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Does Abilify Cause Brain To Shrink?
Question: Hello, I saw a statement online saying that using psychotic medicines like Abilify can cause your brain to shrink every year by 1%.
Is that true? Please tell me.
Also tell me if I use Seroquel 400 mg for the rest of my life am I going to become a low functioning person after 10 or more years?
Thank you
Is that true? Please tell me.
Also tell me if I use Seroquel 400 mg for the rest of my life am I going to become a low functioning person after 10 or more years?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
That is true.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
There is lot of research going on in this area to check effect of antipsychotic on brain volume. In the past 15 years, research has indicated that people with schizophrenia have smaller cerebral volumes than the general population and that this reduction is particularly large in grey-matter structures. For instance, one meta-analysis points to 5–7% reductions in the size of structure, which are involved in memory storage and retrieval.
But scientists have debated whether the decrease is caused by the disease alone or whether powerful antipsychotic drugs also have a role. According to the latest findings, the more antipsychotics patients receive, the more likely they are to have a decreased amount of grey matter. That could be due to increase severity of illness. If a individual has severe illness and need higher dose of antipsychotic, then chances of brain changes are possible. Rest, depends upon genesis of brain.
In your case, it is difficult to tell the effect of seroquel after 10 years. Antipsychotic does not effect brain size in all cases. It depends upon severity of illness, genesis or dose. In your case, if your stay asymptomatic for longer period and maintain yourself with low dose (lesser than 400 mg), then chances of getting such effect is less.
If you have more query, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
That is true.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
There is lot of research going on in this area to check effect of antipsychotic on brain volume. In the past 15 years, research has indicated that people with schizophrenia have smaller cerebral volumes than the general population and that this reduction is particularly large in grey-matter structures. For instance, one meta-analysis points to 5–7% reductions in the size of structure, which are involved in memory storage and retrieval.
But scientists have debated whether the decrease is caused by the disease alone or whether powerful antipsychotic drugs also have a role. According to the latest findings, the more antipsychotics patients receive, the more likely they are to have a decreased amount of grey matter. That could be due to increase severity of illness. If a individual has severe illness and need higher dose of antipsychotic, then chances of brain changes are possible. Rest, depends upon genesis of brain.
In your case, it is difficult to tell the effect of seroquel after 10 years. Antipsychotic does not effect brain size in all cases. It depends upon severity of illness, genesis or dose. In your case, if your stay asymptomatic for longer period and maintain yourself with low dose (lesser than 400 mg), then chances of getting such effect is less.
If you have more query, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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