Schizophrenia - General Discussion

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.

bluegardener said: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.

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?

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.

bluegardener said: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.

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...

What a joke

It’s not like you actually applied for that forklift operator gig...

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?

bluegardener said: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?

Oh yeah, that was actually about five or six years ago back when I was still in college. I was on the absolute minimum dose of Risperdal and Zyprexa at the time, and after having just two beers, I ended up getting into a fight right on campus! One of my classmates, who happens to be a boxer, didn't realize I was struggling with my mental health and landed a punch right in my eye. I ended up in the ER for eye trauma and then spent three weeks in the psychiatric ward. Fortunately, I recovered well, both physically and mentally, and I've been doing fine on Lexapro ever since. I might have a beer or a hard seltzer every once in a while, but I generally try to avoid them. You really shouldn't mix those medications with alcohol.

I get these acute episodes, mostly paranoid stuff. It eventually passes, but man, it hits. I don't really deal with the heavy-duty psychotic breaks that people with more serious issues go through, but I definitely have those moments where I'm just spacing out in the hallways because the meds have completely wrecked me. Like, if I pop a few Sanval, maybe 20, 30, or even 50 at once... everything starts looking weird. Every corner of the room looks rounded, and my phone ends up looking like a Nintendo 3DS with a physical keyboard. But the paranoia? That’s the real kicker. I’m constantly spinning around, checking over my shoulder because I feel like someone is staring at me, whispering about me, or laughing at me. Even though, honestly, nobody gives a damn about me, and I couldn't care less about them anyway.

Nicholas Bailey3 said:What a joke

It’s not like you actually applied for that forklift operator gig...

Maybe they think I've got schizophrenia—and honestly, why would they want someone like that on the payroll? That’s straight-up discrimination right there. Personally, I’ve been declared unfit for work and I'm just sitting around waiting for the Social Security Administration to approve my disability pension. If they reject me, we'll have to file an appeal regarding the disability rating. I'm currently at Category II, though it really should be Category I since I can barely handle basic daily tasks on my own without help.

Right now, I'm on a cocktail of Modafinil, Aripiprazole, Prazosin, and Ativan—doses are roughly 1-0.5; 1; 1-0.5; 1; then 1, 25, 25, and 5 mg. The only downside is the sleep. I've been sleeping for years, even before these pills started, just drifting off for 12 to 20 hours a day—sometimes hitting the 20-hour mark, easily.

I’ve been telling people for years that I might actually have narcolepsy.

It's been about a year and a half since I was last hospitalized.

But yeah, I'm still mostly living in my own little world, almost constantly.

@DR handles this illness pretty well—I haven't lectured him on it, and besides, I'm currently 🎉

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.

Patrick Patel4 said:I get these acute episodes, mostly paranoid stuff. It eventually passes, but man, it hits. I don't really deal with the heavy-duty psychotic breaks that people with more serious issues go through, but I definitely have those moments where I'm just spacing out in the hallways because the meds have completely wrecked me. Like, if I pop a few Sanval, maybe 20, 30, or even 50 at once... everything starts looking weird. Every corner of the room looks rounded, and my phone ends up looking like a Nintendo 3DS with a physical keyboard. But the paranoia? That’s the real kicker. I’m constantly spinning around, checking over my shoulder because I feel like someone is staring at me, whispering about me, or laughing at me. Even though, honestly, nobody gives a damn about me, and I couldn't care less about them anyway.

🤦

When paranoia kicks in, it just adds a few extra items to his "nobody gives a damn" checklist.
About unknown 🤣

It's actually pretty fascinating reading about how the brain tries to communicate with itself during an illness.

Carol Barrett2 said:Maybe they think I've got schizophrenia—and honestly, why would they want someone like that on the payroll? That’s straight-up discrimination right there. Personally, I’ve been declared unfit for work and I'm just sitting around waiting for the Social Security Administration to approve my disability pension. If they reject me, we'll have to file an appeal regarding the disability rating. I'm currently at Category II, though it really should be Category I since I can barely handle basic daily tasks on my own without help.

