After tapering off antipsychotics, how much time it took for your psychosis to come back?

Medications
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For those who tried to stop medications, how much time it took for your psychosis to come back after tapering off your antipsychotics completely? How did you taper off? By cold turkey or by decreasing dose gradually?

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It’s random. It depends on the half life of the med and the person. But psychosis can come back quickly or again at a random time. You can also lose insight and jump off a building. It’s not worth it.

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Thank you for the answer, @everhopeful.

Have you ever tried to taper off?

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I’ve done both. Maybe a few months.

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How did you feel without ap @insidemind ?

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Yes. The first time I quit abilify cold turkey and got away with it for 2 years. Then i went psychotic and ended up in hospital.

I tried one more time and found that I really couldn’t cope after a month so just went back on it.

We all dream of coming off meds. But we’re screwed. All we can do is find one that works and has side effects that we can live with.

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Initially, I feel better like I’m higher functioning. But I end up with paranoid psychosis. I was drinking energy drinks and smoking cigs though. I think monster caused some of the anxiety and paranoia for me.

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I also was triggered by UFOs which was outside my control. I almost died…

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That’s a delusion @insidemind

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Thank you for sharing your experience, @everhopeful :slight_smile:

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Better meds coming soon!

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I quit taking my meds before. I just quit cold turkey. I did pretty good for a couple of months then I ended up in the hospital again.

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Thank you, @unknown!

It seems it may take a couple of months for psychosis to come back. For @everhopeful, for example, it took 2 years.

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2 years sounds like it would be worth it. Assuming life wasn’t hell…

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It pretty much was. I was barely coping. Once I recognised the “barely coping” feeling the second time I just went back on meds.

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Just found out that “taper off” is an English expression for people who stop medicines gradually, and not cold turkey. I meant people who stop medicines gradually and cold turkey.

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When I quit meds it took like 3-4 months and the voices came back

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Thank you for the answer @anon30680549!

Did you stop medicines cold turkey or by tapering off?

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Cold turkey being irresponsible at the time

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I’ve tried tapering twice, once with doctor approval and once without. Both times, it took roughly four months before I admitted defeat.

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