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In a prior article called,  Homeopathic Treatment of Schizophrenia, the symptoms of schizophrenia as well as the potential to treat it with homeopathy was discussed. When deciding which treatment method is best for you or a loved one, we felt it would be advantageous for you to understand the side effects of some of the more prevalently used prescription medications by conventional medicine.

According to a 2011 analysis of prescription drug data by a pharmacy benefits management company, one in five Americans takes some kind of psychiatric medication. The number of prescriptions for psychiatric and behavioral drugs rose 22% between 2001 and 2010. It was said that 26% of women and 15% of men take these drugs.

Medications Used to Treat Schizophrenia

There are at least a dozen prescription medications used to treat schizophrenia.  The following are the four most common medications as well as their possible side effects:

Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, sleep problems (insomnia), breast swelling or discharge, changes in menstrual periods, weight gain, swelling of hands or feet, dry mouth or stuffy nose, blurred vision, constipation, impotence, or trouble having an orgasm.

Haloperidol (Haldol)

Serious side effects include dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat; restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck; tremor (uncontrolled shaking); seizure (convulsions); pale skin; easy bruising or bleeding; flu-like symptoms; very stiff (rigid) muscles; high fever; sweating; confusion; fast or uneven heartbeats; tremors; feeling like you might pass out; stabbing chest pain; feeling short of breath; cough with yellow or green mucus; sudden mood changes, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include headache, dizziness, spinning sensation, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia), feeling restless or anxious, mild skin rash or itching, breast enlargement, irregular menstrual periods, loss of interest in sex, dry mouth, blurred vision, or urinating less than usual.

Perphenazine

Serious side effects include twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs; tremor (uncontrolled shaking); drooling; trouble swallowing; problems with balance or walking; feeling restless, jittery, or agitated; confusion; unusual thoughts or behavior; feeling like you might pass out; seizure (convulsions); decreased night vision, tunnel vision, watery eyes, increased sensitivity to light; nausea and stomach pain; skin rash; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); high fever; stiff muscles; confusion; sweating;, fast or uneven heartbeats; rapid breathing; pale skin; easy bruising or bleeding; fever; sore throat; flu-like symptoms; urinating less than usual or not at all; joint pain or swelling with fever; swollen glands; muscle aches; chest pain; vomiting; unusual thoughts or behavior; patchy skin color; slow heart rate; weak pulse; fainting; slow breathing (breathing may stop).

Less serious side effects may include dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, blurred vision, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams, constipation, dry mouth or stuffy nose, breast swelling or discharge, changes in menstrual periods, weight gain, swelling of your hands or feet, impotence, trouble having an orgasm, mild itching, or skin rash.

Fluphenazine

Common side effects include drowsiness, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, sweating, dry mouth, blurred vision, headache, or constipation.

Homeopathy vs. Traditional Treatment Methods

Now the question…which treatment method do you pursue? With conventional prescription medications there’s no way to tell which side effects, if any, you’ll experience.  There’s also no way to guarantee the successful treatment of schizophrenia with prescription medications.

This is not the case with homeopathy, which uses a system of medicine based on the law of similars —“like cures like.” Your symptoms are matched to the symptoms a homeopathic medicine produces. When a match is made, the medicine stimulates the body’s own healing process in a gentle way. The results using Dr. Kaufmann’s homeopathic approach — with no harmful side effects — are successful.

Disclaimer: No statements on this website are intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any condition or disease but rather are given for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a licensed, trained health care provider when using any dietary supplements, herbal, homeopathic, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs or making any dietary or lifestyle changes.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by abnormal social behavior and failure to recognize what is real. Symptoms include:

• Delusions – strongly believing something is true even when there’s no evidence of it
• Unclear or confused thinking, speaking, or behavior
• Hallucinations – seeing or hearing things that others do not
• Reduced social engagement, emotional expression and withdrawal from the things a person used to enjoy
• Inappropriate appearance, hygiene or conduct with possible loss of motivation and judgment

Causes of Schizophrenia

The causes of schizophrenia are thought to be both genetic (inherited) and environmental. Having a non-parent first-degree relative (sibling or offspring) who’s had the disease gives an individual a  6.5% risk of having it themselves, a 13% risk if one parent is affected, and a 50% risk if both parents are affected. It is thought that many genes are involved with the inherited risk.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors associated with a higher risk of developing schizophrenia include prenatal stressors (environmental hardships or stressful life events during pregnancy), use of drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine or excessive alcohol use, childhood trauma, death of a parent, being bullied or abused, and factors causing social isolation (immigration due to social adversity, family dysfunction, racial discrimination, unemployment and poor housing conditions).

People Suffering from Schizophrenia in the U.S.

More than 2.2 million people in the United States suffer from schizophrenia. The average age of onset for the disease is 18 in men and 25 in women. Schizophrenia onset is rare for people under 10 years of age, or over 40 years of age.

Prognosis for People Suffering from Schizophrenia for More Than 30 Years

The current prognosis for people diagnosed with schizophrenia more than 30 years ago:

• 25% — Completely recovered
• 35% — Much improved, relatively independent
• 15% — Improved, but require extensive support
• 10% — Hospitalized, unimproved
• 15% — Deceased (mostly suicide)

Homeopathic Treatment of Schizophrenia

Traditional medicine is not always successful in the treatment of schizophrenia. Homeopathic medicine has been used successfully to treat schizophrenia dating back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when conventional medicine failed.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the law of similars —“like cures like.” Basically, a patient’s symptoms are matched to the symptoms a homeopathic medicine produces. When a match is made, the medicine stimulates the body’s vital force to heal itself in a gentle way.

Homeopathic medicines follow FDA guidelines. The most common form of homeopathic medicines are small round pellets. The pellets are dissolved under the tongue or in pure filtered water and can be taken daily or as a single dose. There are over 3000 homeopathic remedies available.

Homeopathy identifies conditions which may interfere with healing, such as thyroid imbalance, nutritional deficiencies or a toxic relationship. Homeopathy may also be used with a number of supportive therapies such as orthomolecular medicine, clinical nutrition, lifestyle changes, thyroid therapies, dietary supplements and prescription medicines if necessary.

Disclaimer: No statements on this website are intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any condition or disease but rather are given for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a licensed, trained health care provider when using any dietary supplements, herbal, homeopathic, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs or making any dietary or lifestyle changes.