Schizophrenia - General Discussion

@stormylynx23, who actually picks up that magazine? I'm curious about the price point, where you can grab a copy, and what their typical circulation looks like.

briskgull27 said:@stormylynx23, who actually picks up that magazine? I'm curious about the price point, where you can grab a copy, and what their typical circulation looks like.

Look, Google isn't actually affiliated with the Special Olympics. It's just that the editor happens to be my psychiatrist—he's also the guy who pushed for the creation of both the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation here in the States.

It costs about $10 and you can grab it at any newsstand. It's basically a journal for psychological medicine. You might be able to track down some back issues, but since their website is totally down right now, I honestly have no clue.

stormylynx23 said:It's not about having someone write *for* me. My whole goal is just to get as many people involved as possible—whether they're part of an advocacy group, outsiders, healthy folks, patients, or even psychiatrists—all contributing to the conversation on mental health. More voices, more perspectives. Total anarchy, really (think of it like a grassroots assembly). At the end of the day, the point is to actually help people struggling with mental illness.

I’m not exactly the most active member right now, but yeah, I’m building a website (doing everything for free so there's no confusion about money)
P.S.: The technical side is still kicking my ass

In that case, this article/interview regarding PTSD would be a perfect fit for you. Once I stumble upon anything else that might be relevant, I'll let you know (and would it be okay if some were in English, so you could translate them yourselves? This one on PTSD is already translated—not sure if you've seen it).

I just don't quite get why it has to be restricted to a single A4 page...
PS: If you need help with the website or any tech stuff, feel free to ask around here on the forum; check out the IT or web design sections if you haven't already.

Taylor Campbell4 said:In that case, this article/interview regarding PTSD would be a perfect fit for you. Once I stumble upon anything else that might be relevant, I'll let you know (and would it be okay if some were in English, so you could translate them yourselves? This one on PTSD is already translated—not sure if you've seen it).

I just don't quite get why it has to be restricted to a single A4 page...
PS: If you need help with the website or any tech stuff, feel free to ask around here on the forum; check out the IT or web design sections if you haven't already.

I'll take a look.
It doesn't have to be just one page. It can be as long as necessary. I only mentioned the one-page limit before so I wouldn't scare people off, since I brought it up once already.

I tried typing in www.psychologytoday.com but it's just contact info.
It’s not heavy-duty clinical psychiatry; it's more like pop psychology.

The American Psychiatric Association is a proud member of the World Psychiatric Association. We operate as a non-profit organization where psychiatrists and dedicated professionals—along with passionate volunteers—join forces to achieve our shared mission: protecting and advancing mental health across the United States. As a legal entity, our operations are fully transparent and governed by our official Bylaws. Our leadership is headed by a President and two Vice Presidents, and we often partner with other organizations to better serve our community.
ORGANIZATION The Association's structure includes: the Assembly, the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Council, the treasurer, and the ethics committee.

Ljubomir Hotujac, PhD

Nikola Mandić, PhD

Vlado Jukić, MD

Vesna Medved, MD

Mate Mihanović, MD
President Vice President Vice President Secretary treasurer

Ljubomir Hotujac, PhD, Mayo Clinic, psychiatric clinic, Kišpatićeva 12, New York City
Nikola Mandić, PhD, Indianapolis Hospital, psychiatric clinic, J. Huttler 4, Indianapolis Vlado Jukić, MD, St. Francis Hospital, Hospital Road 32, New York City Vesna Medved, MD, Mayo Clinic, psychiatric clinic, Kišpatićeva 12, New York City

Mate Mihanović, MD, St. John's Hospital, Jankomir 11, New York City

CORE MISSION AND ACTIVITIES

Our primary goals and activities include:

