I've absolutely had it. I want off

Risperdal Consta shots. I’ve been obediently taking these shots for the last 13 years and the whole while I have been struggling away at the piano and not succeeding, feeling like I’m bashing my head against a brick wall over and over. Before I began the shots, everyone said I played “beautifully”. Now, no one does.

The problem is, Risperdal Consta works. So does Zyprexa but I absolutely refuse to go on that again, ever. Abilify makes me super paranoid. I’m already on max dose of Geodon. I’m already on Seroquel and even a small dose of that gives me akathisia and I can’t tolerate more Cogentin. Risperdal pills skyrocket my prolactin and that’s too dangerous. The typicals don’t work on me. My son died on Invega. And all the other atypicals are too weak.

So, that leaves Clozaril. I’ve always been afraid of it but I’m going to have to get over it.

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How about vraylar??

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I like clozapine so far. I think it has been the best for my cognition. My last psychiatrist seemed to like it but I don’t think my new psychiatrist likes it as much. My neutrophils dropped as I increased the dose but they bounced back up. I am taking 200mg.

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How is the efficacy of Vraylar compared to the other atypicals? Do you know? @Speedy

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What are your symptoms and what are clozapines effects on your symptoms? @ExploringWalker

Off meds I hear a smart girl saying 100 and 1 quite a bit. Sometimes words. I also get paranoid thinking. It makes sleep difficult. Clozapine stopped the paranoid thinking and I only hear things like once a day and it puts me to sleep at night.

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Clozaril is a red line for me too.

I know a creative way for the pdoc to administer that to himself

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No I don’t know. I just know that compared to risperidone, vraylar is safer when it comes to side-effects. You could always try it? Vraylar is used both in bipolar and schizophrenia.

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Whatever you decide we wish you the best.

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Rexulti saphris amisulpride is left on that list

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I’m afraid to try a lot of the different meds.
When I switched to Vraylar in 2016 I became psychotic and had to be hospitalized.
It was awful.

Good luck @SkinnyMe, clozaril may be a good option for you.

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I like clozapine. You should try it

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My Dr wanted to prescribe me Clozapine. I refused bcz of the need for constant blood tests and because its a much more weight gainer than my current med Risperdal 6mg.

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I’m doing real well on invega might be getting a job soon been taking it for years

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I want off of my invega shot and put on some ability pills but my doc won’t let me. Been on invega for 4 years.

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I had a pdoc that wanted to put me on clozapine but I refused. I got a new pdoc and he put me on Lurasidone and I never looked back. I’ve been on it for about 2-3 years and it’s worked out great.

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I didn’t know it was a big weight gainer. Now, I don’t want to try it at all.

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Yes @SkinnyMe
Clozapine/Clozaril is a big weight gaining medication.
Comparable to olanzapine.

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Some meds are a pain in the neck - literally. It can interfere with your piano coordination. I hope you find an answer.

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The danger of Clozaril is way over rated.

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