Currently I’m on 20mg oral haloperidol (Haldol) but I’m getting pretty bad side effects from it. Gonna see my doc this week (hopefully) and probably transition onto a different antipsychotic, and I’m tempted to ask my doctor if he would consider stabilizing me on an oral med and then switching me to a once or twice monthly injection.
I’m on medicaid, and I checked with my insurance in my state and they cover all of the atypical LAI’s (risperdal, zyprexa, abilify, invega) fully so money shouldn’t be an issue.
In the past I’ve had problems with adherence, either because I just forget to take the med or because I get very very paranoid and start to think the medication is some sort of poison that is killing me. This has been a major reason behind several of my relapses. So this is why I think an injection would be a good idea, also I just hate taking pills every day lol.
So, do you think this would be a good idea? Also, please share your own stories about being on an LAI if you don’t mind, thanks!
For compliance, injection rocks. No forgetting a daily pill.
Abilify maintena (sp) seems to be better on side effects than others. I’ve personally tried Risperdal Consta and Invega. Risperdal had fewer side effects for me. Invega stopped all positive symptoms, too, but only on the highest dose for me. I felt awful on the low doses.
I’ve been on Risperdal and Abilify in terms of the oral med. Abilify had pretty bad side effects for me unfortunately, I slept 18+ hours a day, but that was when I was 15 so I’m curious if I would have a different reaction now.
That’s an option yeah. I’m just getting really bad akaithisia from the oral med and I really don’t think I could cope with having that sort of side effect for a month or longer if I got an injection
Your pdr can prescribe you a med to stop akathisia, I take Benztropine to stop akathisia and it works. Injection is better if you forget taking your meds or if you’re not med compliant.
LAI are great.
It stops you from feeling so unwell mentally just because you don’t have to self administer each day
It works better because you can Never forget to take them… so basically an improved outlook
The appointments are bearable and quick
Downside for me was the drowsy ness for a few days usually after injection
I was on clopixol depots and now take them orally
I was on the Haldol LAI for about seven or eight years. I have no problem with an LAI, but I absolutely hate typical antipsychotics. They make me feel horrible. Geodon and Seroquel have been really great med’s for me. They’re atypical antipsychotics. Some people have a hard time with Seroquel, but I have heard nothing but good reports on Geodon.
I was on invega. I see shadows paranoid may be person but haven’t had any of that without it and no voices. I’m not on a antipsychotic. I felt extremely bored with life on invega and anxious not sure what to do with myself. Without it I feel irrable sometimes mood swings so thinking about mood stabilizer like lamictal I mean I’m doing really good and vent on Facebook but not really taking moods out on people but thought give it try. I’m still waiting to get peiord back from invega not that miss it but with lower prolactin levels would like it if I could lose around 10 pounds maybe more