Valium - bad drug!!!

It works. I know. I tried it once when terror flooded my system. Total calmness for about four hours.

Do you remember the bad publicity about Valium hitting the air waves. It was long acting - bad naughty. However don't worry folks we have a short acting PAM in the wings. All those tranqs back then ended in PAM. I read the other day that the replacement PAM for valium does have a shorter half life in the blood but not in the CSF where it matters. There it's pretty much the same. Valium's patent was running out - not many $$$ to be made. Time for new one with a patent. Oh yeah! It's addictive too everyone says - what! - more than other tranquilisers - where's the evidence? Poor old Valium you served us well. Now you are being replaced by risperidone.

Many people are on SSRIs these days and when they get a bit anxious they end up on Risperidone. The PAMs are out of favour. Antipsychotics are in. It's a worry.

Take a look at precautions and side effects of Risperidone.

Precautions: Monitor for hyperglycaemia; hepatic, renal impairment;

Adverse reactions: Common: extrapyramidal symptoms; insomnia; agitation; anxiety; headache; somnolence; dizziness; impaired concentration; fatigue; anorexia; abdominal pain; constipation; hypersalivation; abnormal vision; tachycardia; epistaxis.Less common: dyspepsia; nausea; vomiting; erectile dysfunction; urinary incontinence; allergic reactions; angioedema; CVA; TIA; hyper, hypotension; raised plasma prolactin; weight gain; oedema; elevated LFTs; SIADH, polydipsia; tardive dyskinesia; thermodysregulation; NMS; seizures; decreased neutrophils, thrombocytes; pancreatitis.Very rare: hyperglycaemia; benign pituitary adenomas (possible); others,


Now compare with good old valium

Drowsiness; sedation; unsteadiness; ataxia; headache; vertigo; hypotension; GI upset; skin rash; visual disturbances; changes in libido; urinary retention; dependence, tolerance; paradoxical reactions; blood dyscrasias, jaundice (isolated cases);

Which would you prefer?