Antipsychotics- a personal view

DX'd - Other
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I think the greatest myths about APs come from those who go into hyperbolic mode about how effective they are. For some they may be highly effective but for many they are only mildly/moderately effective or not effective at all.
I have taken them for 23 of the last 40 years. Am I in recovery let alone cured?-No. My symptoms according to clinical diagnostic criteria currently are fairly mild compared to several decades ago. Whether that’s the effect of medication or par for the course over time with a serious mental illness is debatable. What I do know is that I have chronic problems(emotional and social) that are not covered by the diagnostic criteria and not really helped by medication . I have never been employed,have no social network, am described as having limited ability to live independently in the community. Like a lot of people with chronic problems who are not a nuisance or a danger to self or others I’m very much left to my own devices- socially isolated and functioning in what for someone who was not seriously mentally ill would be a very restricted way.
There is and never has been much help for the social problems but woe betide I am even slightly late for an injection(eg a few weeks ago they phoned up at 10.50 because I hadn’t turned up at my usual time of 10.00).
Having said all that re the limitations of APs one thing I ask myself and which has me taking them despite that is “Would I be even worse off for not taking them?” . The simple answer is I don’t really know and in any case over 40 plus years non drug help has been extremely limited. Then there are the officials to contend with re benefits who can cynically say you can’t be that ill or debilitated if you aren’t taking medication .

I am not against APs but I am against them being overhyped.

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wow isnt it the guy who keep telling me be on Meds?.

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You may be one of the ones for whom meds are a good help. You will never know unless you give them a fair try. At least what I say is based on experience.

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I completely support Meds for SZ (Though I have reasons against meds which I consider to be valid) but for illness, Meds are the only go.

I am happy you take Meds @firemonkey and it has helped you.

I too would like to start them probably at some time soon…I havent recovered as of now without them.

Thanks

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I would like to add that it has been (and continues to be) an incredibly terrible ride (without meds). I have been hospitalized once for violence so always take meds…its more positive i guess

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Over the many years of taking meds, many meds including different APs have made my symptoms worse.

Only a couple of Meds have actually helped my condition.

Depakote and Risperdal have actually worked in making things better for me - the other APs and meds either did nothing or actually worsened my condition.

Finding the right meds at the right dose is important.

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