Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Leading Drugs for Psychosis Come Under New Scrutiny
Front page feature article in today's New York Times - "They were billed as near wonder drugs, much safer and more effective in treating schizophrenia than anything that had come before. For many years, it seemed that the excitement was fully warranted. There were remarkable stories of recovery. And the new generation of antipsychotic drugs, called atypicals, seemed to have few of the side effects commonly seen with high doses of older medications for psychosis. ... But 14 years after the first of the drugs entered the market, researchers are questioning whether they are quite as miraculous — or benign — as originally advertised." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].