My (hopefully) last contribution to this thread:

Tayla, you're right; TD is not a common side-effect with antipsychotic drugs, it is relatively rare; if it were common, the drugs would have been banned long ago. TD is not merely disturbing, it destroys lives; especially when it appears in a population the rest of the world doesn't want anything to do with.

My point in replying on this thread was to inform others that there is absolutely no evidence that antipsychotics are efficacious in treating RSD, and their potential side-effects are far too dangerous to justify prescribing them in the hope that they might help.

You mentioned other drugs that are being used off-label to treat RSD, but there is a defined mechanism of action for GABAs (like gabapentin and Lyrica), in the treatment of neuropathic pain; they have been shown to be efficacious; and their adverse consequences are generally well-understood. A mechanism of action for Clonadine isn't known and there is no objective evidence that it is efficacious, but it doesn't appear to have any major adverse events.

Memantine is a different story. It has been discussed here in the past, and those discussions left me feeling uneasy, but I knew nothing about the drug, so I stayed silent. I have since learned enough about the drug to become convinced that it, too, is far too dangerous to prescribe on the mere hope that it might help. I will have much more to say on that when the topic arises again.

Your arguements don't address the issue I presented: That antipsychotics are simply far too dangerous to even consider using against RSD, even if they were shown to be efficacious. My larger point is that off-label use of drugs has been useful, but some doctors have lost any sense of perspective.

I'm sorry that we are poles apart on this issue and I suspect they have more to do with issues of personal freedom, where we would likely find we have much in common I might even advocate further that you in that respect.

For exanple, I believe that people should have the right to end their lives in the presence of loved-ones. WOW. I expect that I will die by my own hand, and I will have to be alone when I do; because the police could arrest anyone present at my death for complicity in murder, and that sucks.

I don't believe, however, that patients should be allowed to take any drug they hope will help them. Prescribing is the physician's job, and we trust them to do it well. For the most part, we simply fill whatever the doc writes, and that qualifies as an informed decision.

Physicians who write scrips for powerfual and dangerous drugs, without telling pts of the risks, on the mere hope that they might help, make discussions like this one necessary. These are not the acts of responsible physicians; they are deliberate violations of the doctor/patient relationship where informed decisions are impossible.

I don't think Imahotep's doc sat down with her and gave her the information she needed, nor do I believe a single one of those Australian docs who (apparently commonly), prescribe antipsychotics did so. Such discussions take time; docs begrudge time.

I don't believe an RSD patient can make an informed decision regarding the use of such dangerous drugs; the pain is so great that we are willing to sacrifice arms and legs to get rid of it; fortunately, neurosurgeons can now tell us why that doesn't work, but you can find a doc willing to cut your leg off if you look hard enough.

Apparently you don't have to look far to find docs willing to risk destroying your brain, your body and your life with drugs, and that's what this is about.

Are we poles apart? Do you really believe RSD patients being offered antipsychotics are provided with all of the information they must have before they can make a truly informed decision?

jo, I'n sure Amber was looking for personal stories from people who used Geodon, and I'm sorry that even one appeared.. Had there been several, I would probably have stopped writing about RSD and begun a campaign (from my bed) to stop physician abuse of off-label drug prescription.

I hope the arguments I presented on this thread explain why I feel that these physicians are guilty of performing human experimentats and criminal malpractice, and hope my words are sufficient to cause anyone to trample innocent people in an attempt to get away from any doc who even introduces the idea.

I don't think there are two sides in this discussion, but I'd be interested in seeing one of these doctors present "their side" in a courtroom (criminal or civil). They should be given this opportunity as soon as practicable.

Imahotep, sugar coat what? You were a victim of what should be an illegal human experiment and of criminal medical malpractice. Thank God you don't appear to have suffered from any of the many adverse effects of this drug; not everyone is (or will be) so fortunate.

The fact that he also prescribed gabapentin does not relieve him of his responsibility for his gross violation of his oath to "First, do no harm".

Amber, you read of one personal experience with Geodon; you heard from one person who feels it might help (but has no idea how); and you read my views: I hope these have given you enough information to decide whether you want to ask that doc to prescribe Geodon for you...Vic