Antipsychotics

Diabetes, hypertension, hyperprolactinaemia

• Diabetes and Antipsychotic Drugs (Nov 2004)
• Atypical Antipsychotics May Cause Hypertension (Apr 2003)
• Hyperprolactinaemia with Antipsychotics (

Psychiatric Drugs: Chemical Warfare on Humans - interview with Robert Whitaker

What

The pooled data indicate that patients taking long acting beta agonists are 3.5 times more likely to die from asthma and 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised than those taking a placebo.

The new anti-psychotics

In December 2000, the British Medical Journal published a systematic review of 52 randomized trials comparing atypical antipsychotics with older drugs, concluding there was "no clear evidence that atypical antipsychotics are more effective or better tolerated than conventional antipsychotics." The study was ignored.

In November 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a two-year randomized trial comparing patients on Zyprexa with patients on Haldol, concluding there were "no significant differences" between the two groups. Zyprexa had no advantage over Haldol in terms of compliance, symptoms, or overall quality of life. The study was ignored.

In October 2005, one month after CATIE was published, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials of more than 5,000 elderly patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Patients taking the drugs had a 54 percent increased chance of dying within 3 months, compared with patients taking placebo sugar pills. The study was ignored.

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Grapefruit Juice

The article recommends avoiding grapefruit juice or grapefruit if you are using any of the following drugs because they require careful control of blood concentrations: amiodarone (CORDARONE, and other generic versions), carbamazepine (TEGRETOL): and others), cyclosporine (SANDIMMUNE and others), sirolimus (RAPAMUNE) or tacrolimus (PROGRAF). Other citrus fruits, including pomelos and Seville oranges, which also contain the chemicals inhibiting drug metabolism, should also be avoided if using the above drugs.

The Medical Letter advises that if you are using any of the other drugs listed in the article, “limiting daily intake to one 8-oz glass of juice or one half of a fresh grapefruit would probably avoid any adverse drug interactions.”