What would it be like for people who suffer from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia to be able to go to the Dr once every three to six months to be injected with medicine than to take pills two to three times a day? Forgetting to take a pill, or not being able to take it because you got tied up some where and don't have enough on you for the duration is a common issue. Not taking one dose, or taking it late will mess you up emotionally and can sometimes lead to you not caring about the next dose. Being free from that responsibility for months at a time sounds revolutionary.
A new drug that is expected to go on the market in a few months called, NP202, needs to be implanted minimally once every three months. It's a biodegradable risperidone implant that has a continuous delivery system that can be taken out at any time. It can also be used to treat migraines and Parkinson's disease.
Who wouldn't want this new treatment espesially those who aren't good at taking medication as regularly as they should? This sounds like a miracle option. One problem is that it only works on just under half of patients. Just like all mental health drugs, there is not one pill for everyone. It will take time for all the side effects to be known and the known ones aren't published yet because the drug isn't approved so the company making it doesn't need to share that information publicly which helps them get needed financial funding. One thing that makes me uneasy about it is is what Jane Hollingsworth, the chief executive officer of NuPathe, the company making this drug, said. “There is a need for innovation, but the more innovation you have in your product, the more difficult it can be for [the regulators] to understand it, at least within the review cycle time line. By definition, innovation does not fit in a box or the mold for what has come before, and that can strain the regulatory system, particularly if it is a system that favors caution and safety over innovation.”
This statement makes me fear she may be more interested in some possible good outcomes without caring for adequate safety measures for the others.
This treatment is revolutionary while I wouldn't be the first in line to be a guinea pig.
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