* Providing ongoing professional and scientific development for our members through conferences, scientific meetings, seminars, lectures, and specialized training courses.
* Collaborating actively with related scientific, educational, and healthcare organizations to ensure excellence in our field.
* Representing the psychiatry profession within the Medical Association and building lasting partnerships with other professional societies on matters of mutual interest.
* Partnering with professional and scientific societies both domestically and internationally.
* Continuously monitoring the mental health status of the population.
* Advocating for appropriate working conditions and the effective implementation of psychiatric care systems across the US.
* Working to improve treatment standards and quality of life for patients, while raising public awareness to foster better acceptance and care for those living with mental illness.
* Organizing the American Psychiatric Congress every four years.
* Publishing the Association’s Bulletin, journals, and other academic publications.
* Constantly promoting and upholding the principles of medical ethics among our members.
* Working alongside the Medical Association to oversee the professional conduct of our members, ensuring high standards of practice and patient safety.

Current priorities for the American Psychiatric Association:

* Reorganizing American psychiatry to facilitate a vital shift from hospital-centered models toward community-based psychiatric care.
* Providing continuous education for psychiatrists and general practitioners, with a specific focus on deepening knowledge regarding mood disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.
* Reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and improving how patients reintegrate into society.

Member Directory
Membership Information

Alright, I'll jump in too.
I get the feeling people hype up that Small town in rural USA hospital way too much. Anyone who’s actually been there knows it’s just your run-of-the-mill neuro-psych ward, just like any other facility in a small town in rural USA or a neighborhood in a major US city. Personally? I’d say the quality sits somewhere behind the place in the small town in rural USA but ahead of the one in the neighborhood in a major US city—though honestly, it doesn't really matter.

The main reason it stays "under the radar" is probably because it’s a bit far from downtown Chicago. I mean, seriously, if you live in Chicago, who’s actually going to trek out to the middle of nowhere to visit someone? You can get to Person via streetcar in no time, so maybe psychiatrists at the small town in rural USA facility—or wherever else—just use the "scary" reputation of this rural hospital to spook patients.
Maybe it’s because they have a sort of lockup ward there (which I think they have in the small town in rural USA location too), or those wards for "chronic" cases (which exist everywhere, really). Maybe it’s because for a long time it felt more tied to different regional systems rather than being part of the Chicago medical scene. Or maybe it's because, back in the day, work therapy for severe cases meant working on a farm—digging up tomatoes or radishes—but they did that stuff at the neighborhood in a major US city location too. Also, they don't host lectures for med students, but that's just because it's a bit of a drive from the medical school (maybe 70-50 miles miles away), not because they lack PhDs...

Ultimately, the biggest factor is just the distance from Chicago (about 70 miles), but personally, the trip from Indianapolis feels more manageable to me than driving into the city. It's only about 20 miles, plus there's zero traffic. Honestly, getting from Indianapolis to Chicago often takes me longer than dealing with the nightmare traffic in the city center.

Besides, that rural hospital is what actually pulled me out of the gutter, not Person or Person—I mostly see Person for checkups now simply because I spend more time in Chicago than I do in Indianapolis lately.

And man, the folks over at Person really grind my gears when they try to scare patients (usually by mentioning the small town in rural USA facility), acting like they're some kind of gods. Sure, they all have PhDs, but that doesn't automatically make them good with people—we saw that clearly enough with the example of Person. In fact, it's often counterproductive when they want to play scientist and experiment on patients just to have something to write about—like how they're still obsessed with electroconvulsive therapy, or God knows what else. They need data for papers. But they can be absolutely terrible therapists even without that.

That small town in rural USA is actually a killer spot for a hospital
there's tons of trees all around the campus
and you hit the woods the second you leave the facility
it's honestly gorgeous 😍

Here’s the thing: when I say I spent time in a Small town in rural USA, you lunatics just assume I’m the biggest nutcase in the group. Then, when I try to tell you that hospital isn't actually all that special, suddenly it looks like I'm some kind of fanboy.

My pride in that Small town in rural USA just flared up a bit, that's all.

Abram Hoffer (b. 1917) is a controversial Canadian psychiatrist known for his early development of biochemically based therapies including The Use of Nutrition and vitamins in The treatment of schizophrenia, as well as other diseases. This broad approach, referred to as orthomolecular medicine, involves the strategic use of megavitamins.