Right now, I'm on a cocktail of Modafinil, Aripiprazole, Prazosin, and Ativan—doses are roughly 1-0.5; 1; 1-0.5; 1; then 1, 25, 25, and 5 mg. The only downside is the sleep. I've been sleeping for years, even before these pills started, just drifting off for 12 to 20 hours a day—sometimes hitting the 20-hour mark, easily.

I’ve been telling people for years that I might actually have narcolepsy.

It's been about a year and a half since I was last hospitalized.

But yeah, I'm still mostly living in my own little world, almost constantly.

@DR handles this illness pretty well—I haven't lectured him on it, and besides, I'm currently 🎉

Besides, people discriminate based on skin tone—why wouldn't they judge something they don't understand?
Maybe they're just afraid of the medical leave paperwork?
Who knows. Usually, it's just because it's foreign to them and, frankly, terrifying.

Diego, I'm sorry to hear that.

Maybe you'll find your way back to Chicago someday. ��

Carol Barrett2 said:Maybe they think I've got schizophrenia—and honestly, why would they want someone like that on the payroll? That’s straight-up discrimination right there. Personally, I’ve been declared unfit for work and I'm just sitting around waiting for the Social Security Administration to approve my disability pension. If they reject me, we'll have to file an appeal regarding the disability rating. I'm currently at Category II, though it really should be Category I since I can barely handle basic daily tasks on my own without help.

Right now, I'm on a cocktail of Modafinil, Aripiprazole, Prazosin, and Ativan—doses are roughly 1-0.5; 1; 1-0.5; 1; then 1, 25, 25, and 5 mg. The only downside is the sleep. I've been sleeping for years, even before these pills started, just drifting off for 12 to 20 hours a day—sometimes hitting the 20-hour mark, easily.

I’ve been telling people for years that I might actually have narcolepsy.

It's been about a year and a half since I was last hospitalized.

But yeah, I'm still mostly living in my own little world, almost constantly.

@DR handles this illness pretty well—I haven't lectured him on it, and besides, I'm currently 🎉

Nicholas Bailey3 said:Besides, people discriminate based on skin tone—why wouldn't they judge something they don't understand?
Maybe they're just afraid of the medical leave paperwork?
Who knows. Usually, it's just because it's foreign to them and, frankly, terrifying.

The truth is, they don't even know I have schizophrenia. The doctor who evaluated my ability to work obviously knows, but all she officially noted was that I'm "fit for work, except for point 4 (operating a forklift in the warehouse)." Honestly, the management there is such a mess that I've grown to dislike them. It's incredibly grueling work there, and I'd honestly take it just to have something to do, but everything feels so uncertain right now...

Harold Anderson3 said:The truth is, they don't even know I have schizophrenia. The doctor who evaluated my ability to work obviously knows, but all she officially noted was that I'm "fit for work, except for point 4 (operating a forklift in the warehouse)." Honestly, the management there is such a mess that I've grown to dislike them. It's incredibly grueling work there, and I'd honestly take it just to have something to do, but everything feels so uncertain right now...

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."

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!

Nicholas Bailey3 said:🤦

When paranoia kicks in, it just adds a few extra items to his "nobody gives a damn" checklist.
About unknown 🤣

It's actually pretty fascinating reading about how the brain tries to communicate with itself during an illness.

Look, at first, I was genuinely stressed out. It was serious stuff. But after years of therapy and doing the work, I've learned that just because I *feel* like something is happening—even if it feels incredibly real—doesn't mean it actually is. As much as my brain insists it's true, it's often just noise. So now, I’ve learned how to just tune it out and stay focused on what I need to do. When a heavy wave of paranoia hits, I recognize it for what it is: just some crazy nonsense spinning in my head that isn't real, regardless of how intense the feeling gets.

So yeah, you're right for now. I just get a few extra things added to my "whatever" list because I know exactly what's going on.

I spent about a month in a psychiatric ward at Mayo Clinic, and I was on Xanax for five years straight.
I just started a brand new treatment plan, though, and I'm feeling really optimistic about it... hopefully everything goes smoothly.
Has anyone here ever tried Katenon? How did it work out for you??? 🙏🙏

Looks like my situation might finally be sorted out, though I won't know for sure until next month 🎉

Carol Barrett2 said:Looks like my situation might finally be sorted out, though I won't know for sure until next month 🎉

Wait, what actually got resolved?