Posts by Morgan Lewis

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knows if this new legislation regarding survivor benefits affects those of us living with schizophrenia who are already receiving disability benefits.

From what I’ve been reading and searching for online, it seems you only qualify for a parent's survivor benefits if you're a child with a documented disability and some remaining capacity for

vocational rehabilitation and employment under the specific federal guidelines for people with disabilities.

Most of us have dealt with our disability since the very beginning of the illness—in my case, since I was 26—but we didn't go after the official disability status back then because, let's be honest, nobody would hire us anyway.

And even when we did manage to work... well, we all know how much of a struggle that was. So, by the time I finally applied for benefits because I just couldn't keep going, I ended up with disability

of about $160, rather than being able to claim anything from my late father—because apparently, it looks like he wasn't supporting me until his passing, even though he absolutely was; I just can't prove it.

That's why I feel like this law is just plain unfair. It feels like we're being penalized for actually trying to make it on our own. I managed to finish college and worked for six years,

but honestly, my parents made all of that possible—I never could have pulled it off solo. Meanwhile, someone who struggled with addiction and hasn't put in a single day of work

can still qualify for survivor benefits, which can be quite substantial depending on what their parent's pension was.

I don't have anything against them getting help, but shouldn't we also have the right to access our parents' benefits?

Thanks, and please, if anyone has any experience with this, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

LP, Morgan Lewis

Parnid hasn't actually hit the market here in the States. I honestly have no clue why—it feels like there’s just no paliperidone available in tablet form in America right now.

Harold Anderson3 said:It seems like almost every antipsychotic medication comes in two different formats—either as a pill you take daily or as an injection—and that’s certainly the case with Xplore. The generic name for Xplore is paliperidone, and when it's produced in its tablet form, it's actually known as... I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately reflecting on my experience with Invega, trying to make sense of how it actually sits with me. It’s one of those medications that feels like a bit of a balancing act, isn't it? On one hand, there's the relief it provides, but then you have to navigate those inevitable side effects that seem to follow it around. I find myself weighing the pros and cons more often than I'd like, just trying to find that sweet spot where I feel steady without feeling completely unlike myself. It's a bit of a journey, I suppose, and I'm still figuring out my own pace with it.Risperdal is just another antipsychotic option on the table.
You know, you can always have a conversation with your psychiatrist about transitioning back to medication if you feel like that’s what works better for you.
I recently made the switch from Abilify maintenance injections over to Azolar tablets, mostly because my job keeps me out in the field so much that tracking down a clinic for monthly shots just wasn't practical anymore. To be honest, I haven't noticed any real difference in how they work; for me, it really just comes down to what fits my lifestyle better. At the end of the day, some people find it much easier to just handle one injection a month, while others—like myself—find daily pills much more convenient.

Do you happen to know if Invega is even available here in the States?

Hey everyone!

Quick question about meds—I’ve been getting Xplore depot injections for about three and a half years now. On top of that, I’ve been on Zyprexa for way longer than that.
The therapy works for me, honestly, but man, the constant poking and prodding is starting to get under my skin... it's just getting old. Has anyone here actually made the switch from injections back to pills?
And if I did, what would the alternative even look like? Maybe Risperdal?

Thanks so much for all the input, everyone!
I actually stumbled upon a study that touches on this exact thing—it’s pretty similar to what you guys were saying:
"Can excipients actually impact how well a drug works? Absolutely. These inactive ingredients can change how a pill dissolves, how it's distributed through the body, or even how it's absorbed in the stomach... So, when a patient feels like a generic version isn't hitting the mark quite like the brand-name original, it might not just be all in their head."

Hey everyone!
I was wondering about something, and maybe someone here can shed some light on it for me.
Basically, does anyone know if there’s actually a difference in how well the original Zyprexe works compared to the generic Olandix?
If anyone has gone through this or has any experience with it, I’d really appreciate the insight!

