Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Henry Garcia9 said:Look, I gotta be honest—hearing that someone loses their will to live just from taking one dose of a pill? I’m having a hard time buying that. Usually, those meds are actually supposed to help you find your spark again, not take it away. 🤷
Maybe it’s just pure bias against the medication?
Or maybe it’s just another symptom of that depression you mentioned feeling...

Well, I actually ended up in the ER psychiatric ward yesterday because of that medication. I developed tardive dyskinesia, but they gave me an injection and I felt better within forty-five minutes. They also prescribed some Xanax just so I could actually get some sleep. That’s how little effect the actual medicine has. And there is absolutely no way I am taking it ever again.

Wait, what do you mean you have tardive dyskinesia? "Tardive" literally means it shows up later, after you've been on the meds for a long time, so I’m a little lost here...? Are you still taking it or what? Look, maybe try switching to a different prescription, but don't just write off every single med out there... at the end of the day, do you actually want to feel better or not?

Henry Garcia9 said:Wait, what do you mean you have tardive dyskinesia? "Tardive" literally means it shows up later, after you've been on the meds for a long time, so I’m a little lost here...? Are you still taking it or what? Look, maybe try switching to a different prescription, but don't just write off every single med out there... at the end of the day, do you actually want to feel better or not?

I honestly don't know, my doctor just mentioned that my condition falls under extrapyramidal side effects and that it's called tardive dyskinesia—that's all I caught while lying in my hospital bed. But it was brutal; my mom told me she has never been more terrified for me than she was yesterday when those side effects hit. It was pure nightmare fuel.
I'm not taking Modem; side effects like those mean my body is rejecting the drug, so I won't be taking it and I'll see if my doctor can switch me to an atypical one, maybe Zimprexa...

better late than never*

Harold Anderson3 said:Man, if you have even the slightest hint of F20 in your profile, you should honestly be grateful it's only 1 mg a day. I'm taking 25 mg every two weeks (which averages out to about 2 mg daily), and I don't deal with any of that sluggishness or stiffness. If it's really making you feel heavy, you should probably ask for something like Artane to help with that.
On top of the Risperdal, I'm also on 5 mg of Zyprexa, and I originally started out on 50 mg of Risperdal and 100 mg of Lamictal every single day. Just take it slow, listen to your doctor, and I truly believe you'll eventually be able to phase off the Risperdal entirely. In my experience, with acute psychotic disorders, people usually stay on a minimal dose for about five years before they can successfully taper off completely.

I had my first psychotic episode about 12 years ago. Since then, I've cycled through Luvox, then Modem followed by Cogentin, and eventually Risperdal. Once I switched to Risperdal, things improved. About five years ago, I tried stopping the medication; I managed to hold out for six months before the psychosis returned. Since then, I've been back on 4 mg of Risperdal daily, and my psychiatrist gradually lowered the dose until I hit 1 mg, which I've been on for about two years now. I have no intention of stopping treatment again because I am certain the psychosis would come back. Perhaps I misspoke when I said the 1 mg makes me feel "stiff"—it would be more accurate to say it causes mild depression. I know I'd feel much more upbeat without that 1 mg. I'm generally against taking medication, but I have to stick with this 1 mg to prevent a relapse. Since it's such a small dose, I was wondering if there's any trick to finally getting rid of it too.

Robin Lopez2 said:I had my first psychotic episode about 12 years ago. Since then, I've cycled through Luvox, then Modem followed by Cogentin, and eventually Risperdal. Once I switched to Risperdal, things improved. About five years ago, I tried stopping the medication; I managed to hold out for six months before the psychosis returned. Since then, I've been back on 4 mg of Risperdal daily, and my psychiatrist gradually lowered the dose until I hit 1 mg, which I've been on for about two years now. I have no intention of stopping treatment again because I am certain the psychosis would come back. Perhaps I misspoke when I said the 1 mg makes me feel "stiff"—it would be more accurate to say it causes mild depression. I know I'd feel much more upbeat without that 1 mg. I'm generally against taking medication, but I have to stick with this 1 mg to prevent a relapse. Since it's such a small dose, I was wondering if there's any trick to finally getting rid of it too.