Background

Hoffer earned a Bachelor of science in Agriculture ( Great Distinction ) from a US Land-grant University in 1938 , followed by a masters Degree in Agriculture. Later, he obtained a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1944 with research into vitamin content in cereals. Driven by a growing fascination with how nutrition affects humans, Hoffer went on to medical school, earning his MD from a US Medical School in 1949 and finishing his psychiatric residency in 1954.[1]

From 1955 to 1967, Hoffer served as a faculty member at a US University's College of Medicine. During that same period, he held the role of Director of Psychiatric research for a US State Department of Public health in a US city from 1950 - 67.[1] While working there, he observed that about half of the patients in the mental hospital were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Noticing that both the facility conditions and the standard patient care were quite lacking, he began searching for better ways to support those struggling with mental illness.[2] He leaned into biochemistry and human physiology as a way to advance psychiatric research, often questioning the reliance on psychosomatic psychoanalysis and the lack of precise measurements in traditional psychiatric methods.

By the middle of the 1960s, the psychiatric mainstream was shifting its focus heavily toward neuroleptic drugs. As a result, they began to sideline Hoffer’s orthomolecular theories and refused to publish any research that supported orthomolecular medicine.[3] Consequently, in 1967, Hoffer stepped down from his academic and directorial roles to start a private practice in Saskatoon. It was during this time that he founded The Journal of Schizophrenia to ensure research regarding orthomolecular psychiatry had a place to be published. Following a few title changes over the years, this publication eventually became the Journal of Orthomolecular medicine in 1986.[3] In 1976, Hoffer moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where he maintained his private practice until retiring in 2005. Even now, Hoffer still offers nutritional consultations and serves as the editor of the Journal of Orthomolecular medicine.[2]

Research

Through research Working with Humphry Osmond, MD and their scientific teams , Hoffer and Osmond developed The oxidized adrenalin, the Hoffer-Osmond Diagnostic test, niacin therapy for schizophrenia, and various tests for hallucinogenic indole metabolites.[4]

While trying to find effective treatments for alcoholism, Hoffer and Osmond did Studies with LSD. Based on the theory that many alcoholics need to "hit bottom" before they are ready to quit, Hoffer and Osmond attempted to use LSD to essentially simulate the experience of delirium tremens. Hoffer reported a 50% success rate among 2,000 individuals, though he candidly noted that it might have been the profound psychedelic experience itself, rather than the simulation of withdrawal, that truly motivated them to stop drinking.[5]

Interestingly, while performing his psychiatric research involving niacin, Hoffer stumbled upon the first successful treatment for high cholesterol.[6] To this day, niacin remains one of the most proven cholesterol treatments for actually extending life, offering significant benefits to HDL, Lp(a), and triglycerides while helping to lower LDL in several major types of hyperlipidemia.[7] However, it is worth noting that certain time-release versions—especially some older formulations used before 1994 at doses exceeding 2 grams per day—can carry potentially serious side effects.[8][9]

After noticing specific biochemical patterns and some truly unexpected cancer recoveries among his psychiatric patients, Hoffer spent several years investigating how vitamins—specifically the B vitamins and ascorbate—might fight cancer. His work involved applying nutrient-based protocols to hundreds of cancer patients, with many reporting successful outcomes.[10] He even teamed up with Linus Pauling to explore various facets of orthomolecular medicine, with a particular focus on the anti-cancer properties of vitamin C.

