10 posts shown.
I finally managed to ditch the Risperdal, so now I'm just down to the Abilify. The catch is, I'm still feeling pretty much totally numb—zero emotions and my motivation is basically non-existent. How’s everyone else holding up on their meds?
cosmiclynx79 said:You might be right, but you're playing fast and loose with a trip back to the hospital.
Totally agree—psychosis isn't exactly some light diagnosis you can just brush off.
Carol Barrett2 said:benefits
I finally got an answer regarding my benefits—since I’m officially out of the workforce now—but honestly, it's a mess. Because the money stopped coming in, I've ended up buried under a mountain of utility bills and interest charges. Just one thing after another.
Wait, why was your ability to work taken away? Did you fail a medical exam or something else happen?
Nicholas Bailey3 said:Actually, nothing is uncertain about it.
A new job and—potentially—a new environment; there's no mystery or deep philosophy involved. The only real question left is "when."
I'm totally with you on this one! At the end of the day, your mental health and feeling good about yourself are what matter most. The right job will definitely come along, so don't even sweat it!
So, I’ve got a job, but I’m actually out on medical leave right now while I recover from a psychotic episode—it honestly just completely wiped me out. One thing I’ve definitely noticed, though, is that I’m doing way better than I was this time last year. My focus is sharper, I’m feeling much more independent, and my brain feels a lot more capable. There’s still plenty of healing left to do, so I’m in no rush to jump back into the grind just yet. I feel like I’m almost there, but I just can't seem to get my emotions back online, and man, that part is driving me crazy.
Harold Anderson3 said:Honestly, those all seem like relatively low doses. When I was first treated with Risperidone, I was getting 50mg injections every two weeks—which averages out to about 4mg daily—but even when they halved the dose over time, combining it with 5mg of Zyprexa just wasn't enough for me, and I ended up back in the hospital.
On the other hand, Aripiprazole can go up to 30mg a day; personally, I receive a 400mg injection once a month, which works out to roughly 15mg daily. Have you ever considered switching to a long-acting injectable? I know, I know—getting the shot isn't exactly a walk in the park, but it provides much more stability and saves you from the daily grind of swallowing pills. Then again, some medications really are best taken orally, much like my own regimen, so I suppose it's a bit of a toss-up...
I totally get that those doses are on the lower side—my doctor tells me the exact same thing—but hey, if they work and the psychotic symptoms stay away, that's what matters! I've definitely toyed with the idea of switching to a depot, but I'm really not a fan of needles, so for now, I'm sticking with the tablets. Just curious though, when you were hospitalized on those smaller doses, did you actually hit a period of psychosis, or was it something else?
Harold Anderson3 said:If I remember right, F29 refers to acute psychosis; nobody gets slapped with an F20 schizophrenia diagnosis right out of the gate. Usually, it starts with something a bit milder, and if those episodes keep recurring, that's when they move to F20. But please don't let the label get you down—a diagnosis is really just a code, a number on a page. What matters much more is finding the right treatment plan so you can function as normally as possible while on it. How much Risset are you currently taking?
Right now, I'm taking 2mg of Risset. They've got me starting on 10mg of Aripiprazole, so my new treatment plan is basically centered around that. As of today, I'm actually taking both antipsychotics together. I'll stick with this combo for two weeks, and then they're going to phase out the Risperidone. Honestly, during my last hospital stay and right after I got out, I was juggling three different antipsychotics all at once just to help level me out.
Harold Anderson3 said:It should help, mostly because Risset tends to ramp up those negative symptoms while Aripiprazole helps dial them back down. That said, neither one is a magic bullet; the effect is usually pretty subtle. Personally, I'm balancing Aripiprazole with Lexapro, along with Prozac and Latuda for the antidepressant side of things. At the end of the day, how you mentally process everything plays such a huge role too; medication is absolutely necessary, of course, but it can't do all the heavy lifting for you.
I know I need to get my head on straight, but I’m still struggling to find my footing—this whole situation is all pretty new to me. Honestly, I had no clue you could even take two different antidepressants at once! I might actually ask my doctor about heading in that direction, though I'm honestly not sure yet. For now, I'm just going to see how this switch from risperidone goes, and then maybe take some next steps based on how I feel. Regarding the F29 diagnosis, I'm not sure if people ever actually get off antipsychotics or if that's just a permanent thing. Man, I'd love to try life without them, but my doctor is being super cautious about it. I mean, I really lost it during my last psychotic episode, so I totally get why he's worried.
Harold Anderson3 said:I used to struggle quite heavily with those exact issues, though things are much more manageable for me now. Since I see you're taking Effexor, that's an antidepressant, which should hopefully help ease some of those depressive and negative symptoms. I've been managing schizophrenia for about 13 years now, and while dealing with occasional bouts of mini-psychosis, depression, or mania is almost inevitable, my main goal has always been to find a steady middle ground and stay as far from those extremes as possible. Wishing you the best.
Speaking of emotions, how are you holding up? Are things feeling okay for you right now? Because man, this stuff is killing me—I feel like a total robot sometimes. I'm actually in the middle of switching up my antipsychotics because I keep bugging my doctor about how flat I feel. I'm swapping out Risset for Aripiprazole, so fingers crossed that helps bring some life back!
Hey everyone! So, I’ve been diagnosed with F29. Last year was pretty rough—I went through my first and only psychotic episode, and honestly, it was a nightmare. I ended up being hospitalized against my will twice within just two months. It wasn't until after that second stay that things finally started to settle down. Currently, my med cocktail includes Effexor, Risset, Lamictal, and Parnassian. What’s really getting to me now, though, is what my doctor calls "negative symptoms." I'm talking a total lack of motivation, feeling totally numb, an inability to enjoy anything at all, and this lingering, low-key depression. How are you guys dealing with this stuff? And do you think these symptoms can actually fade away or at least become easier to live with?