Do you mind explaining what it is?
Why does tardive psychosis happen?
Antipsychotic drugs act by blocking receptors for dopamine (a brain chemical) in your brain. But if you take an antipsychotic for a long time, your brain can respond by creating new receptors to replace the ones that the drug is blocking – and your existing receptors may also become extra sensitive. This can mean that you actually end up more likely to have psychotic symptoms as a result of taking the medication. So over time you may find you need to take a higher dose to maintain the antipsychotic effects.
This risk of tardive psychosis is one reason why you’ll need to withdraw from your medication very gradually if you decide to come off it – especially if you have been taking it for a long time. Withdrawing slowly gives your brain time to readjust.
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Were they qualitatively different for you? For me, my first psychosis was dramatic – like I was have spiritual experiences and being guided. I am wondering if something like that would happen again or if it would just be a decline into delusional thinking . . .
I was having spiritual delusions without meds just like my 1st psychosis but I didn’t go as far as suicide. 1st psychosis I thought I was Jesus, immortal, so I swallowed a whole Tylenol bottle.
But I am sure if I continued without meds I would have killed myself because I did have suicidal thoughts that were becoming more real.
After my recovery from my sza episodes in 2002-2007 I was med free for five years then relapsed. Since then I tried coming off meds numerous times without success and often had to go into hospital. If I stop meds or reduce dose I get symptoms within a week.
Thanks for the response!