Yes I have schizophrenia but I do not have it to an extreme like others do where if I was to stop taking meds and have a relapse. I’ve only had one single psychotic episode before ( which was very scary) but other than that my symptoms aren’t intense enough to the point where if I was the stop my medication that I would end up in the hospital. I hate the way my medicine makes me feel, the lack motivation, lack of interest, the nausea, etc. I am only on 5 mg of zyprexa which should be low enough for me to easily wean off of it. i’m going to talk to my new prescriber about weaning off my antipsychotics but still staying on my mood stabilizer. Like I said before I don’t have intense symptoms, I still have symptoms but not to the point where it bothers me, so worst comes to worse if I was to experience an increase of symptoms once I stopped my medication I would just go right back on it. I talk to my therapist about it and like she said, “it’s your body and your choice” so as soon as possible I’m going to talk to my prescriber about stopping my antipsychotics. I know I’m not gonna have bad enough symptoms where in the movie A Beautiful Mind he stopped taking his medication and has strong hallucinations and delusions. I don’t believe that will happen to me. So if my prescriber agrees to this then I’ll just see how things go and will post again on this forum in a few weeks after I stop my medication as an update on how I’m doing. Wish me luck
What is a mood stabilizer? You mean an antidepressant or something like lithium?
Are you schizophrenic or schizoaffective?
Keep in mind that first coming off an AP can cause a spike in your psychosis that is worse than normal, because your brain will be flooded w dopamine again.
If you want to see how you’ll manage off APs just do it with your pdoc who will help you wean off them so that spike isn’t as bad hopefully.
@TomCat I am diagnosed with disorganized schizophrenia but may possibly have schizoaffective because I also have manic-depression which is a form of bipolar, and bipolar and schizophrenia makes schizoaffective, so I don’t know for sure. And the antipsychotic I’m on is Zyprexa in the mood stabilizer I’m on is vraylar
Oh okay, I don’t have mania for sure. Just negatives, thought I might be missing out on something.
I stopped my meds once, didn’t go so well. Never again. I am maxed out on Geodon and take Latuda. I think Latuda helps with mood but it’s an AP.
Good luck.
Latuda is also used to treat bipolar so yeah it can stabilize mood
Yeah I recently went on a self directed lowering of meds. Was a big mistake - still not back to normal.
My advice is if you do want to change your meds speak to a doctor first.
Stopping my antipsychotic has never worked for me. I’ve found that I get a rebound effect when I try that. It stands to reason that if you’re taking a drug that suppresses dopamine in one part of the brain, then your brain will flood that area with dopamine if you quit taking that drug. But, I guess it is your life and your decision, but maybe you should talk to your pdoc before you do anything precipitous.
It’s not like that with me. I think that thought simply because I am mortified that I think it. It’s bad. I also do it with women. Like, if I interact with some woman I will start to think she is ugly, even when I don’t really think that. Women know I think that. It makes for some horrific moments. When I am around people I sit off by myself and keep my eyes closed, so I can’t react badly to their nonverbal cues.
I have successfully gone off ap and bipolar, as long as im taking Xanax I only do it for several days
I want to stop antipsychotic medications, too. There is a possibility of relapse but I still think antipsychotic is not my solution. I want to live with my syptoms if they are happening to me again.
It’s a gamble I wouldn’t personally take. But good luck.
I wish to God that I can stop taking these psych meds, but the harsh reality is that I can’t stop.
If I don’t take my Antipsychotic especially I end up in the psych Hospital or I hate to say this, possibly prison.
Paranoia and Mania can make me act in aggressive ways.
I really have no choice but to remain on these meds.
Good luck with going off of your AP, I know that I could never manage.