The Pakistani Spectator

CATIE ( Clinical Anti-psychotic Trials of Intervention effectiveness) was carried out in America to compare the effectiveness of first generation anti-psychotics like haleperidol etc to second generation atypical medications like perphenazine to newest like Olanzapine etc.

The drug MNCs use advertisements, psychiatrists, even Federal Drug administration officials to propagate the efficacy of a new drug and so patient, care givers have no choice especially in cases of schizophrenia ,bipolar,severe OCD etc wherein they are always looking for a miracle cure . To accept the inevitability of 30% MENTALLYILL patients DONOT GET RELIEF with any of the modern medical treatment known to mankind is a nightmare for carers.

The CATIE trial has revealed that perphenazine IS AFFECTIVE OR INEFFECTIVE AS NEWER ANTIPSYCHOTICS LIKE RESPIRODONE,OLANZAPINE etc IS NOW OFFICIAL. But the families will change psychiatrists, medicines or hakims as long as this disease defies the mankind. The sideffects like increase of weight, diabetes,heart disease, increase IOP along with old problems like diarrhea,constipation,bed-wetting,saluivation etc.

But the hand of drug MNCs is seen in this trial is that CLOZAPINE one of the first atypical anti-psychotic to be discovered was NOT included in this trial. Every family which has used this medicine knows its effectiveness. They also know that the scare which is created about agranulocytosis and weekly blood tests are actually a scare crow. I am not a scientists or a psychiatrist but i know CLOZAPINE is the BEST medication available cost-wise, effectiveness, tolerance,lack of weightgain etc. Of-course it has side effects like all the other anti-psychotics but they are not that bothersome like Tardenidyskenia etc. In-fact this irreversible side effect has some beneficial effect due to this drug. When i ask a psychiatrist, why this drug is not prescribed in the first instance IN LOW DOSAGE, they come out with answer like going from mild to strong etc without any scientific basis. In-fact if this drug is prescribed in the first instance, even when relapse happens due to poor compliance, the dosage can be increased. Of-course i am not a scientist or doctor and my view has NO BASIS.

But i will advise all those carers in this TPS to ask for CLOZAPINE in LOW DOSAGE for their ward in the initial stage itself with attendant or-tho moleculor therapy like NIACIN, Omega three and high dosage of fish oils.

The root cause for this CLOZAPINE (not being prescribed ) is due to its being drug which is off PATENT and generic versions are available in cheap prices. This could not be ever-greened like other block buster drugs.

Mental health policy of WHO ( another of those agencies which work for drug MNCs) states that ” By treating many of the debilitating mental disorders and by promoting mental health, people will experience major improvements in their lives. They will be able to work and rise out of poverty,provide their children with the right social and emotional environment to flourish, participate productively in community life, and contribute to the economy of the country. In order to achieve this, countries need to put in place human rights oriented mental health policies, strategic plans and laws to ensure that effective treatment and promotion programs are made available to all people who need them”"”. This policy looks great on paper. But in practise the WHO ESSENTIAL DRUG LIST of 354 drugs does-not contain CLOZAPINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want those who have mentally-ill in their homes to read, interact with other carers and learn from their mistakes.