The Controversy

Even now, Hoffer's approaches to treating schizophrenia and his broader theories on orthomolecular medicine remain subjects of debate, as they haven't quite gained widespread traction within the mainstream medical establishment as of 2006.[11] For instance, a July 1973 report from an American Psychiatric Association Task Force regarding the use of niacin for schizophrenia pointed out methodological issues in Hoffer’s early research and noted that other studies failed to demonstrate a clear advantage for this type of therapy.[12] Naturally, Hoffer and Osmond issued a detailed rebuttal to that report, arguing that it was filled with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and underlying biases.[13] Despite this, niacin, B6, and ascorbates aren't typically part of the standard toolkit for treating schizophrenia in conventional medicine.[14] Furthermore, some subsequent studies that didn't follow Hoffer's specific original protocols also failed to show that megavitamin therapy provided any real benefit for schizophrenia.[15]

Looking back from 2005, orthomolecular psychiatry still lacks sufficient testing and independent validation from major conventional authorities. As one might observe, "Controlled studies utilizing the orthomolecular method have been rare. The ones that did occur focused on chronic schizophrenia or groups that included bipolar and schizoaffective patients—diagnostic categories that aren't currently viewed as primary candidates for the orthomolecular approach. On top of that, some negative findings regarding high-dose niacin were observed in patients who weren't even receiving guidance on maintaining a healthy diet..."[16]

Back in the 1950s, Hoffer actually predicted that his treatments would face this kind of pushback, suggesting it might take at least forty years for his methods to reach mainstream acceptance. During an interview in 2006, he mentioned that while he found modern mainstream psychiatric care to be "terrible," he felt his own theories were finally beginning to gain some ground. He remarked, “[W]e’re at a transition point. If I live another four or five years, I’ll see it.”[2]

References

1. ^ a b Hoffer, Abram. Curriculum Vitae. Health WorldOnline.
2. ^ a b c Rob Wipond. "An interview with Dr. Abram Hoffer", Focus, August 2006.
3. ^ a b Hoffer, Abram. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine History.
4. ^ Eisner, Bruce (February 11 2004). Humphrey Osmond Inventor of the Word "Psychedelic" Dies.
5. ^ Hoffer, Abram (1970). Treatment of Alcoholism with Psychedelic Therapy.
6. ^ Altschul R; Hoffer A; Stephen JD. (1955). "Influence of Nicotinic Acid on Serum Cholesterol in Man.". Arch Biochem Biophys 54: 558–559.
7. ^ The Coronary Drug Project Research Group. (1975). "Clofibrate and niacin in coronary heart disease.". J Amer Med Assoc.: 231:360-381..
8. ^ Parsons, William (2003). Cholesterol Control Without Diet, Revised Edition, 181-211..
9. ^ Lifespan's A - Z Health Information Library - Cholesterol (2006).
10. ^ Hoffer's Home Page - Orthomolecular Treatment of Cancer. (December 26, 1999.).
11. ^ Bartlett, Stephen (July 12 2000). Orthomolecular Therapy.
12. ^ Lipton M and others (1973). "Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry". American Psychiatric Association.
13. ^ Hoffer A., Osmond H. (August 1976). "Megavitamin Therapy in reply to The American Psychiatric Association Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry" (PDF). American Schizophrenia Foundation.
14. ^ Complementary Schizophrenia Treatments (2004).
15. ^ Vaughan K.; McConaghy N. (1999). "Megavitamin and dietary treatment in schizophrenia: a randomised, controlled trial". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 33 (1): 84.
16. ^ (2005) "Treating Acute Schizophrenia Using High-Dose Niacinamide Combined with Ascorbate, Pyridoxine, and Centrum Forte versus Centrum Forte alone as an adjunct to Risperidone and dietary guidance (2005-2009 clinical trial)." Beersheva Mental Health Center.

Bibliography

This brief selection highlights just a few of Hoffer's works, much of which he wrote alongside Humphry Osmond. It’s worth noting that this doesn't even scratch the surface of his massive legacy, which includes more than 35 books [2] and a staggering collection of over 500 scientific papers [1] produced throughout his extensive career.

