While all drugs have side effects, some drugs are necessary to save life. For example, someone who has diabetes may need to take Insulin, a real bad infection can kill unless antibiotics are used. A person must weigh the benefits versus the risks when taking a drug. Is it necessary to improving health and does it handle a medical problem?
What sets psychiatric drugs apart is that they do not heal anything. After all, in order to heal an illness, the illness has to first exist. There isn’t one proof that psychiatric diseases are real like cancer, or infections, or colds.
There are different classes of psychiatric drugs and all have serious side effects. Those side effects include the following:
Stimulants for “ADHD” adverse reactions include: nervousness and insomnia (not being to sleep), hypersensitivity, anorexia (loss of appetite), nausea, dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, blood pressure and pulse changes, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), angina (severe sore throat), abdominal pain, weight loss and toxic psychosis (loss of contact with reality resulting in being unable to function normally caused by drugs). Some children have developed the involuntary tics and twitching called Tourette’s disorder.
Major tranquilizers also known as anti-psychotics, frequently cause difficulty in thinking, poor concentration, nightmares, emotional dullness, depression, despair and sexual dysfunction. Physically, they can cause Tardive Dyskinesia (sudden, uncontrollable, painful muscle cramps and spasms, writhing, squirming, twisting and grimacing movements, especially of the legs, face, mouth and tongue, drawing the face into a hideous scowl.) They also induce Akathisia (severe restlessness that studies show can cause agitation and psychosis.) A potentially deadly effect is “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome,” which includes muscle rigidity, altered mental states, irregular pulse or blood pressure and cardiac (heart) problems.
Minor tranquilizers or benzodiazepines can cause lethargy (no energy), lightheadedness, confusion, nervousness, sexual problems, hallucinations, nightmares, severe depression, extreme restlessness, insomnia, nausea and muscle tremors (involuntary trembling or quivering.) Epileptic seizures and death have resulted from suddenly stopping the use of minor tranquilizers. Thus, it is important never to stop suddenly or without proper medical supervision, even if the drugs have only been taken for a couple of weeks.
Sedative-Hypnotics frequently cause the above side effects as well as a hangover effect, apparent drunken state, ataxia (lack of coordination) and skin rash.
Antidepressants (tricyclics) can cause sedation (being in a drugged state), drowsiness (sleepiness), lethargy, difficulty thinking, confusion, poor concentration, memory problems, nightmares, panic feelings, and extreme restlessness; also delusions (out of touch with reality), manic (abnormal or violent) reactions, delirium (mental confusion), seizures, fever, lowered white blood cell count (with risks of infection), liver damage, and heart attacks and strokes.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are also antidepressants which can cause headaches, nausea, anxiety and agitation, insomnia and bizarre dreams, loss of appetite, impotence (sexual problems), confusion and akathisia. It is estimated that between 10% and 25% of SSRI users experience akathisia (severe restlessness that studies show can cause agitation and psychosis), often in conjunction with suicidal thoughts, hostility and violent behavior.
If you are worried about something—a problem in life such as relationships with your friends, parents or teachers, or how your school grades are going—taking any drug, illegal or psychiatric, isn’t going to solve the problem. If a drug is used to feel better when you are depressed, sad or anxious, the relief is only for a short while. If the problem is not fixed or helped, you will often feel worse than before. As a drug wears off, whatever pain, discomfort or upset that was there before taking the drug can become stronger. It can make you want to keep taking the drug.
