Rethinking Clozapine: Should it be the First Resort to Treat Schizophrenia? - with Dr. Robert Laitman (Ep. 18)

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!In this episode, we talk meds with an MD. Specifically: Clozapine. Many of us are told that it’s the “last resort” medication, “when nothing else works”. Is that really true?Guest :  Robert S Laitman, MD, is an internal medicine physician at Bronx Westchester Medical Group in New York. Over the last 10 years, he has developed a practice taking care of people with psychotic disorders after his son, Daniel, received a diagnosis of schizophrenia in 2006.Dr Laitman, his family, and his colleague authored the book, "Clozapine: Meaningful Recovery from Schizophrenia."We talk about:1.       Why do you say clozapine should be the drug used first? Why isn’t it? 2.       Why is clozapine used more in other countries compared to the United States? Why isn’t it marketed more here? 3.       Why does clozapine take so long to fully kick in (a year in some cases) compared to other antipsychotics? Your son continues to improve, even after being on it for 9 years. In what ways does he improve?  4.    How does clozapine can benefit patients, besides addressing the classic symptoms of schizophrenia, e.g., suicidality, illicit drug use, smoking. 5.       Mitigating predictable side effects - e.g., weight gain, salivation, sedation.  (Med therapy management and how it works) 6.      We need Engagement, Access, Treatment, Support 7. What can families do, to advocate for their loved ones to get best treatment? What should practitioners know, and do?  What can families do? Educate yourself about clozapine and talk with your loved one’s psychiatrist. Links and explanations:TeamDanielRunningForRecovery.orgClozapine facebook pageTeam Daniel facebook pageSZ 3 Moms Facebook pageGet on the mailing list:[email protected]. Laitman’s Book:https://www.amazon.com/MEANINGFUL-RECOVERY-Schizophrenia-Serious-Clozapine/dp/172748424XNew finger-prick Point-of-service testPsychiatrists were once referred to as Alienists - Psych. Today articleDeborah Levy was director of the Psychology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital and an associate professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School,Support the showPlease share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.Want to know more?Join our facebook page  Our websites:Randye KayeMindy Greiling Miriam (Mimi) Feldman