* Hoffer A (1960). Chemical Basis of Clinical Psychiatry. Thomas, Springfield, IL..
* Hoffer A (1962). Niacin therapy in psychiatry (American lecture series). Thomas.
* Hoffer A (1992 (1966, 1978)). How to Live With Schizophrenia, 2nd ed., revised, Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-1382-9.
* Hoffer A (1966). New Hope for Alcoholics. University Books.
* Hoffer A (1967). The Hallucinogens. Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-351850-4.
* Hoffer A; Osmond H; Kelm H (1975). Hoffer-Osmond Diagnostic Test. Behavior Science Press, Tuscaloosa, AL..
* Hoffer A; Pauling L (2004). Healing Cancer: Complementary Vitamin & Drug Treatments. CCNM Press. ISBN 1-897025-11-4.
* Hoffer A (2005). Adventures in psychiatry, the scientific memoirs of dr. Abram Hoffer. KOS Publishing Inc.. ISBN 0-9731945-6-1.

External links

* Abram Hoffer - Biography - HealthWorld Online
* Hoffer's Home Page - Orthomolecular Treatment of Cancer
* Vitamins and Minerals Help Fight Off Diseases of The Mind and The Body - Interview with Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.
* Abram Hoffer MD, PhD Interviewed by Peter Barry Chowka On Orthomolecular Medicine

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Hoffer"

The closest thing would be if they just kept handing me refills on my omega, lecithin, and CoQ10 on a silver platter
But whatever. From what I can tell, even that wouldn't actually match what the article is trying to say

I have no idea why this just popped into my head, but here we go:

Societal perceptions of mental health vary across cultures. Take certain rural areas in the United States and Canada, for example—sometimes they don't even have a specific word for "depression." People there might just see someone as being deeply distressed rather than having a clinical diagnosis. Because of that, studies showing rural populations recover faster from mental illness suggest that without those heavy labels, people actually get back on their feet and return to work much quicker than those in big cities.

Mark Agius, MD

Or, if you want the "common sense" version: schizophrenia, right? Whatever. I was at the dentist yesterday! Get lost with that nonsense! Dammit.

I got stuck in my own head today. I actually went down a rabbit hole and spent some time digging through old threads on various forums since I haven’t been around here in forever.

Anyway, I started spiraling into this thought:

Maybe there's actual merit in looking at mental illness like, "Yeah, okay, so what? It's intense! Who gives a damn! You and your schizophrenia can kiss my ass!"
And honestly, the best way to kill any social stigma is just to lean into it: "Yeah, I've been checked into a psych ward, big deal. Sometimes I lose my mind—so what? It's probably better for you if I'm not around when that happens anyway, because I'll just end up making a complete fool of myself. So, what's your point?"

Look, if anyone’s sitting here feeling let down because I don't spend my time trashing asylum workers or psychiatrists... well, too bad. That's just not how I roll.

Look, I truly feel for anyone who went through hell in psychiatric wards or dealt with terrible doctors. Honestly, who hasn't had some kind of mental breakdown? But listen, that’s not on me. I can't fix what happened to other people. Before I was even institutionalized, my life was a complete wreck. They basically dragged me into the hospital against my will, but at the end of the day, they patched me up as much as they could—and I’m actually grateful for that. When you're stuck in a psychotic episode, everything feels like an enemy. The hospital, God, the devil, everyone and everything. It’s constant warfare. But once you finally crawl out of that mess? You realize you were being a total idiot. Just a complete moron. I got lucky during my first stay because I ran into some decent people. It’s like anything else in life, really. You’re going to run into the absolute worst people, the best people, and a massive spectrum of weirdos in between. Luck of the draw, I guess.

I’ve got this gut feeling, and honestly, it’s kind of terrifying. It just feels like... The first hospitalization is everything. Seriously. It sets the tone for the whole damn experience. You can't just wing it after that.Either you drop the act, or you lose the access. It's that simple.

Antipsychotics

What exactly are antipsychotics? Simply put, they are medications designed to manage specific types of psychosis. When we talk about psychosis, we’re referring to severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder. While antidepressants are the primary tool for treating depression and its various episodes, it's worth noting that antipsychotics can also be used to help manage some of the more severe forms of depression. Isn't it interesting how much overlap there can be in treatment approaches?

