.
Also without meds I am suicidal and homicidal.
Meds 4 Life!

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Too low symptoms not effectively treated. Too high -negative effect on cognition.

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The minimum dose isn’t always the therapeutic dose. It just exists so they can try you on the drug with a low dose to check for unwanted effects. I must agree the brain damage is a 50/50 glass half empty glass half full but at the end of the day if taking meds keeps the arguments at bay then who gives a crap about who what and where. Obviously the idea is to create a happy healthy tax payer with minimum effort. I fought tooth and nail to be taken of meds and never won. I think now at least they know that I’m not the crazed lunatic drug smoker that they made me out to be.

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I meant the minimum therapeutic dose. In other words, the minimum dose that keeps your positive symptoms at bay.

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I took a neuropsychopharmacology class. We were taught that APs prevented the brain damage that long term untreated psychosis causes. I have never been taught or seen any information suggesting APs cause brain damage.

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Antipsychotics may do a lot of brain damage but not taking them may do even more damage to you. Some individuals with schizophrenia who don’t take their medications may not live as long as those who do, due to suicidality, drug/alcohol addiction. Not saying that those who take their meds don’t have those problems but the meds help our chemical imbalance. Individuals who take antipsychotics are at risk for diabetes and heart problems but with a healthy diet and exercise routine you can stay healthy. Antipsychotics are also linked to causing dementia in individuals with schizophrenia.

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Meds are preventing me from having a healthy diet. I have no motivation to take care of my health. I can’t be disciplined. I gained 170lb from meds, now 300lb at 30 y.o. taking meds for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

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I’m the same way I eat fast food almost every meal

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