According to Wikipedia:
Getting an IM shot usually means dealing with some soreness, redness, or maybe a bit of swelling right where the needle goes in. Honestly, most of the time these side effects are pretty mild and clear up within a few days—nothing too crazy. Now, in really rare cases, you could potentially hit a nerve or a blood vessel, which can lead to intense pain or even paralysis, but that’s super uncommon. Also, if the technique isn't done properly, there's a risk of localized infections like abscesses or even gangrene, though that's obviously something doctors work hard to avoid! Oh, and one interesting thing—back in the day, they used to recommend pulling back on the plunger (aspirating) before injecting to make sure you weren't hitting a vein, but nowadays, they don't really suggest doing that for most injection sites anymore.

thanks Diego,
this Xeplion actually works for me—and honestly, it’s not even about being afraid of the needle itself, it’s more that I get this nagging anxiety that they might mess up the injection so badly that something goes wrong, you know?
Maybe I'm just overthinking things, but I swear I read somewhere that they aren't supposed to hit a vein or a nerve or something like that. They’ve given me shots before,
but last time was such a disaster that I genuinely wonder if it's even humane. I felt like absolute garbage for four days straight after... and every single time I go there, I feel like I have to sit there like a statue because everything
I try to say just sounds "weird" to them—as if I'm some kind of monster just because of my diagnosis and my treatment plan. But that's just my personality! When I show up, I actually want to chat a little bit
with my sister, while she and the doctor seem to expect me to just sit there in total silence, maybe drooling a little too, just to prove I'm a "normal" schizophrenic.
Sorry to everyone reading this, I just really needed to vent and get this off my chest.

Hey everyone, so I’ve been dealing with these shots for about two and a half years now, and honestly? I’m starting to get a little over it. What do you all think about making the switch from Xeplion back to oral pills? I wouldn't say I'm a "difficult" patient or anything—I'm pretty sure my doctor would be open to the idea—but I can't help wondering if it's actually a smart move. The medication itself works great for me, really, it does! It's just those injections... they aren't always the most pleasant experience, you know? So, I'm curious—how do you guys feel about that kind of transition?

Thanks so much, Nicole Booth25! Honestly, this is easily the most beautiful thing I’ve come across on this entire forum. Namaste!

Oh, don't mention it! No problem at all. :-)

Honestly, I went through the exact same thing—stopping my meds entirely and then eventually landing on Xeplion... it’s just such a classic pattern with this kind of situation. Looking back, I really felt like I could have managed without it.

I used to deal with these intense panic attacks, though they only ever hit me at night. It all started after I came off my antidepressants, and things finally settled down after about a month or two once I started the lithium.

But man, I suffered through it for so long because I had one doctor who didn't even think to suggest lithium right away. When I finally did try it, it just wasn't the right fit for me, so I ended up stopping it on my own.

It might be worth a shot for you, though. 😵

I’ve had the same number of hospital stays and the exact same diagnosis. I've been on Xeplion depo for over two years now. My anxiety and panic attacks are totally gone,

but honestly, I still have to take diazepam at night just to crash—mostly because the Xeplion keeps me way too wired. But if I’m being real, the thing that bugs me the most is having to rely entirely on a nurse to give me my injection.

Especially lately with everything going on with COVID-19 and all the staff rotations, you really notice when some nurses don't actually know what they're doing. Since the liquid is so thick, if they don't do it right, it's a mess.

And even when they *do* know how, sometimes they're just completely checked out or distracted, and then I end up feeling "sick" for three whole days afterward.

@ Alex Thomas7
Seriously, major props to this lady for pushing through all the way to 80 while dealing with her diagnosis.
Living with that kind of struggle is no joke—it’s rough—so the fact that you guys want to step up and help her says a lot about you.
Just a little heads-up though, older folks can be pretty set in their ways when it comes to change, and schizophrenia tends to give
someone a perspective that is just... well, lightyears away from how a healthy person sees the world.
People living with this condition often lose out on all those little things that actually make life worth living
and they end up facing those deep, "what's the point?" questions way earlier than the rest of us.
Honestly, I think there's so much we could actually learn from them—if only we could move past this
awful, pervasive mindset that people with mental illness are somehow less valuable or just
a burden to their families and society at large.🙂