Schizophrenia - General Discussion

I’ve been diagnosed with F29—unspecified non-organic psychosis—and F23.2, which is acute psychotic disorder resembling schizophrenia.

I was previously on Azolar at 20 mg to 30 mg daily, but it just gave me intense anxiety. Now I’m taking Moditen and Prazine. My psychiatrist is also considering Zeldox to see if that works better. What are your thoughts? I’m still dealing with auditory hallucinations.

Robin Lopez2 said:But how do you actually live a quality life when everything is falling apart?

I mean, living "well" probably means staying away from cigarettes, cutting back on booze, getting enough sunlight, and eating brain food.

But honestly, most of us are struggling one way or another. We started out as nothing, and now we're stuck on this country, which feels more like one giant mess. That’s just how I see it. I remember seeing someone on CNN once—a guy who was diagnosed with Parkinson's back when he was 30. He's 46 now. Now, I know my struggles aren't even in the same league as his, but the guy never once complained about being in hell. Maybe he—or most people—just hasn't realized what I have, or maybe I'm just a massive pessimist or a nihilist at heart.

So yeah, we're all dealing with some level of chaos. You just have to make peace with the fact that there's a "before" and an "after" to everything.

Richard White8 said:I’ve been diagnosed with F29—unspecified non-organic psychosis—and F23.2, which is acute psychotic disorder resembling schizophrenia.

I was previously on Azolar at 20 mg to 30 mg daily, but it just gave me intense anxiety. Now I’m taking Moditen and Prazine. My psychiatrist is also considering Zeldox to see if that works better. What are your thoughts? I’m still dealing with auditory hallucinations.

Man, I don't know much about specific medications. It seems like almost everyone is on multiple psychotropic drugs these days. So, if I'm understanding you right, you aren't actively in a psychotic break anymore, but you're still experiencing auditory hallucinations? It's possible that certain symptoms linger, or they might fade away after a long time, but the most important thing is that you're present, you're conscious, and you know what's happening. Definitely talk to your doctor about any side effects; try to find that balance where you can ask the right questions while still being able to actually live your life.

Laura Castillo6 said:I mean, living "well" probably means staying away from cigarettes, cutting back on booze, getting enough sunlight, and eating brain food.

But honestly, most of us are struggling one way or another. We started out as nothing, and now we're stuck on this country, which feels more like one giant mess. That’s just how I see it. I remember seeing someone on CNN once—a guy who was diagnosed with Parkinson's back when he was 30. He's 46 now. Now, I know my struggles aren't even in the same league as his, but the guy never once complained about being in hell. Maybe he—or most people—just hasn't realized what I have, or maybe I'm just a massive pessimist or a nihilist at heart.

So yeah, we're all dealing with some level of chaos. You just have to make peace with the fact that there's a "before" and an "after" to everything.

Man, I don't know much about specific medications. It seems like almost everyone is on multiple psychotropic drugs these days. So, if I'm understanding you right, you aren't actively in a psychotic break anymore, but you're still experiencing auditory hallucinations? It's possible that certain symptoms linger, or they might fade away after a long time, but the most important thing is that you're present, you're conscious, and you know what's happening. Definitely talk to your doctor about any side effects; try to find that balance where you can ask the right questions while still being able to actually live your life.

I have been self-aware the entire time, living with these voices. No one noticed or even suspected anything until I started physically hurting myself. That led me to a psychiatrist, which resulted in an F42 diagnosis—intrusive thoughts and compulsions. For that, I take Paxil and Xanax...
With Moditen, my leg gets stiff when I walk, and Azolar makes it impossible to find a comfortable position for bowel movements. I need to tell her that Moditen isn't working either; I need something else, maybe Zoloft...

I'm done listening to these thoughts. The voices were telling me I had two years left to live. I became overly "spiritual," falling for every alternative movement out there, until my brain chemistry finally snapped.

Laura Castillo6 said:I mean, living "well" probably means staying away from cigarettes, cutting back on booze, getting enough sunlight, and eating brain food.

But honestly, most of us are struggling one way or another. We started out as nothing, and now we're stuck on this country, which feels more like one giant mess. That’s just how I see it. I remember seeing someone on CNN once—a guy who was diagnosed with Parkinson's back when he was 30. He's 46 now. Now, I know my struggles aren't even in the same league as his, but the guy never once complained about being in hell. Maybe he—or most people—just hasn't realized what I have, or maybe I'm just a massive pessimist or a nihilist at heart.

So yeah, we're all dealing with some level of chaos. You just have to make peace with the fact that there's a "before" and an "after" to everything.

Man, I don't know much about specific medications. It seems like almost everyone is on multiple psychotropic drugs these days. So, if I'm understanding you right, you aren't actively in a psychotic break anymore, but you're still experiencing auditory hallucinations? It's possible that certain symptoms linger, or they might fade away after a long time, but the most important thing is that you're present, you're conscious, and you know what's happening. Definitely talk to your doctor about any side effects; try to find that balance where you can ask the right questions while still being able to actually live your life.

