Update from some days ago

Medications
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Hello there.

Eleven days ago I made a post on here about a medication change I’d had to go through. I’m new to this forum, but in a nutshell, I’d been on Amisulpride (Solian and Sulprix after 2016) since 2006, and have been well/medicated for a while.

My psychiatrist had prescribed me Vraylar due to, as she told me, its lower side effects of weight gain and sedation. Granted, we’re all different and this point should always be remembered, but, it just wasn’t for me.

I felt I was borderline relapsing and my mood/mind wasn’t as stable as I’ve been used to whatsoever. After a chat with my doc, she changed the medication to Risperidone, and so far so good. To be honest, better than good. I’m told it’s supposed to take about a month before its effects are fully known. It’s been in my system for a week and a half and I’ve not had any Amisulpride for the same period of time.

In past months, because I’ve needed to ship Amisulpride to my home, (I’m in the US, it’s not fully FDA approved - yet) on a couple of occasions the package has been delayed. Anyway, point is, from past experience, after this amount of time I’d be experiencing some symptoms from being without the Amisulpride - nothing, yet.

The sedation however, is real lol. It wiped me out the first morning after the night before, but my doc is happy with me taking it in the morning with my regular coffee as I’ve been well several years (at least I think that’s her reason). I haven’t noticed any weight gain yet but yeah, the sedation is still a thing even waking up the following day. However, it’s not too much worse than while I was taking Amisulpride in the morning so I can live with that. It has also increased my motivation around the house which my wife has been thrilled with lol. Plus, I’m now questioning if I’d had some anhedonia in recent years because I’m finding a lot more enjoyment in already enjoyable activities.

Because this is relevant from the last post, CBD smokable hemp did help. It alleviated some of the chaos Vraylar brought me. (cannabis/high THC abuse many years ago was the catalyst for my own illness)

Again, we’re all individuals and that’s part of the problem with mental health treatments regardless - because as I’ve read, Vraylar works with some folks, but unfortunately not with others - It just wasn’t for me.

On a slightly different topic, I know I’m lucky to be more stable/well these days, but years ago I was a complete mess. I recognize that now. Over the years I stuck with nightly amisulpride and in time it did its thing.

I can understand how some of y’all aren’t there yet. But keep the faith. I appreciate how awful our illnesses can be, I really do. BUT, don’t ever give up. I’m just trying to offer some positivity as I’ve realized recently that’s what makes the difference. Plus, I guess I’ve lived an interesting life and seen a few things lol. So offering my personal perspective by saying life always gets better. Just give yourselves that chance.

Thanks for reading, I have a tendency to ramble lol.

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Glad it’s working out for you. Are you going to switch to Risperidone permanently ?

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Thank you for saying. I’m seriously considering it given pros vs cons so far. It’s available in the US, it’s much cheaper per month for us and has also encouraged some personal positive changes.

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Did Risperdone help with negative symptoms?
I will switch from Latuda to Risperdal end of this month. Latuda is giving me akathisia and is not helping with negative symptoms.

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I’ve never really understood the difference between what is a negative symptom vs positive. So I can’t answer that part, but nothing out the norm for me. The Vraylar made me a lot more physically fidgety however.

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welcome to the forum,

love your profile name :slightly_smiling_face:

positive symptom means hallucinations and delusions and paranoia

negative symptom is like what is lacking like motivation, speaking, energy, confidence etc.

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Just like butterfly said.
I also have apathy, asocialty and self-neglect.

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Ah okay, thank you for explaining, appreciated.

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I’ve felt so much more motivated on Risperidone, definitely. Energy levels are about the same, just a little bit sleepier when I first get out of bed. Communication and confidence haven’t changed - still both as they were.

Your last couple of words I needed to Google, but;
Apathy - there’s been a few different improvements.
Asociality - I’ve never been one to like crowds/lots of people, and it’s still about the same. However, I have been making more time for my friends/family. So maybe that’s due to the Risperidone, maybe.
Self Neglect - yes I’d say there’s been improvements based on having more motivation.

All I can really say for sure is it’s helped me. I really hope it does the same for you as well.

Because the Vraylar didn’t work/brought out what it did, my doc was able to pick something which “should” work, and thankfully it did.

But I’m not a doctor, and I don’t know anything about your circumstances etc. We’re each individuals at the end of the day. So I could never say for definite if you’d experience the same results. Hope that helps.

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Thanks!, I have nothing to loose by trying Risperdone. My psychiatrist apt is 6 May over the phone. I hope that he accepts the med switch.

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Maybe it could be a good idea to Google some reviews, if you haven’t already. Just so you could have a better all round understanding. After my first appointment, I wasn’t anxious about trying Vraylar, after how it sounded to me. That following afternoon I read some reviews and people had a wide range of results from it, and I understood a bit more about what it could do. However, the four days it was in my system were not fun. Hence the Risperidone. Which I also review checked and again read mixed results from people.

My psychiatrist has also sent me some swabs so they can look at my DNA/genes and have a better idea what would and wouldn’t be beneficial to me. Is that something which has been offered to you? Might be worth a try. I haven’t sent the swabs back as the Risperidone is working so far.

I hope everything works out for you.

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I don’t think we have that in Canada but I know they do it in the US to know which med works best. I can’t complain because our healthcare system is free and meds are very cheap, 75% is paid by the governement.

I tried Risperdal once for a week and I had eye tremors so I stopped it. I will try a lower dose now.
The reason I want Risperdal is that Wikipedia says it improves negative symptoms by increasing NMDA receptors function via D-serine reuptake inhibition.

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I didn’t know that, but yeah based on my time with it, it has helped the negative symptoms (now I know what they are)

Coming over to the States from a free healthcare system in the UK has definitely revealed pros and cons for sure, on both sides.

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