Why do everyone here think stopping meds will magically cure their negative and cognitive symptoms?
Studies say most negative and cognitive symptoms appear BEFORE diagnosis, before first psychosis and first positive symptoms and before being on meds.
I went off meds for 2yrs, it did not cure my symptoms.
Its the exact same reason why we think any new drug will be the magic cure. It is desperation
Well maybe newer drugs might improve a little, we don’t know the future. Not as good as before sz but anything is welcome.
Yeah, I agree with @LevelJ1 , its out of a desire for a solution that may or may not be there. People are desperate to try anything that might solve their issues.
Many lack insight and being on meds isn’t something most people want or expect. Psych meds are strange beasts with their action and side effects…it’s not like taking an aspirin and having your headache go away…
That’s a good point as well. They are not side effect free.
Honestly my negative symptoms were better on Abilify than off meds. Isn’t that weird?
I would rate my experience like this from worse negatives to least.
Risperidone
Off meds
Abilify
Before sz
Idk if I was manic on Abilify though.
It’s also very difficult to tell sometimes what is a result of sz and what is a med side effect. I always try to be on the minimum dose that controls my symptoms. I don’t want anymore side effects than are necessary. I can’t reduce my sz, so I reduce my meds.
Probably because its wishful thinking. Taking meds every day is annoying especially if youre on a lot and have a sensitive gag reflex. Psychosis can be exciting and an escape from painful reality. And many people deal with horrible side effects from meds. The side effects from some APs are so horrible they were actually used as torture methods at one point.
I guess mine are mostly from the sz.
Did you ever stop your meds?
No, not since I have been on them consistently. I resisted early on and was not on them consistently. But since I have been taking them consistently, maybe 4 years, I have never stopped taking meds.
I stopped them for 2yrs but I feel like this made my negatives worse. I still regret stopping them as maybe if I didn’t I would be a bit better now.
I stopped my meds and my negatives went away i was working 12 hr shifts and was basically normal again but then i relapsed and was hospitalized now im back on meds and cant work anymore
Yea some can. Studies say 73% of those who have negatives, have negatives off meds so the other 27% are more med induced. I am not lucky, mine were already severe off meds before being diagnosed, during prodromal sz phase.
Well regardless I cant get off meds so Im stuck with the negatives too
I can’t either. I got hospitalized by cops after 2yrs of stopping meds, not risking my life again. Anyways off meds I socially isolated and all I did was either stay in my room or walking and getting lost in the streets. I wasn’t functional.
For awhile i was doing really good but lately i can barely do anything like today i just slept all day no energy to do anything