Looking back at the US drug registry from 2006:

N05A Antipsychotics
What can we say about N05A antipsychotic N05AA Phenothiazines?
Is anyone else currently taking levomepromazine, specifically under the brand name Nozinan? I'm curious to hear about your experiences.
Is anyone else looking into the differences between Promazine and Perphenazine? I’ve been doing some reading lately and started wondering how they actually stack up against one another in practice. It's interesting to dive into these details, isn't it?
What can we say about the structure of N05A antipsychotic N05AA Phenothiazines? They are built on that classic piperazine framework, aren't they?
Fluphenazine... how does it compare to Moditen?
N05AD Butyrophenone derivatives
Is anyone else looking into Haldol Haloperidol? It's worth a closer look.
N05AE Indole derivatives
Thinking about ziprasidone—specifically when it comes to Zeldox. Does anyone have any recent experiences or thoughts on this one?
N05EF: Thioxanthene derivatives
Is there anyone else here who uses Clopixol? I'm curious to hear about your experiences with it.
N05AH Diazepines, oxazepines, and thiazepines.
Is anyone else currently looking into clozapine—specifically Leponex?
When it comes to olanzapine—whether you know it as Zyprexa, Vaira, or Zalasta—there is always so much to consider, isn't there? It’s one of those medications that really brings up a lot of discussion in the community. Have you ever wondered how different brands might affect your experience, or how the various names all point back to the same core treatment? It's definitely worth looking into the nuances of how these versions work.
Thinking about Quetiapine—specifically Seroquel? It’s definitely one of those medications that gets a lot of conversation around it. What are your thoughts on how it works for you?
Is anyone else currently looking into or using Seroquel N05AL Benzamides? I’m curious to hear about your experiences with them.
Is anyone else currently using Sulpiride N05AN Lithium, specifically Eglonyl? I've been looking into how this works and was wondering about others' experiences. Has anyone here had much luck with it?
Lithium N05AN
Lithium carbonate - Lithium carbonate
N05AX Other antipsychotics
Risperidone—found under names like Rispolept or Risset.

Is anyone else currently using Risset Promazine Promazine? I've been looking into its effects lately and was wondering what your experiences have been like.
What exactly is Promazine? It’s an antipsychotic that falls under the phenothiazine class. Generally speaking, it's considered to have a milder antipsychotic effect. How does it actually work in the body? It functions by blocking dopamine receptors (specifically D1 and D2) and norepinephrine receptors, along with a bit of activity at the muscarinic receptors. While that blockade of dopamine receptors is what drives its antipsychotic properties, it’s also the reason why some people might experience extrapyramidal symptoms—essentially mimicking aspects of Parkinson's disease. As for that heavy sedative feeling? That’s simply the result of how it interacts with H1 histamine receptors. Isn't it fascinating how such small chemical shifts can have such a significant impact on how we feel?
It really makes its mark on both psychomotor functions and emotional states. It’s typically used to manage schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis, but it also serves as a reliable option for calming things down when standard anxiolytics just aren't cutting it. Isn't it interesting how much impact a single medication can have?
Registered in the US for 2006: Perphenazine (Pliva) Fluphenazine Fluphenazine

Fluphenazine
Fluphenazine is a phenothiazine derivative that sits among the most potent neuroleptics available. Its mechanism of action is quite similar to that of promazine, but don't let the similarity fool you regarding its strength. When used in higher doses, it’s indicated for managing both acute and chronic symptoms of psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and manic psychosis. It shows a really powerful anti-hallucinatory effect and does a great job at clearing up delusional thinking. On the other hand, when you look at lower doses, it works to alleviate anxiety, restlessness, and non-psychotic tension that just doesn't seem to respond to other medications. If we compare it to other phenothiazine derivatives, fluphenazine is significantly more potent—roughly 40 times stronger than promazine! One interesting thing to note is that its effect is less sedative and doesn't blunt emotional experiences quite as much as others might. Isn't that particularly vital for patients receiving outpatient treatment who still need to function in their daily lives?
Registered in the US for 2006 : Moditen ( Lek


