They’re both so young—it’s that classic youthful arrogance, really—thinking they can just breeze right off their medication. It seems to me that because they haven't lived through enough cycles yet, they still fundamentally misunderstand what illness actually is. They view it as some sort of personal flaw, a failure of character, rather than a biological reality. They harbor this misguided fantasy that if they just stop taking their pills, life will suddenly transform into some cinematic masterpiece where they are all strong, capable, and brilliant overnight. It's pure naivety. There is no magical "golden future" waiting for us on the other side, whether you're medicated or not; life remains life, regardless of your chemistry.
Well, I suppose I’m heading off to the coast too—my little wanderlust is getting the better of me again. I've heard some rather discouraging whispers about the psychiatric ward at my destination—nothing great, really—but I suppose I'll just have to take my chances and roll the dice🙂
Yesterday, my primary care physician asked if I was cool with her prescribing me Olanzapine—which is just the generic version of Zyprexa—and I told her, sure, why not? No problem at all.
I’m curious though—are these generics actually identical to the brand-name originals? One group of people swears they're exactly the same, while others claim there's a massive difference... what's the real deal?
He’s a good man—truly capable and sharp as a tack. He can be a bit rigid at times—stubbornness runs in the family, I suppose—but he’s got a sense of humor and loves a good, sharp jab, though it’s never meant to be malicious. We don't exactly sit around sharing our deepest secrets every day, but honestly, that’s just how it is; he’s getting older, and I’m certainly not a kid anymore.
If we’re diving into the side effects—and believe me, there are plenty to catalog—here is what I've been dealing with lately: 1. I find myself sleeping significantly more than I used to. 2. My emotional spectrum has basically flattened out; I haven't shed a tear in years, nor have I felt that kind of overwhelming, pure joy—it's just... muted. 3. There are moments when my cognitive processing feels a bit sluggish, like my brain is moving through molasses. 4. People around me constantly remark on how calm and composed I seem, though, truth be told, I don't actually feel "calm" internally—I just feel detached. 4. My liver enzymes have taken a hit, which is a concern, but I’ve been trying to manage it by regularly taking milk thistle supplements. That about covers the grim reality of it all.
I honestly don't think she views him as some sort of broken patient—after all, he’s her father. And let's be clear: a hospital isn't some hellscape for people who actually have a shred of common sense left in them. I’ve been hospitalized three separate times myself, and frankly, it was never an unbearable ordeal. You just find someone you actually click with, someone to hang out with, and suddenly the time passes much faster and feels a lot more tolerable. I even know a couple who ended up getting married after meeting in a psychiatric ward.
Her dad has certainly lived through more than we younger folks have, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to just completely unravel. She ought to approach him as a daughter who loves him—that kind of connection might be exactly what helps pull him back toward some semblance of normalcy.
And look, they are absolutely going to admit him if he refuses his medication and just sits there wasting away in his room. It's a well-known fact that psychosis causes far more physical damage to the brain than any medication ever could. Not even kidding—my own psychiatrist, who is a top-tier professional and has even presented at conferences, told me that many antipsychotics actually work by helping to forge new neural connections in the brain.
Where on earth is that Silver Bear Psychotic fellow, or that totally delusional Alexandria—and don't even get me started on that half-crazed little blur of a woman?? Honestly, what is it with you people? Is there some kind of mass psychosis sweeping through the entire coast?!!🙂🙂🙂
Jason Vaughn482 said:I honestly find myself questioning whether these physical ailments ever truly get resolved. You mentioned treating yourself for twenty years, riding the waves of better and worse phases while remaining tethered to a pill regimen... let's be honest, these medications aren't exactly "health food" for the liver, the heart, or any other vital organ. I recently read that Sanval could potentially lead to cancer or even a stroke. My doctor tried to put me on Valdoxan, but I shut that idea down immediately when she mentioned I’d need to monitor my liver enzymes every three weeks; frankly, the fear regarding my liver health is exactly what triggered this current bout of anxiety in the first place. I took Mirzaten for a year and it did absolutely nothing for me, until I realized it contained aspartame—so I started looking for Calixta instead. Not because it fixes my anxiety, mind you, but because it helps me sleep; I take half of a 15 mg dose alongside 10 mg of Sanval and I'm out. At the end of the day, we are all essentially addicts here, varying only in our dosage, if we accept the premise that these drugs function like narcotics, as someone pointed out the other day. I've been relying on Xanax and Sanval for years now because my doctor is constantly presenting me with a revolving door of new, experimental options—first it was Lyrica, then Mirzaten, then Solian. I haven't touched any of those except for Mirzaten, which at least allowed me to sleep well without side effects, though I did put on a little weight. So, I continue my routine with Xanax—never exceeding 1.5 mg, usually hovering around 1.25 mg—and 10 mg of Sanval; that has been my steady therapy for the last four years. My diagnosis is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but in reality, my entire existence is fueled by health anxiety and the paralyzing fear of falling ill.
"Addicts" is such a hyperbolic term. You have no idea how many people I know who stopped their medication only to end up back in a psychiatric ward within a week or two. I don't take these pills because I'm chasing a high; I take them because I have to.
I have this nagging suspicion my psychiatrist is actually terrified of switching me off Zyprexa and onto something else—probably because I’ve been in remission for such a long stretch now.
It looks like I'm stuck playing the waiting game for another ten months until my specialist appointment finally rolls around.
If we do end up pivoting my antipsychotic regimen, I’m going to make a hell of a case for Risperdal—honestly, out of all the different medications I've cycled through, that was the only one that actually felt right.
