I think most people who are pro/neutral about meds would agree with the ‘minimum dose necessary’ line. This of course does bring into question the use of polypharmacy especially when more than one drug from a particular class is prescribed .
A lot of it depends what you hope to achieve with a medical approach. Antipsychotics are very beneficial at alleviating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but do nothing or worsen the negative and cognitive symptoms. For example, you will probably find relief in an antipsychotic for auditory or visual hallucinations, paranoia, etc. You won’t find relief for the lack of motivation, memory impairment, social withdrawal, and these symptoms will probably worsen with an antipsychotic.
Unfortunately it’s the negative and cognitive symptoms which primarily disable people.
True. I find that I make better decisions when I’m not on medication IDK why, but over time I deal with more stress and anxiety and then I start to deal with paranoia. I’m not sure if this is always so, but I feel grounded atm. I should probably take the medication soon. I just don’t want it to slow me down.
Antipsychotics are downright dangerous. Not only do you have a greater chance of recovery off psychiatric medications, not only do neuroleptics increase your chance of psychosis, but neuroleptics cause structural brain changes which exacerbate the positive, negative, and cognitive impairments.
I would suggest reviewing this study:
And this study:
http://psychrights.org/research/Digest/Chronicity/treatacute.pdf
Which demonstrates those treated without drugs were discharged sooner than those treated with drugs. 35% of the drug-free group relapsed within a year, compared to 45% of the drug-treated group.
[quote]
In the short term, acute D2 blockade detaches salience and the patient’s investment in positive symptoms. In the long term, chronic D2 blockade dampens salience for all events in everyday life, inducing a chemical anhedonia that is sometimes labeled postpsychotic depression or neuroleptic dysphoria.
Could it be that the drug-related chronic deficits in motivational salience for experience lead to a form of extra-institutional institutionalization? Do we free patients from the asylum with D2 blocking agents only to block incentive, engagement with the world, and the joie de vivre of everyday life? Medication can be lifesaving in a crisis, but it may render the patient more psychosis-prone should it be stopped and more deficit-ridden should it be maintained.[/quote]
I’ve read that for every month on a neuroleptic, it takes two months for your brain to fully recover.
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Hey @SnowyOwl1 I currently take Lamictal - its an anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer usually given to people that display bipolar/depressive symptoms. It isn’t an antipsychotic - neuroleptic.
I am on a low dose, I cannot tolerate it over 50 mg. How long have you been on Lamictal? Do you tolerate it well?
Yeah I like it, its a good med - helps with my depression big time
I’m pretty good atm though. I just noticed that I’m starting to be more open to stimuli. Last night I just took a bong rip then went to bed. It knocked me out and I slept well. My main focus is getting a job now that I’m back from NYC.
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lamictal is not an neuroleptic its anti epileptic, mood stabilizer.
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I don’t necessarily agree with this statement, not everyone can do it without drugs, I for one can not function normally without medications help, I’d still be sitting in the corner talking to pictures or fictional characters living the current story I’d be reading in my head to the point where I’d think it was real. I have never been able to fully cut the medication I’ve been able to reduce it to extremely low amounts but never fully cut it out of my treatment.
I don’t think I can function normally anymore without drugs 
Sorry for being kinda arrogant with my posts.
I do remember not having voices until I went off the drugs they forced me to take. Anyway, I guess the status quo right now is that I’m drug dependent already. I have memory problems and severe persecutory voices whenever I stop taking my meds.
Pixel, you got me cracking up, and I was near episode. That was glorious