or is it standard to keep a certain dose indefinitely or in perpetuity?
At some point about 3 years ago they lowered my invega paliperidone to 3.5 or 4.5mg… I was doing fine but then I had a quarrel with my therapist and couldn’t get my meds anymore and slowly went into another break… right now I’m on 15mg abilify and I don’t ever plan on lowering my dose. Even if my symptoms do completely stop… I don’t ever want to go into another break. But I think it is normal for them to lower the dose if you are doing good and don’t have symptoms
I think that’s a good question. My symptoms are always in flux, seasonal even, so I think to maintain a steady dose is of utmost importance. That said, I’ve been on Olanzapine over 15 years now and have gone from 20mg to 15mg.
I lower my dose when the docter isnt looking lol just joking
Good question for the elders. Im stable and am on the lowest dose (10 day) of abilify. Ive tryed having it lowered but doc says no. So i think that the lowest recommended dose for schizophrenia is as low as it gets. However i hope im wrong
After my first breakdown I was on meds till my remission two years later, and another two years after that I stopped.
Five years later relapse and back on meds
Tried coming off numerous times but failed.
Gotta be on for life now!
It’s different for everyone. But generally, the more episodes you have, the less chance of ever coming off meds.
I still get residual psychosis sometimes so, I doubt my pdoc will decrease my dosages.
I’ve been med-free a few times. I’ll start out doing great, then descend. Some folks can get away with just having one episode, and others, like me, get stuck on meds perpetually.
If you’ve been symptom free for about 2 years, some doctors will start a very slow taper. Be warned though, the withdrawal can super duper suck,and if you relapse, you might need even more meds to get back to functional.
I have no psychotic symptoms but I will never go off of my meds. Ever.
My doctor has asked me to see if I want to taper off, but I refused. The meds keep me stable and I would never want to quit.
I would take meds and keep not having symptoms rather than having symptoms.
Theres never been any mention of my dose of meds being lowered - even tho i reckon im pretty stable.
Ive just assumed and accepted im gonna be on the jab for the rest of my life. If it aint broke - dont fix it.
There is a “maintenance dose”
Recommend dose for each med
I’m 15 years from my last episode
Still too afraid to go down to it
Things were pretty rough for a few years
They were lowering my dose of Haldol. However, I was taking large amounts of ephedrine and caffeine, and I found out that if I did a moderately intense workout while doing this I could amp myself up pretty good. I got way to far out there. We had a family gathering for Thanksgiving, and while everyone was sitting in the den making nice conversation I was pacing back and forth fuming about death and destruction. They eventually called the cops on me. Now that I am on Geodon and Seroquel everything is cool.
That might be true in your case. For some, the side effects of APs can be so disabling they feel compelled to try to come off them sooner or later.
Good Point. I am one of the lucky ones that dont really get side affects.
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