Just wondering if anyone at the moment is in the process of lowering their dosage. I have been on 600mg of seroquel everyday for over 10yrs. That’s considered high and my medication has never really been looked at until now. I think I’ve slipped through the cracks abit I was diagnosed when I was 22yrs old now 34yrs, I have never been hospitalized, I have always taken my meds and have a great family support. In the last 10months I have gone from 600 to 150. Which I am happy with I still feel the same as if I was on 600. I have started taking better care of myself in that time have lost only 7kgs but that better then nothing, no longer drinking 600ml coke a day down to one bottle a week, water is my new best friend. I think my mindset has changed a little I’m taking better care of myself. At the start of lowering my dosage I was nervous to say the least, medication is like security blanket I haven’t had any episodes since around 25 yrs of age and wanted to keep it that way. I know everyone is different but wondering if anyone is messing with meds (under doctor’s orders) at the moment how their going and if you think recovery is really possible.
Seroquel 600mg everyday was pretty high. I think that’s why you haven’t got a relapse since 25 years old. I had been on Seroquel 200mg several years back. I felt numbed by this med as my memory was gone and was very slow in processing information. I got a relapse on that dosage and then my pdoc switched me to Risperidone.
I thought the same that’s why no episodes. I’ve been on 200 for 2months never had side effects just dry throat now and then. Do you take the same dosage on new meds?
Risperidone is a pretty strong med. I took 1mg. But I was so uncomfortable with Risperidone so I quiting taking it. Now I am on Amisulpride 200mg.
Hello jane. I’m currently on 600 mg seroquel I’ve been on it higher dose for about 3 months. I’m currently improving lots ( voices thoughts feelings etc slowly easing) thinking clearer. I’m able to understand things more " try rationalize". I don’t like the quietness tho. Side effects wise I feel awful tired/un energetic, crave sugar 24/7 body temp gets high. Plus there’s times in the day I feel separated from myself. Can you share your experiences and make me feel better!?
Sure when I first started on it. It helped greatly with my symptoms the voices and hallucinations stopped. I did gain weight, dry throat. How long have you been diagnosed for? Truthfully I think it took me a few years to get my head around my illness saying that in that time my episodes stopped I did relapse a few times during that period but I never seen a psychiatrist and the doctors were just giving me scripts. I learned my triggers. Now I am lowering my dosages and I feel good about it. I think it gets easier in time. I have always taken my pills I know some people stop because they feel better but I always believed because of my meds it allowed me to be me. I don’t want to go back to have episodes and interrupting my life with them. When I was first diagnosed it was scary, now I feel like i’m not the crazy on seriously feel like me lol. You do what’s right for you and there’s hope at the end of the tunnel. If you asked me when I was first diagnosed if I thought things would get better, I hoped it would but I didn’t really believe it. Find the medication that works for you and the side affects your prepared to live with and hopefully with doctors and support improve your situation even more. Hope that makes you feel better
I’ve been diagnosed since this year but my pdoc thinks I’ve had it for a few years slowly coming. Last year I was in wilderness for 9 months with no treatment. I had a bad pyschosis in feb for a few months was on homecare treatment and staying with family ( so I didn’t have to be sectioned)I take heart that these side effects will pass, I feel like I want to come of the seroquel now but I know logically its helping and I’m frightened of relapse.
I’ve been on 800 mg Seroquel and 160 mg Geodon for a long time. I can’t really tell I’m taking them. I’ve experienced no weight gain on the Seroquel, unlike other people. What I am on right now is about right for me. It controls the symptoms. All anti-psych medication drains me of a lot of physical strength, but that’s just life. Before I was put on anti-psych med’s I could work all day in 100 degree weather, and not think twice about it. Now that is totally impossible.
My advice is discuss meds with doctors there might be something better for you or give it time. But before I was diagnosed I lived in another state away from family and friends and was undiagnosed for at least 12 months, it was crazy looking back on it I still don’t talk about everything I did and probably never will. I have never gone around telling people I have an illness obviously family and friends know but it’s not that I’m ashamed it’s because I don’t need other peoples prejudice put on to me.(i had enough to deal with). It will take time and everyone is different but when your medication is under control and symptoms have subsided there maybe times you relapse dont feel defeated take it as a learning curve. Learn your triggers and that takes time sometimes. Glade you have family support it’s easier if you do my family always let me know when I was heading off the rails lol. Good luck
I am in the process of lowering my dosage of Risperdal. At one point I was on 4 mg a while back. I went down to 3 mg and stayed at that dose for a long while - months or so. Then I stayed at 2.5 mg for a good long while (good dose for me)
Now I am on 2 mg of Risperdal - been doing so - so at this dose for a while, but yesterday I did not feel so great - I was edgy - pretty paranoid and felt a bit off center. My therapist, who knows a lot about meds reminded me that antipsychotics like Risperdal are not exclusively for psychosis control - they work well for stabilizing mood and anxiety - I now know why my pdoc insists that I stay at a certain dose for 2 months or so. Success is not measured by staying on a low dose of antipsychotic - it all depends on how you are feeling and doing no matter what dose you are on.
I was so focused on lowering my dosage that I ignored how I was really doing compared to a higher dose like 2.5 mg - this seemed to be a very good dose for me at the time.
at 2 mg of Risperdal I still dont have hallucinations or delusions, but it seems like my motivation to go out and do things has diminished, I feel a bit more paranoid and i just feel more off center and anxious- unfocused especially when I am in a store - shopping etc…
I see my psychiatrist in about 2 weeks or so - I am going to ask her a lot of questions about my low motivation and general emotional discomfort - spaciness and paranoia - I have to be honest with myself - I may have to raise the dose back to 2.5 mg it kind of seems - I was not as paranoid and anxious at this dose - I felt more with it -and grounded.
To be honest I am a little dissapointed - but I am not defeated. I was so excited about going very low dose on my antipsychotic that I lost focus of the bigger picture - Success is not measured by how low of a dose you are on.
Its all about how you are doing and feeling at whatever dose you are on.
This post really hit home for me -
Your aware of it and that’s good I’m taking 150 for the first time tonight but if I feel like it’s not enough I will not hesitate to up my dosage. I want to maintain what I have not go back wards. Thanks for your comments. Its not about going off my meds if I can’t I can’t it’s only a pill after all. But it’s reminded me to be honest with myself and notice the little things because I don’t want them to turn into big things. I have had no paranoia and must say my motivation has increased a little. I think you just have to do what’s right for you after all it’s your live and your choices.
Hello and welcome to the forum.
my dosage flexes a bit too… I just had a bit of a rework with my meds. At first I was on Seroquel alone… but then the Seroquel got cut in half and Latuda got added… and that really helped me.
For me… it’s not just the meds… I’ve been in CBT as well, I still go to a therapist and I have a support group… (due to time and school, haven’t seen in a month) but they are still there if I need them.
I think a few things you mentioned will also help you keep on lowering the dose… that’s taking care of yourself better… plus having a supportive family and good network also helps.
I’m glad your able to do this… it is scary… but make sure the family knows too and pay attention to your moods… maybe journal them down so if a pattern is starting… you can catch it.
good luck and congratulations on the weight loss.