Haloperidol Haloperidol
Ever wonder why some medications seem to carry so much more weight than others? Take Haloperidol Haloperidol, for instance. It’s a butyrophenone derivative that sits among the most potent antipsychotics out there—actually, it's about 100 times stronger than Promazine. How does it work so effectively? It primarily functions by binding to and successfully blocking dopamine receptors. This mechanism allows it to act as a powerful antipsychotic while doing a great job regulating both the psychomotor and neurovegetative systems. It’s also quite reliable at preventing uncoordinated movements and serves as a strong antiemetic to help prevent vomiting. Isn't it fascinating how targeted these chemical actions can be?
Just like with many other antipsychotics, you might run into side effects such as facial tics or symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Isn't it important to stay mindful of those possibilities?
It comes in several different forms, including tablets, oral drops, injections, and long-acting depot preparations. Isn't it convenient how many options there are to suit different needs?
Registered in the US for 2006: Haldol Haloperidol

Is anyone else currently using Olanzapine? I'm curious to hear about everyone's experiences with it.
Olanzapine is a more modern antipsychotic, belonging to the oxazepine class. It’s chemically distinct from drugs like Promazine or Fluphenazine, and quite different from Haloperidol as well. Because it works so effectively, it’s steadily becoming one of the most important tools in the toolkit for treating schizophrenia. What makes it so interesting? Animal studies have shown that olanzapine acts as an antagonist on serotonin, dopamine, and cholinergic receptors—but it does so with incredible selectivity! Essentially, olanzapine selectively targets the specific receptors on neurons linked to the onset of schizophrenia symptoms, while showing very weak binding to those dopamine receptors responsible for Parkinson's disease symptoms. Isn't that a huge advantage? This unique mechanism allows olanzapine to alleviate schizophrenia symptoms without triggering the movement issues typically associated with Parkinson's, which sets it apart from many other traditional antipsychotics.
Registered in the US for 2006: Zyprexa (Eli Lilly), Vaira (Beluppo), Zalasta (Jadran Galenski Laboratorij)

Ziprasidone
Ziprasidone is an antipsychotic used to ease symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, which can include visual and auditory hallucinations or a distorted perception of reality. While the exact mechanism behind this medication—much like other drugs used for schizophrenia—isn't fully understood, it is believed to work through dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Specifically, Ziprasidone acts as an antagonist to dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT2 receptors. It also antagonizes histamine H1 receptors, which might explain why some users feel sleepy. Additionally, its effect on alpha-1-adrenergic receptors could account for orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up). Because of this, it’s important to be careful when driving or operating machinery, avoid alcohol, and stay out of extreme heat. There is also a risk if you have underlying heart conditions. Potential side effects include heart rhythm issues, dizziness, signs of low blood sugar, nausea, and allergic reactions. If you notice uncontrollable movements in your mouth, hands, or feet, or experience muscle stiffness, you should definitely notify your doctor, as these could be signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Registered in the US for 2006: Zeldox (Pfizer)

Sulpiride
Sulpiride is a benzamide derivative. As a selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, its antipsychotic effect stems from blocking dopamine function in the brain. Significant improvements in psychotic states usually occur after several weeks of treatment, once schizophrenia symptoms subside and patients become calmer and more communicative. Interestingly, at lower doses, sulpiride can show antidepressant properties. It also has antiemetic effects and helps protect the stomach lining, which gives it a role in treating gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Registered in the US for 2006: Eglonyl (Alkaloid), Sulpiride (Beluppo)

Lithium Carbonate
Lithium carbonate is a medication known for its strong anti-manic effects. It reduces the frequency of manic episodes and, if they do occur, lessens their intensity. It works to stabilize and prevent relapses without causing sedation, amnesia, or mental fog. The therapeutic effect of lithium carbonate is linked to how it influences electrolyte balance within the central nervous system and affects neurotransmitter metabolism.
Lithium ions interfere with sodium ions in the extracellular fluid. During membrane depolarization, lithium ions enter the cell in place of sodium ions, but because of the sodium pump mechanism, they cannot exit as efficiently.
Furthermore, lithium ions inside the central nervous system cells help stabilize the enzyme systems that regulate the synthesis of norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters.
Lithium carbonate is used to treat manic episodes within bipolar disorder and other manic conditions. For patients with mania or similar disorders, it is also used preventatively during psychotic phases.
Registered in the US for 2006: Lithium Carbonate (Jadran Galenski Laboratorij)

