Does everyone experience side effects?

Medications
1

I’ve been looking at the lists of side effects for antipsychotics, and it’s a pretty depressing activity. I see lots of people complaining about their medications on this and other forums.

However, the listing says that only about 10% of people experience significant side effects.

Is this a case of a vocal minority that is always complaining about their side effects? Or, do the disclosures downplay the percentage of people who experience these problems?

I will be starting antipsychotics pretty soon, and the medications seem almost as scary as the disease.

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2

I dont get any side effects on my current meds. I’m on Latuda.

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3

I have been on many medications and it’s always the side effects that have caused me to switch.

The best meds for me have been Latuda and Amisulpride for side effects.

Don’t worry too much. You may have to try a few before you find one that works for you

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4

I’m worried because I’m already in a bad situation, and some of the side effects seem debilitating and/or highly unpleasant.

I also just lost a bunch of weight, and a lot of these meds seem to have weight gain as a side effect.

5

Back 20 years ago people complained about the positive symptoms. With better meds now most people complain about negatives and side effects…

It’s all about balance. Ideally it’s about taking the minimum dose required to get you over positive symptoms. Side effects happen but still it’s about efficiancy on your symptoms.

There’s no simple rules to get by. A lot of it is trial and error but a good shrink will help you out. Losing weight is crazy on these meds…look out for that. Could be other issues!

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6

Every antipsychotic I’ve been on has had side-effects for the first 2-3 weeks as my body got used to them, then they’ve subsided.

I’m on Latuda now, and I don’t have any negative side effects.

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7

Only ever had Tardive Dyskenisa from a course of Haldol i was on years ago. With the Xeplion/Invega Jab - none whats so ever.

On Seraqoul 300mg at night at well - so the side-effect of drowsiness is welcomed, i use it more as a sleep aid.

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8

I’m on a low dose AND I STILL can’t jog. It goes to show how powerful these meds are.

Jogging used to regulate my appetite hence the current weight gain.

Then I have lowered motivation and concentration in general

And feel weak

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9

Why can’t you go jogging? What happens?

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10

This may sound strange, but when I go jogging after like 5 minutes my legs just stop jogging. They can’t take the command from the brain to continue jogging. I don’t run out of breath it’s just some strange movement issue due to the meds.

Idk for sure but I think dopamine is involved in movement and so in susceptible individuals like me, this is what happens… :unamused:

It just becomes too overwhelming to do

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11

I have no sedation by big doses of antipsychotics.
But i had tardive dyskinesia, which fortunately stopped after quiting risperidone.
Low libido, now and in the past.
Erectile dysfunction, now and in the past.
Maybe deterioration of cognitive symptoms.
Oh and weight gain, more than 20 kgs since I started aps

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12

I have a bad reaction to Seroquel, which was a wonder drug for me, but made my heart race shortly after taking it. Reluctantly I had to stop it. I’m now on Risperdal, and the only side effect I get from it is massive weight gain. I have put on 30kgs since starting it and I was a slightly built guy. Was being the operative word.

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13

That’s really sad, I’m sorry to hear that.

Thanks for sharing.

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14

I have no side effects whatsoever and I am on generic prolixin…fluphenazine…

15

At the moment, no. But the list has included:

  • drooling
  • dry mouth
  • blurred vision
  • involuntary movements
  • emotional blunting
  • inability to sit still
  • extreme fatigue
  • extreme appetite (and I already have problems here)
  • explosive weight gain (feck you Zyprexa!)

It can take YEARS to find the right balance of meds, symptoms, and side-effects.

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16

I take Abilify and suffered horrible anxiety as a side effect.

Now my doctor has me on Klonopin to combat the anxiety and it seems to be working very well.

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17

The only side effect I have is weight gain but that mainly because I didn’t care for myself like I should.

I say just watch for side effects that make you uncomfortable. Like more anxiety, let the antipsychotics work its way for at least 30 days.

18

I find after several years of taking amisulpride and olanzapine I don’t notice the side effects anymore.

19

I have had side effects. I also can’t jog on Geodon because my heart rate goes through the roof. Used to be an avid runner and quite skinny. Geodon kept me skinny but I couldn’t run anymore but I added Latuda and put on 50 pounds. I don’t feel fat though so I am not worried about it. I don’t think Latuda helps much for my psychotic symptoms but it helps with negatives.

Side effects from Geodon are tremors in my hands but two Benedryl a day knocks those out. Also syncope and collapse or fainting if I try to get up and get out of bed too fast. I lye in bed a few minutes before I try to get up. The first time this happened I put a hole in the wall of my bathroom with my head when I fell out. I had it a few times. Haven’t had it all lately. And then with Geodon there is also mild erectile dysfunction which is a symptom no man wants to have but I do get Viagra.

The side effects are all manageable and without the meds I get terrifying hallucinations and suicidal ideation and then there is psychosis on top of that which makes me lose my memory. Not a good combination and it lands me in a hospital.

When people talk about psychosis you usually hear about paranoia, delusions and hallucinations but it’s so much more than just that.

If you have psychosis you really need your meds.

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20

It’s about the actual dosing in my experience.

Someone who is on 5 mg of Olanzapine can just cruise around without any problems, other one who takes 20 mg can be in actual hell.

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