One more thing—has anyone else dealt with digestive issues while taking Zyprex? Specifically, does it mess with your bathroom habits? I’ve been on Zyprex for a while now, and honestly, the medication itself seems to be doing its job just fine—but back in February, things took a turn for the worse. I started dealing with this constant, urgent need to run to the restroom. It was brutal; I couldn't even step foot outside my house for at least three or four hours after waking up without worrying I'd have an accident. Just a total nightmare, frankly. I’ve been taking probiotics for quite some time, which has actually helped a lot, but the doctors are giving me the runaround. My primary care physician insists it’s definitely a side effect of the Zyprex—she mentioned she had another patient deal with the exact same thing—but then my psychiatrist claims she’s never heard of such a thing. It’s maddening when the experts can't agree. I feel better now thanks to the probiotics, but let's be real: those supplements aren't exactly cheap. And don't even get me started on our healthcare system here in the States. Even though I requested a referral way back in June, the earliest I can see a specialist is mid-October. It’s a complete disaster. Does anyone have any insight on this?
Kevin Nguyen3 said:Oh, wait... I just realized...🙂
Exactly the same thing. A quick, straightforward answer.☕ It seems to me that Lorsilan contains lactose, but when we are talking about emotional and physical dependency, all anxiolytics pose a danger, don't they? One shouldn't take them for longer than 6 to 8 months; you have to gradually taper down to the lowest possible dose before eventually spacing out the doses over time. In practical terms, it is advised to use anxiolytics for a shorter duration, just to lift your mood while the Apple takes over its role. Recently, there have been attempts to combine an anxiolytic with other properties—for instance, combining an anxiolytic and an antiepileptic into a single pill, though much of that is still in the clinical trial phase.
Ooh, a magic pill? I can hardly wait for that day to arrive.🙂 Just kidding.
I’ve heard that Xanax gets smuggled through American prisons just like any other hard drug. It's a hell of a thing.
I was on Lorazepam for quite a while, and honestly, I didn't hit too much of a wall when I was coming off it—though, looking back, it was probably a bit foolish of me to taper off so abruptly, but hey, what can you do? Life goes on.
I'm actually a little wary of this Xanax, so I don't go overboard with it. My doctor even told me that if I feel like I don't strictly need it, I shouldn't take it. Even though I often *do* feel the need, I end up skipping it about half the time; I'd rather just grit my teeth and power through it, which I usually can manage if I'm by myself.
Rebecca Kim5 said:Sorry for just dropping in out of nowhere, but I’ve been scrolling through your posts and really need some advice. My dad has been dealing with schizophrenia for 25 years now. Lately, his diagnosis has been F20.5, but he flat-out refuses to take any meds. Everything goes smoothly while he’s at the hospital—he usually stays for about two months—and then he’ll be home on his therapy for a few months. But after a while, he just stops everything. He shuts down completely. He barely speaks, maybe two or three sentences max, just sits there smoking, and won't leave the house. He won't see a psychiatrist. Since he isn't violent, when we call the hospital, they tell us we have to bring him in ourselves, but he won't go. He won't talk to anyone; he just stays locked in his room, not even answering basic questions. I’ve read some of you saying you're aware of your own condition, so I don't get why he doesn't want to get better? Is he actually more comfortable this way, lost in his own world? How can I help him? Has anyone here dealt with something like this, and what should I do to snap things back into place? This has been going on for two years now with zero progress. He refuses treatment, and his mental state has just totally tanked :((:( please, I need some advice
That is an incredibly heavy burden to carry. Honestly, you might have to try to reach him on an emotional level—letting him see how much this is destroying you, even if it means breaking down in tears right in front of him. It sounds desperate, I know, but perhaps that’s the only way to pierce through the fog.
David Vaughn75 said:Get outta here with that crap!!! 🙂
Look, there’s just nothing left for us at this point—honestly—because back when I was going through that massive psychotic break, half my brain was basically fried... if I ever slip back into a psychosis again, the other half will be gone too, and then what am I even supposed to do with myself? 🙂
crimsoncanyon2 said:So, I guess your ideal scenario is someone having to hit the bathroom fifteen times a day? Just because they say, "Oh, he doesn't have Chronov, he just likes emptying his gut," is that how you see it?🤣 🤣
Honestly, I don't see the point in hunting for flaws in people where none exist.🤷
Eric Mitchell55 said:In that case, it isn't a bad thing. This fall, I’m supposed to start a group therapy session with a small circle of four or five other young people dealing with psychotic symptoms. It'll be a chance to talk openly with folks who are going through similar struggles. I really think it’s going to help.
Oh, it definitely will; personally, I found it to be a massive help.🙂
Eric Mitchell55 said:It’s true that reality doesn't always match the screen, but there are certain themes that help bridge the gap and give people a little insight into what it's like. 🙂
No, I don't personally know anyone with schizophrenia. I'm honestly not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. 🤷
It isn't a bad thing at all. Personally, whenever I find myself hanging out with my fellow mental health warriors, I find myself completely relaxed—there's this sense of kinship, really—because we've all navigated through the exact same kind of absolute shit.
Look, movies make it look dramatic—which they do, sure—but the reality is a bit more nuanced than Hollywood would have you believe.
I actually have a close friend—well, a couple of them, really—who lives with schizophrenia. We talk about it, obviously, though maybe not in some deep, cinematic monologue style; it’s much more mundane, you know? It’s just casual conversation... things like, "Man, this specific thing really messed with my head today," or "This medication works wonders for me, but that other one was a total disaster," or even just venting about how awkward a session at the clinic felt. It's just part of our everyday dialogue.
Do you personally know anyone—a friend, a colleague, someone in your circle—dealing with schizophrenia?