Yeah, you'd likely feel more upbeat, and that makes total sense because almost all antipsychotics have a depressing effect, even if the newer ones aren't quite as heavy-handed as the older generations. If you're feeling particularly low, it might actually be better to talk to your doctor about adding an antidepressant rather than just cutting out the antipsychotic altogether. Besides, when those depressive moods hit, you can just power through knowing they'll pass. After all, isn't everyone feeling a little blue every once in a while?

Look, I’m pretty sure these newer antipsychotics don't actually cause depression. If anything, they help clear up those negative symptoms from schizophrenia and can even tackle depression if someone's dealing with that. I’ve even read that doctors prescribe them specifically to treat depression itself...

Robin Lopez2 said:I had my first psychotic episode about 12 years ago. Since then, I've cycled through Luvox, then Modem followed by Cogentin, and eventually Risperdal. Once I switched to Risperdal, things improved. About five years ago, I tried stopping the medication; I managed to hold out for six months before the psychosis returned. Since then, I've been back on 4 mg of Risperdal daily, and my psychiatrist gradually lowered the dose until I hit 1 mg, which I've been on for about two years now. I have no intention of stopping treatment again because I am certain the psychosis would come back. Perhaps I misspoke when I said the 1 mg makes me feel "stiff"—it would be more accurate to say it causes mild depression. I know I'd feel much more upbeat without that 1 mg. I'm generally against taking medication, but I have to stick with this 1 mg to prevent a relapse. Since it's such a small dose, I was wondering if there's any trick to finally getting rid of it too.

Well, maybe talk to your psychiatrist about an antidepressant? Just be totally honest with them about how you're feeling, and I'm sure you'll figure something out together. Personally, I spent two years on 10mg of Zyprexa, always paired with various antidepressants. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds to me like you're struggling more with a lack of drive than actual depression—though, let's face it, those two often go hand in hand. There are so many options on the market these days. In my opinion, Wellbutrin might be a great fit for you. It's frequently prescribed for that loss of motivation, and from what I hear, it can even help with libido. Plus, unlike most psych meds, it doesn't typically cause weight gain. Of course, everyone reacts differently. Definitely run everything by your doctor first. Good luck.

Robin Lopez2 said:I had my first psychotic episode about 12 years ago. Since then, I've cycled through Luvox, then Modem followed by Cogentin, and eventually Risperdal. Once I switched to Risperdal, things improved. About five years ago, I tried stopping the medication; I managed to hold out for six months before the psychosis returned. Since then, I've been back on 4 mg of Risperdal daily, and my psychiatrist gradually lowered the dose until I hit 1 mg, which I've been on for about two years now. I have no intention of stopping treatment again because I am certain the psychosis would come back. Perhaps I misspoke when I said the 1 mg makes me feel "stiff"—it would be more accurate to say it causes mild depression. I know I'd feel much more upbeat without that 1 mg. I'm generally against taking medication, but I have to stick with this 1 mg to prevent a relapse. Since it's such a small dose, I was wondering if there's any trick to finally getting rid of it too.

A 1 mg dose of Risperdal is truly a baby dose.
If you genuinely want to stop taking AP, you need to discuss that directly with your psychiatrist.
However, keep in mind that if you discontinue your treatment and suffer a decompensation, 1 mg of Risperdal will not be enough to manage the symptoms.

Has anyone noticed any shifts in behavior today? I have a brother struggling with schizophrenia, and he’s acting out quite a bit right now—making silly jokes, talking to himself, and I can see there's a risk of him becoming physically aggressive... I've also heard from a few friends that their siblings dealing with the same condition seem to be behaving differently lately, much like my brother.

crimsonfox5 said:Has anyone noticed any shifts in behavior today? I have a brother struggling with schizophrenia, and he’s acting out quite a bit right now—making silly jokes, talking to himself, and I can see there's a risk of him becoming physically aggressive... I've also heard from a few friends that their siblings dealing with the same condition seem to be behaving differently lately, much like my brother.

I don't get what kind of behavioral change we're supposed to be feeling. Look, people living with schizophrenia aren't all plugged into some invisible hive mind where they all feel the same thing at once...

Henry Garcia9 said:I don't get what kind of behavioral change we're supposed to be feeling. Look, people living with schizophrenia aren't all plugged into some invisible hive mind where they all feel the same thing at once...

