Posted by yxibow on November 6, 2008, at 18:48:30
In reply to Re: What is your definition of a 'Miracle Drug'?, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on November 6, 2008, at 18:11:14
> > Everyone has their own concept of what a miracle drug might be when treating mental illness.
> >
> > What's yours?
> >
> > What are your requirements for a drug to be deemed a miracle drug?
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> Well, 'Miracle Drug' is an awesome song by U2..lol. But, really, I think more in combinations of drugs. I strongly believe Polypharmacy is 'the way'. We are too complicated as humans to just have one medication (not ALL the time..I know..) that makes everything "better". IMHO...etc..
The brain is too complicated with chemical imbalances for any agent. We're still in the middle ages of psychiatry and there is no such thing as a "miracle drug" or a "magic bullet". It doesn't exist. We can come close to something that works for us and, I hate this technical term, improve our "functionality", that is, make our lives more productive under the stress of mental illness.
That being said, yes, polypharmacy sometimes has to be used -- but there's a caveat, it has to be used judiciously by a psychopharmacologist who knows the interactions well between agents and has seen patients on drugs.
And then there are people like myself who are rather sensitive to certain agents and extra caution has to be done because -- combining agents means combining side effects to an extent.
There is no free lunch, but there is hope. Something that I and I imagine those with multidiagnoses including depression especially find very hard to grasp on to.
-- tidings
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:861166
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081106/msgs/861191.html