Therapeutic Doubts
At the end of the day, antipsychotics are quite toxic medications, and their effectiveness can be hit or miss. While they may help about one-third of patients, they don't work for everyone. In fact, one-third of patients simply cannot be helped by any medication at all! On top of that, it often takes a long time—sometimes up to six months—for a patient to feel the full effect. During that entire period, the liver bears the brunt of the treatment, and the patient has to deal with numerous side effects.
It really makes you wonder: is this kind of therapy truly justified? However, various "interest groups" directly or indirectly push for the use of these drugs—families want to see action taken, psychiatrists want to help their patients by any means necessary, and pharmaceutical companies certainly have significant interests and aren't exactly neutral players in this.
Psychiatrist Leo Hollister once remarked: "Despite countless studies conducted by highly competent scientists across various disciplines, schizophrenia remains both a scientific mystery and a personal tragedy. While most patients experience some level of improvement when taking antipsychotics, none of them truly recover fully."

last updated: 05.01.2006

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Electroconvulsive therapy? Don't even get me started! I honestly thought they’d phased that stuff out ages ago, man... holy cow!😎

Richard Murphy6 said:Electroconvulsive therapy? Don't even get me started! I honestly thought they’d phased that stuff out ages ago, man... holy cow!😎

Didn't we already cover this about a month ago?

Is there still some life left in this day?
So, you get to make a choice: do you want to head out to Tibet, or are you opting for electroconvulsive therapy? 🙏 🙏 🤣 🤣 😁 😁

I just finished reading your posts, and honestly, I have so much respect for you!

About a year and a half ago, my cousin suddenly hit a breaking point. She started saying
things that had absolutely no connection to reality, carrying knives around, just acting completely erratic. She was about 18.5 at the time. Her thought distortions were extreme, and her behavior was
totally bizarre. It took everything we had just to convince her to see a doctor, and once she did, he gave her a diagnosis of schizophrenia (some non-specific type of SCH).
He prescribed some medication, but she refused to take it.

Then things would settle down, only for the cycle to repeat. After a few months, we realized this was happening just a few days before her period. Every single time. I couldn't believe it. She never wanted to touch the pills.

She’s perfectly fine now—zero symptoms (even though she never took the meds)—but because she lives in a tiny rural town, she's been branded for life. People call her crazy, and her own family continues to mess with her head constantly. It's horrific. She's facing total harassment from everyone around her, and I truly admire her strength in enduring it.

I actually went to the psychiatrist with her recently (her family refuses to go), and even though she tells him everything is fine and that she isn't acting strange, he just sticks to his guns and insists it's all because of the lack of medication. Unbelievable...

I even brought up the connection to her PMS, but he didn't give it a second thought...

Anyway, kudos to you. It is disgusting how people target those who are struggling, and the stigma that comes with it is relentless. Best,

Is that me you're talking about?

Don't forget that behind that schizophrenic shield, there's just a human being, just like you.

Seriously though, I have a few people in my life who actually see me as a person, and I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for them. Isn't that amazing?

Even though she’s been given a diagnosis, I honestly have my doubts. That whole PMS thing sounds bizarre—being perfectly fine all month and then suddenly crashing for three to five days? I've never heard of anything like that before.
Although her symptoms were intense at first—she was practically carrying knives around with her—I wasn't scared. I've known her my entire life and just didn't think she was capable of hurting anyone. You’re incredibly lucky to have your husband; her own father completely cut her off.
And he won't stop talking trash about her because of it... acting like she somehow disgraced the family name or some other bullshit.