Hi I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 15 but I ignored it. I thought it was a quack doctor, well now fast forward years later to now I’m 24 and I had a ‘meltdown’. Which they put me on meds in a psych facility. And now the voice is gone for the first time. I’m just afraid these meds aren’t entirely doing their job right? I’m seeing a lot of side effects. And I’m not sure if I haven’t given it enough time, I’ve been on them for a week about. Just wondering how meds effected you all and what your doctors have tried?
More info needed. What/how much meds are you on? Why do you think they’re not working properly? Meds usually take 2-3 weeks before they REALLY work, but they start doing something after the first few doses.
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Generic forms of:
zyprexa 10mg every night
Celexa 20mg every day
I feel the morning pill is fine, but the evening seemed to show a lot of the side effects, but I’m still getting racing thoughts, and when my anxiety raises whatsoever I do hear the voice (who I always called my ‘coach’ ) again.
my worst side effect was muscle spasms on reboxytine but they gave me procycledine to clear it up,
got them worried a bit though as the first dose didn’t work lol
it was stopped straight away
Zyprexa should be sedating. You just got out of a hospital…follow up with your psychiatrist to get the doses right.
When I was psychotic I wouldn’t eat any meat eggs or dairy, basically a vegan diet, consisting of mainly rice, vegetables and vegan meat alternative products. I didn’t smoke, pot or cigarettes. I was in school in a field I loved. Apparently I did something to upset my parents or the government but I don’t know what that is. Anyhow, I was forcibly put into the Hospital, I started smoking while in there again.
When I came out I was so devastated and frustrated that I put aside my vegan habits (which I did out of respect for animals), started back with pot, and didn’t watch my diet at all. It eventually escalated to me using more kinds of drugs, and I failed my re-entry into the school program by lack of motivation. This lasted 5 years. I’ve given up all drugs now, I still smoke cigarettes and I’ll be trying to lose the weight I put on in the coming year, or at least not gain more. So to answer your question, my worse side-effect was the weight gain, which was really drastic… I’ve read that it’s near impossible to not gain weight or try to lose some while on AP’s, I can verify that, it just makes you more hungry, and when you’re home all day not moving, it’s a recipe for disaster. I will never fully accept that I needed treatment at this point in my life, basically I’m still trying to recover from when they put me into recovery…
What’s not to be upset about, I had a six pack, in the best shape of my life, free of all vices, and on my way to a gratifying career, all of this stopped for some nefarious reason which they never explained to me but for a “You were a danger to yourself or others”. Oh, really, maybe you can explain why I’ve never had a criminal record then?
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To Ekoms, I’d say we are polar opposites then lol. I was a danger to myself when the cops had picked me up I was barefoot trying to walk on to the freeway to ‘kill myself’. And although I would hate to think of myself as medication depent if I am then I am, I don’t really know. Even though I was diagnosed when I was young, I had never accepted the notion it was even a possibility. I won’t die from not being on meds (unless I do kill myself because I’m in a panic). But I’m likening the change in calming myself now…i just don’t know??
Hi Vivotica,
Honestly it’s not the end of the world to be on medication, you have to sacrifice some things but when everybody’s against you in your psychosis in order for you to accept treatment then they might be on to something about what’s best for you. Sure I’d like to be thinner, have more motivation etc. but in the end the choice isn’t up to me. That’s the main thing. They wouldn’t give me a choice. I see accounts of people who go in the Hospital then quit their meds when they get out and nobody bothers them.
Me if I don’t take my meds, the police picks me up, I never fuss, never make a scene, just follow them even if I’ve done nothing wrong…
Thanks for your reply, it brought clarity to my mind, I’m sorry you had to go through an episode recently, I’ve lost my marbles too a couple of times even on meds, external factors can hotwire our minds and make us do stupid or dangerous things, and who knows, taking meds might come with some perks for you. 
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Well, you should read up on living with schizophrenia. I suggest you buy a copy of Surviving Schizophrenia, it has a chapter on common medications and is easy to read.
What side effects are you experiencing? When is your next appointment?
Anything else I can find to help from anyone is greatly appreciated!! I feel lost in an ocean where just a few things are clear. The first part is just sinking in that I’m really schizophrenic…I know that now, that is the one thing that is clear to me but everything else not so much. I know knowledge is power so I’m trying to educate myself on the schizophrenia topic as a whole. That’s even why I chose to get on this forum.
To MortimerMouse my next appt is January 9th
And the main side effect being increased appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, lack of sex drive. Thank you for the recommendation on that book too! I will pick it up.
All of these are common side effects of your Zyprexa.
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Some of the med’s, mostly the typicals, I found extremely unpleasant. I almost would rather have a broken leg without pain killers than be on 40 mg of Haldol a day. The atypicals take longer to work, but they are much easier to tolerate. Just about all the anti-psych’s have side effects, even the atypicals. They weaken you and make you more susceptible to bad weather. That takes away any chance of working at a job outside. The ways med’s affect you can vary from person to person.
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I know they are normal side effects just didn’t know if there was something I could replace this with that wouldn’t have this on me lol?
I think you should have a chat with your psychiatrist about this. You are fresh out of inpatient treatment, and you may just need to give the meds a chance to do their thing.
I think your right Alien99, I guess I just needed the reassurance from all of you that I’m not going off the deep end, That I’m not the only one going through this…
No sweat. There are a good number of people on here who have been ill for a long time, myself included. We’re used to taking trips on the medication train.
Try your meds for atleast a month. Side effects will hopefully go away and you will see if the med is working properly. I had Zyprexa 20 mg while in hospital. But I changed to flupentixol and later to Abilify. I’ve been on Abilify for over two years now. I’ve had to slowly increase the dose. On 25 mg now. Started on 5.
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I wondered about abilfy?
Abilify is a strange med. It works for some and not for some. It doesn’t fully eliminate the voices for me but paranoia is gone.