Tom Harrell got me thinking…if he can live a great life on a low dose of medication while still keeping in touch with his schizophrenia then maybe that’s the life for me. I’m tired of being over medicated. I haven’t experienced positive symptoms in a year but I’m a zombie.
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I would rather have a low dose of medication and have some manageable delusions or hallucinations then be overly medicated. Right now I’m feeling fine, but I have no emotions and other side effects like problems concentrating.
My fear is that the doctors will not allow me to lower my dose because I unfortunately was violent on my last psychosis. Don’t know how much “symptoms” you are allowed to have in society. They can always forcefully medicat you if they find a reason for it
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I can handle low-grade positive symptoms and it’s my preference to be in that situation and not be over-medicated. My day job comes with a very high cognitive load so I can’t work with a heavy AP that shuts down my higher brain function on me. I don’t feel a need to stay in touch with my positive symptoms because they’re all BS leaking from an ill mind. I ignore them with gusto and have developed powerful habits that help me in this department now.
I highly recommend CBT and therapy in addition to meds.
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What ap are you on if you don’t mind me asking?
Idk about you but my delusions and paranoia are extreme and dangerous, they don’t get “better” with meds. Like there is no in between. Either I have them or I don’t have them. On 4mg Risperdal now no positive symptoms. I would be dead without functional meds.
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I wouldn’t want to be over medicated ever again! I think my haldol is too strong as it is
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i hope they don’t change my meds again as i’m doing ok right now…
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Low dose. Overmedication is awful.
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Would rather experience some symptoms than be overmedicated. Unfortunately, I’ve run into a lot of pdocs who want to jack me up on high doses.
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I need polypharmacy to stay fit. Kinda burdened a little bit by the meds - feel a bit sedated etc. But this is what is needed to keep me well.
So I think I would err on the side of overmedicated
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I do invega injection every 3 months. I get occasional delusions but only if I do something out of the norm. I was over medicated for a while and that sucked. I’d much rather just deal with the occasional positive symptom
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I’d much rather have minor delusions than be overmedicated. I can’t do anything when I’m on too much medication. On less meds I can live a semi-productive life.
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@shutterbug you take ziprasidone if I recall. What dose do you take to get by?
I’d say I’d rather be overmedicated… I can’t stand positive symptoms…
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My view is that persistent low grade symptoms just accumulate and grow into a bigger and bigger problem over a period of years as they get wired more and more deeply into the brain. The brain is a learning mechanism and, just as CBT can teach us to be healthier, so persistent symptoms can teach us to be sicker. You get more of what you focus on and I’d say get rid of as many of the symptoms as you reasonably can.
I’d rather have neither! Lol. But I definitely don’t want to be over medicated. I’m sure the side effects are awful
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That’s what I was when I was working at the Library. The highest dose of Risperdal didn’t completely knock out the voices and was causing rapid weight gain. So I went back on a lower dose and was miserable but able to work.
Geodon is a good drug for managing your symptoms and remaining lucid. You might ask your pdoc about that.
I have some positives, no negatives, I feel alive and energetic
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It’s a fine balance for sure. I lost a year or two because of over medication but equally lost 5 years chasing butterflies when my meds were a bit weak. I was happier under medicated but did more risky and sometimes damaging things.