I didn't mean that literally, but just as an example: if my brother starts acting the way described, I might hear similar things from my friends. I suppose seasonal changes might influence behavior somewhat. We already have our notification system 🙂, so we try to avoid starting arguments with them and steer clear of any possible conflict

First off, dear blacx, go find some professional help, because you seriously need it. In our society, having any kind of mental health diagnosis is still heavily stigmatized, especially when it comes to getting into top-tier universities. Yes, they require medical clearances, sign-offs from primary care physicians, occupational health evaluations, and I could go on forever. So, having antipsychotics on a medical record is out of the question if there's a diagnosis of psychosis involved. The girl is still so young—she's only 15—and I know for a fact you wouldn't want society rejecting your own child because of stuff like this... anyway. And regarding the "attention-seeking" bit (since we were discussing antipsychotics in adolescence), I think you're the one seeking attention with those pseudo-philosophical answers of yours. Honestly, boy... do you even have a life?! Also, I'm a registered nurse, so I know way more about how the healthcare system actually functions than some layman... kiss :*

I’m with Dave on this one, though I suspect it’s tied to this sudden heatwave... It's hard for anyone to stay chill when the temperature is spiking like this. Normal people are getting on edge, let alone everyone else.

Karen Garcia4 said:I’m with Dave on this one, though I suspect it’s tied to this sudden heatwave... It's hard for anyone to stay chill when the temperature is spiking like this. Normal people are getting on edge, let alone everyone else.

Who are "everyone else"? I consider myself totally normal, even with my schizo diagnosis. I don't see any link between a heatwave and symptoms flaring up.☕

Henry Garcia9 said:Who are "everyone else"? I consider myself totally normal, even with my schizo diagnosis. I don't see any link between a heatwave and symptoms flaring up.☕

It’s common knowledge that people with chronic conditions—including mental health struggles—often react to shifts in the weather. It’s just how biology works. But hey, if you aren't feeling it, then consider yourself lucky, I guess.

Larry Lewis said:It’s common knowledge that people with chronic conditions—including mental health struggles—often react to shifts in the weather. It’s just how biology works. But hey, if you aren't feeling it, then consider yourself lucky, I guess.

I haven't really noticed a connection to the weather myself either. My mood isn't a constant rollercoaster dictated by the clouds; some days are naturally better than others, but it doesn't seem to hinge on the barometer.
The real key is just staying consistent with your medication, whether you're feeling great or having one of those rougher days.

Has anyone else here dealt with the whole intrusive thought side of schizophrenia? If you have—and I mean really lived through it—how did you actually manage to get them under control? They’ve been absolutely tormenting me lately... honestly, it’s pretty much the only symptom left hanging around from my diagnosis at this point.

Larry Lewis said:Has anyone else here dealt with the whole intrusive thought side of schizophrenia? If you have—and I mean really lived through it—how did you actually manage to get them under control? They’ve been absolutely tormenting me lately... honestly, it’s pretty much the only symptom left hanging around from my diagnosis at this point.

I don't deal with intrusive thoughts, but what kind of stuff are we talking about? Though, I did realize something today that’s been tripping me up lately. Not sure if it’s part of the same struggle or just my own brain being difficult, but I'm incredibly indecisive. Even the tiny stuff feels like a mountain, and even when I finally pull the trigger on a decision, I immediately want to take it back...

Henry Garcia9 said:I don't deal with intrusive thoughts, but what kind of stuff are we talking about? Though, I did realize something today that’s been tripping me up lately. Not sure if it’s part of the same struggle or just my own brain being difficult, but I'm incredibly indecisive. Even the tiny stuff feels like a mountain, and even when I finally pull the trigger on a decision, I immediately want to take it back...

Well, I deal with more obsessive thoughts than anything else—they aren't even "thoughts" per se, they're just these intense, repetitive fixations on things I can't even quite name. It makes life incredibly difficult, to the point where holding a simple conversation feels like an uphill battle.
I've learned how to function around them somehow, but man, I would give anything to just be rid of them. They haven't gone away, and honestly, they make me miserable most days. I try so hard to focus on anything else just to drown them out—and sometimes it works—but then I eventually hit a breaking point from all that mental strain, and they come crashing back even harder.
By the way, there’s a history of intrusive thoughts in my family tree.

At this point, I'm just fighting to stay afloat because no therapy seems to have actually cured me. I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with this and managed to find relief through medication or some other way.

I suspect what you're experiencing might not be directly tied to the diagnosis itself, but let's face it—illness has a way of magnifying our existing traits, usually the ones we'd rather hide, so anything is technically possible.