Low dose antipsychotics - longterm research

DX'd - Other
1

This study looks at longterm (ultra)low dose antipsychotic use. As a third alternative between quitting and continueing. It says it was related to good functioning, while protecting against relapse, in those who tolerate it. In short.

Frontiers | Challenging the Minimum Effective Antipsychotic Dose During Maintenance: Implications From 10-Year Follow-Up of First Episode Psychosis (frontiersin.org)

This study compared continueing versus discontinueing. It was done by medication-critical people who were hoping to find something different. But found more relapses (i think 25% versus 13%?) in the discontinueing group. It did see that not all would relapse.

What the RADAR Trial Tells Us About Antipsychotic Reduction and Discontinuation - Mad In America

2

I don’t understand.

It says

Besides, 10 of 55 patients (18.2%) only received very low dose antipsychotics (CPZE < 50 mg/day) during maintenance, which was significantly correlated to good functioning

Is this research reaching conclusions based on an observational study of just 10 people ?

3

No. It is obviously a very small study - thus limited in its conclusions.

But it has more people with several strategies. Some with higher dose, some with lower dose, just a few (> 10) with ultralow dose.

4

This is exactly what I do, but I had to learn to tolerate a certain amount of ongoing positive symptoms to do it.

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5

It’s what I’m trying as well. In part out of necessity - meds were in the process of killing me.

But I find it terribly hard to find a balance. If I’m honest. I feel guilty when I have symptoms and am (thus) less stable for my loved ones. I can tolerate quite a lot of mental trouble now…but sometimes a trigger catches me off guard, like a few days ago.

How do you find the sweet spot @ozymandias?

6

Low dose is better than off meds regarding psychosis. Lower doses give me harm ocd, its worse than sz

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7

I take the minimum dose of Latuda and it works for me, I’ve been on it a year and change and I haven’t had a single relapse since.

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8

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