So here is my story. I am a male, 29, from India. Back in 2009 when I was about to graduate high school, my world turned upside down within a matter of days and it became more & more hellish as days went by. At that time I could not understand what is happening, but today I realize that I started hearing very faint voices, which became unbearable as time went by, had severe delusions, OCD, and anxiety. So, I was really embarrassed about what i had inside my mind. I quietly suffered. Never thought that I am ill. Completed my undergrad anyhow(was a lot of struggle). In 2015, I decided I need to improvise on my career and thus went to the US for Masters. You would not believe me! due to huge changes(good changes) in environment and moving away from people who control my mind, insert thoughts, make me even walk or stand up,etc went away.After 2 semesters, I had poor grades and had to take college transfer. Then in 2017, my Masters was going well. But I had taken some herbal capsules from a store/Amazon for my anxiety. I had a severe panic attack. Went to ER. They gave me Ativan! and it made me feel great! So I decided to see a pdoc in Seattle. He wrote me Prozac(diagnosed GAD because i always used to hide actual symptoms because I thought either they are all in at me to control & torture me mentally/they will laugh at me). Prozac gave me severe akathisia. So pdoc told me maybe your diagnosis is wrong.
I decided to take break and came to India to see a psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Then started trials of meds. Some had horrible side effects/ some didnt work. But within 3 months of treatment, Amisulpride + Abilify + Prozac worked for me greatly but I gained about 50 pounds in 2 years/ suffered severe ED and testesterone was 1/4 of normal and prolactin was pretty high. Now till 2019 I was in USA, very stable. But as soon as I returned back to India due to some reasons, I was fed up with side effects. Doctor then gave me Clozapine 50mg + Amisulpride 800mg. That was the worst decision of my life! In 1.5 years I gained about 35 pounds and was sleeping for 15 hours/day and even then couldnt wake up. Now I decided to quit all my meds 4 weeks ago due to all side effects.
As soon as I was tapered down slowly from meds by the doctor, I felt anxiety issues. My appetite was down to 1/5 of what I used to eat. Couldnt sleep at all. But I thought I dont need schizo meds. I WAS WRONG. since past 1 week I have been living in HELL. Had the most severe auditory hallucinations and voices and paranoia and delusions. So I decided to go back to the doctor. He promised me to start some good meds. Right now I am on Abilify 15mg/day, I dont have any side effects at all! And my hallucinations are gone but delusions are still 50% existent. Doctor told to go back to Clozapine if Iloperidone/Olanzapine/ Abilify doesnt work.
So anyone here help me out with delusions that I have right now, even on Abilify? And is mind control, thought insertion really true? Or is this just a symptom? Which meds worked the best for you? And is there any way to control weight gain on Clozapine?
Risperidone was the second med given to me back in 2017. I don’t actually remember what were the side effects(I think increased appetite) so doctors switched my meds again. But I think it was wayyy better than clozapine. On clozapine, I was still delusional, but manageable.
Thanks for the reply. I am on 15mg currently. But online I read that above 15mg it is not much of benefit. That’s why my doctors had 800mg Amisulpride with it.
Why do you need such a big dose of Amisulpride? Amisulrpide is a very strong Antipsychotics. Usually 200-400mg Amisulpride alone is enough to control the positive symptoms. If the dose is higher than 400mg, you will suffer from severe side effects such as restless legs.
I didnt know about that. My doctor put me on Amisulpride 200mg first and he kept on increasing it. They also added 20mg Abilify. I felt wayy better. He told me its because of amisulpride. But now I think abilify alone is working just enough. With Amisulpride 800mg + Abilify, I also used to take Metformin 500mg(I am not Diabetic, but given for weight loss), Trihexyphenidyl & Propanolol to manage side effects. I remember if I missed my meds for 1-2 days, i used to get severe tremors and anxiety attacks.
It also gave me twice levels of Prolactin and 1/4 Testesterone. Also severe Erectile Dysfunction and Libido problems. I think it is permanent . Doctors gave me Viagra but never worked.
I have olanzapine and it’s going really well for me, no symptoms (just constipation, I need to take laxatives everyday). but thing is that only your psy doctor can know what to give you.
for weight gain, maybe you can try to do more sports/work out more?
good luck to you !
I know. Amisulpride 800mg + Abilify 20mg + Fluoxetine 60mg worked wonders for me. No symptoms at all. But had 40 lbs weight gain in 2 years. So I don’t know what was causing it. Okay, the most distressing side effect that affected me and wanted to change meds was Erectile Dysfunction. You won’t believe how strong I was before 2017 but after 2 years horrible sexual/libido problems. That’s why they put me on Clozapine. Doctor told that he will try olanzapine and iloperidone too.