silentraven11 said:I think nobody is replying because you posted this in the wrong spot. You should probably just start a new thread since this case doesn't really have anything to do with schizophrenia. Most people here are dealing with schizophrenia or similar disorders, and there aren't many psychiatrists on this forum—maybe a few psychologists or people pretending to be them. It's mostly patients looking for help and giving advice to one another. I don't know if my advice would even help you, considering I took that medication but I don't have schizophrenia or any related condition...
Anyway, that drug isn't just prescribed for schizophrenia and stuff like that, so don't let that stress you out. They prescribe it for all sorts of F-codes. I was diagnosed with transient depression and BPD, and I was on it with breaks for three years. I'm 21 now. I think people get too worked up over side effects that are super rare and usually sound terrifying but never actually happen. If something were serious, your doctor should have warned you. And you should warn them if you notice any issues with side effects.
The only thing I'm unsure about is that the drug hasn't been tested on minors, so who knows how it affects kids. And that part about dementia doesn't sound great either.
As for you saying the kid is sleepy and passive from the meds, that's totally normal, especially at first. I used to sleep half the day away. Also, the most common side effects are increased appetite and mild amnesia. It really weakens your memory; for me, those three years were just a total fog. You kind of lose track of time. It's almost like some kind of drug, I guess. And honestly, you do become more passive, and it can turn into a sort of vegetative state—lower ability to learn, being slow, feeling dull, etc.
Personally, I think you should wait and see if the medicine actually helps the child. If the negative effects outweigh the good ones, it's better to stop taking it. In layman's terms, this report looks pretty poorly written to me, and I wouldn't trust a doctor or psychologist who wrote it like that. What was the reason you took the child to a psychiatrist in the first place? Not that I'm prying...
Based on what was written, I think the diagnosis is an exaggeration. It might be best to find a different doctor. That's all from me, since I'm not an expert.
I feel like I should weigh in on this debate as well. My take is that—beyond the point you just made—the core issue is that we are dealing with a community of grown adults here, all of whom are responsible for their own words and the content they produce for the other adults in their lives.
When you’re talking about a child—or more accurately, an adolescent or a young adult—there is a certain sensitivity to how things are handled. Regardless of what specific diagnosis is on the paper, most people tend to recoil or get visibly unsettled when they realize that the medical landscape isn't always as segmented as they imagine. They get nervous when they learn that the exact same medication, like a standard antipsychotic, might be prescribed for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or those brief psychotic episodes that fall under various other labels. It can be quite jarring for people to realize that these treatments often overlap across so many different conditions.
Look, I really need to emphasize this because it’s truly paramount, and honestly, it's the only thing that actually matters right now:rapidfalcon22 said:If I were to suggest that you are indeed "seriously ill,"... You possess more than enough intelligence and strength to handle whatever comes your way. I’m operating under the assumption that you are a mature adult. Taking ownership of my own wellness and actively fighting to improve my health is something I feel deeply committed to doing for myself. Whether you're talking about physical exhaustion or just feeling mentally drained, it all hits the same way.
It isn't really about suggesting that someone living with a specific diagnosis lacks intelligence, wisdom, or quick wit, nor is it an indictment of their perseverance. More importantly, this isn't a commentary on whether they possess inner strength or resilience.To suggest, even by accident, that we’re dealing with weak-willed individuals who are simply "giving in" to temptation is nothing short of complete nonsense; it is an absolute absurdity, a total lapse in judgment, and a raw, unnecessary insult to everyone involved.
No, they really aren't in a position to offer much help right now, especially if they don't have access to the necessary medication. It’s difficult to make headway when that's the case, because at the end of the day, we are dealing with a genuine medical condition—or, if it's easier for people to wrap their heads around, a serious illness.
The current situation remains quite steady for the moment. It seems like there are certain individuals out there who simply won't allow her the space she needs to truly be herself or find her footing.
It really comes down to that process of stripping everything away, pulling out the noise, gathering up what actually matters, and finally just being able to settle into a sense of normalcy.Based on what we currently know from mainstream Western medicine and psychiatry—both fields that hold significant prestige today—it seems the only real option left is to swallow a constant stream of pills. The issue is that these medications can be incredibly harsh on the system, potentially damaging the liver, messing with blood counts, causing unwanted hair growth, or triggering hormonal shifts like elevated prolactin in men, which can lead to issues with blood pressure and pelvic floor dysfunction. I recall people dealing with jaw spasms or uncontrollable salivation back in the day; honestly, it’s probably for the best if they aren't experiencing those specific symptoms right now, though it’s likely because they are in a state where they can't even begin to contemplate their own dignity or the basic necessity of maintaining control over their motor skills, their lives, or their own thoughts. But then again, that is precisely where the core of the problem lies, and it feels like we are just spinning in circles.
Look, I’m certainly no medical expert here, so please take this with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that once those neurotransmitters are effectively blocked, everything else just falls into place. Once you hit that level of blockade, all that unnecessary noise—the anxiety, the physical pain, the paranoia—just sort of evaporates, leaving everything feeling completely under control. 🙄It’s simply that.
It really doesn't get any better than this. I was just wondering what kind of updates or news the medical community is rolling out today.😢
I just took whatever was being offered at the time, because there really wasn't any other option on the table.
Noah Garcia4 said:it’s not that your child will pass away, but rather that they may never fully recover
as harsh as this might sound—especially to a mother who is terrified and clinging to any shred of hope, which is completely human, honestly—it could very well be the reality if we are looking at psychotic development rather than purely neurological issues, or perhaps a combination of both
you really have to pay close attention to those specific details, like sleep deprivation or instances where he "stayed up all night," because those can be early indicators of severe psychiatric disorders that might become significantly more complicated as he gets older..
similarly, rapidfalcon22, please try to wrap your head around the idea and truly accept that if medication becomes necessary, whether it's this specific one or another, it DOES NOT mean he is destined to spend the rest of his life in a vegetative state or whatever scenario you're fearing. It simply means that, and I say this again because modern American medicine and psychiatry aren't magic bullets, if these medications allow him to function, attend school, and maintain some level of control over his struggles—struggles that, let's face it, only he truly understands while you only see the outward symptoms—then that is a meaningful step forward. It provides relief.
medication manages symptoms and can help stabilize things, but it doesn't offer a cure, and it certainly won't fix everything overnight. that's just the way it is
furthermore, the fact that he is a young person, practically still a child, DOES NOT mean there is much a parent can do beyond educating themselves on the nuances of psychopharmacology. no matter how much unconditional love or how intense the desire to help is, a parent simply cannot inhabit their child's mind and truly grasp what they are experiencing internally...
it is an entirely different world, a completely different universe altogether...
p.s. for your own peace of mind and for your child's sake, please seek out a second opinion from another psychiatrist. do this not just for the diagnosis itself or what ends up on the medical record, but to evaluate their approach, their choice of medication, how they communicate these things to you, and—most importantly—how your child reacts to them.
social isolation and disrupted sleep patterns COULD just be typical adolescent growing pains, but they could also be the onset of a serious psychotic disorder. you should weigh those possibilities just as heavily as his emotional detachment and his lack of insight into his own condition.