I’ve had a terrible week. My mind was scrambled and I was suicidal. I don’t know if it is the meds that made me so miserable or if it is this illness. I just had to see my pdoc so I got an appointment for yesterday. She increased both my Abilify and Epitec. It was actually my suggestion and she just went along with it. Is there any life for us apart from this illness and meds? Sorry for the rant. I hope to feel better soon.
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I would not like to disappoint you, but we have sz even though we are on meds, meds just help us with symptoms.
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Meds are an unfortunate necessity. We just have to wait for better meds to come out. I expect three great meds coming out in the next three years: Iti-007, cbd, and cariprazine. For cognitive decline, there is encinicline, which should be out in a couple of years. We are on the cusp for great things ahead.
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Your thought on this is exactly what I’m trying to grasp. I think I’m still having problems to come to terms with this illness.
I am sorry that you are having a hard time lately @anon18305065.
I am always complaining about the illness and the meds that treat the illness.
Like @astefano mentioned, there are good meds coming our way - I am hoping that things will get better for us.
Hang in there and take care of yourself.
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I would have to say that when I was younger the illness was worse than the meds. However as I’ve aged the long term effects of the meds have damaged my body to the point where I can say both have had an equally damaging effect on me as I feel much older than I should.
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I know it can be a drag… keeping track of when we took what… and with food… and day in day out…
The illness and the meds get very tedious…
when I was younger… I was sure the meds were worse then this illness…
then I got a taste of deep negative symptoms… and now… I can see this illness is worse then the meds for me.
I hope you feel better soon… be kind to yourself… good luck 
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What is worse? Having schizophrenia or being on meds?
People make meds sound so bad but really if they’re worse than your illness then you’re not very ill.
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75% of people with schizophrenia come off meds after 18 months due to side effects. Maybe the trick is to take other meds to help with the side effects.
I’m taking something for anxiety temporarily because of abilify induced anxiety. Otherwise I’d be off it for sure.
I just hope the next few years do bring better meds.
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I just know that my symptoms vanished on meds, I’m a better person medicated. I don’t feel the world is out to get me, no hallucinations that make me constantly question reality.
I’m well aware of the risks of anti-psychotics, but I firmly believe that of I die from the meds side effects at least I didn’t live a life filled with fear of demons and persecutions.
I’m still affraid I might relapse while on medication, so there’s that too.
But for me there isn’t much of a choice here. I prefer to live with meds.
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Thanks @Wave and @SurprisedJ for being always so supportive. It’s just that this past week I was convinced for a while that it was the meds that made me so sick. Since my diagnosis I’ve never been without meds. But on the meds I gained 25 kg, got diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disrythms. Somedays are good…other days not so good.
Thanks also for all the other replies. Keep well you guys
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unfortunately we are still sz or sza with meds. The medication just helps with the symptoms. I have given up on meds several times. i don’t recommend it.
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I end up homeless and drunk, if I’m not on meds. That would also make me go to jail.
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The side effects of meds are very challenging to deal with, but my symptoms of schizophrenia are worse.
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I was like that man, you’ll eventually get through it.
It actually took me almost 2 years to pull through but there were some high lights of the time.
funny thing is, i actually snapped back to content and fulfillment once I gave up the heavy booze.
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I like my meds. They are so effective I dont even feel like I belong on this site anymore. Im not burdened by schizophrenia at all. I get no side effects from meds either. Just a little sleepy but im ok with that. Ive been enjoying getting a full nights rest 
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Yes, in my opinion. I tried a lot of times over the past ten years to get off meds, never worked, but the process of finding the the right combo of meds for me was the life saver. I recently tried to get of risperadol, that im taking with 800mg of seroquel, and celexa. It was terrible, I guess the difference for me in the meds, or just the illness by itself is sometimes on the meds it was hell, but off the meds I was in hell, it was like on a thermometer my brain reached 250 f, when most people with out the illness when they get really stressed out only reaches like 108 f. The thing with me is i can reach that high phychosis temp, but there is never an explosion, or release. The phychosis just lingers, and if anything ill implode, I use that word kind of like you become totally delusional , and cant fight the thoughts off. After going through that , I never felt more relieved to start taking the risperadol again, and i got better.
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