Honestly, you're never actually in trouble until the people around you tell you something is wrong. Back when I was going through my worst psychotic episode, I felt absolutely fantastic. I didn't see any issues at all. If it weren't for the people around me, I wouldn't even be on medication. For me, a deserted island would probably be the best way to live.

ruggedtinker9 said:I suppose it is true that new connections are formed, so I won't argue with that.
However, it might be worth looking over this
http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v3.../1300710a.html
if one reads closely enough, you eventually reach the section stating that antipsychotics can reduce overall brain mass by about 8-11%. It is certainly encouraging news.
I mean, when your brain shrinks by a tenth, I assume that is just wonderful for you.
Honestly, I find it difficult to believe that some people genuinely think antipsychotics are beneficial for the brain.
If that is truly your perspective, then I am somewhat at a loss for words.
Hello? You are essentially blocking dopamine and serotonin, which are practically the neurotransmitters responsible for love and feeling good.
Even though I take antipsychotics myself, I am fully aware that they are not good for the brain in any capacity.
I can feel it, and I know my own mind better than most. But, unfortunately, I don't have an alternative within this broken system.

There is a certain natural antipsychotic that none of us can obtain (at least not currently), nor will Big Pharma ever release for sale, nor can we legally extract it ourselves. It is called cannabidiol (CBD), and it is found in—you guessed it—hemp.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3316151/

Nature provides a remedy for everything, I think, but the interests of pharmaceutical corporations lie in turning a profit and keeping you tethered to medication, rather than curing you, because a cured patient is no longer a source of revenue.

Still, I suppose it is fine to seek comfort where you can when there are no other options left... hope is perhaps all that remains.

Look, I don't want to overstep my bounds since I don't deal with schizophrenia myself—I'm more of an OCD sufferer—but I just had to jump in here because I feel pretty much the same way. I've noticed before that some folks dealing with schizophrenia cling to their medication so tightly that I wouldn't even dream of trying to convince them otherwise (mostly out of fear of how aggressive things can get), and sometimes they can be so stubborn that you just can't reach them... but anyway, I agree that nature holds the keys to almost everything. I completely empathize with people who just shut themselves away from the world because the pain they're carrying is so immense they can't even put it into words; those auditory hallucinations, the voices, the whole thing—it all has a root cause, which means it should theoretically be treatable. Maybe someone struggling with schizophrenia will
finally speak up and say, "You have no idea what this feels like," even if they aren't sure about the alternatives yet.
We're all connected in this, you know? There shouldn't be this wall built up between us, the kind of divide that sometimes
both sides tend to reinforce

Anyway, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way... cheers everyone! 👏

nimblerider21 said:Look, I don't want to overstep my bounds since I don't deal with schizophrenia myself—I'm more of an OCD sufferer—but I just had to jump in here because I feel pretty much the same way. I've noticed before that some folks dealing with schizophrenia cling to their medication so tightly that I wouldn't even dream of trying to convince them otherwise (mostly out of fear of how aggressive things can get), and sometimes they can be so stubborn that you just can't reach them... but anyway, I agree that nature holds the keys to almost everything. I completely empathize with people who just shut themselves away from the world because the pain they're carrying is so immense they can't even put it into words; those auditory hallucinations, the voices, the whole thing—it all has a root cause, which means it should theoretically be treatable. Maybe someone struggling with schizophrenia will
finally speak up and say, "You have no idea what this feels like," even if they aren't sure about the alternatives yet.
We're all connected in this, you know? There shouldn't be this wall built up between us, the kind of divide that sometimes
both sides tend to reinforce

Anyway, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way... cheers everyone! 👏

Yeah, we're already coordinating via cell right now—planning to track you down and get absolutely hammered. Just pure, unadulterated chaos.🤦

When we’re talking about altered states of consciousness—take an epileptic seizure, for instance, or a psychotic break—you can't really just talk someone through it. It’s not like a normal conversation helps when the person experiencing it has lost their grip on themselves or can't even process what reality is anymore. In those moments, I feel like consciousness itself is being fundamentally shifted or distorted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness

An altered state can be anything from a coma to being high or drunk, though with alcohol or drugs, it’s usually tied directly to how much you’ve taken. You could get pretty buzzed at a bar and still have a pretty good idea of where you are. But when someone is mid-psychosis or having a seizure, trying to convince them that psychotherapy will fix things is pretty much impossible until they're back on level ground with reality.

THC has actually been shown to be incredibly effective for treating seizures or IH episodes. http://www.thedoctorstv.com/articles...treat-seizures

Even Ecstasy MDMA has shown success in treating PTSD; in clinical settings, very short-term use can lead to full, lasting remission. http://www.thedoctorstv.com/articles...erapy-for-ptsd

Of course, this isn't news to anyone who's been paying attention for the last 30 years or so. The real issue is that because marijuana and Ecstasy MDMA are often abused for recreational purposes, and because Big Pharma loves its competition, these highly effective medical treatments stay out of reach for most people.

I've been experiencing severe side effects from Maden—tremors, shaky hands, even muscle twitching in my lip. It’s obvious I need a different medication. What are your thoughts on Prozac? I currently take my current prescription right before bed...

Richard White8 said:I've been experiencing severe side effects from Maden—tremors, shaky hands, even muscle twitching in my lip. It’s obvious I need a different medication. What are your thoughts on Prozac? I currently take my current prescription right before bed...

Look, seriously, go talk to your actual psychiatrist about adjusting your meds instead of asking a bunch of random people on an internet forum.

David Vaughn75 said:Look, seriously, go talk to your actual psychiatrist about adjusting your meds instead of asking a bunch of random people on an internet forum.

The point of this forum is to exchange real-world experiences.

Richard White8 said:I've been experiencing severe side effects from Maden—tremors, shaky hands, even muscle twitching in my lip. It’s obvious I need a different medication. What are your thoughts on Prozac? I currently take my current prescription right before bed...

That’s exactly what Maden is designed to do—it’s part of the process—but you can manage those symptoms with Aketonet. Though, just like
that Teddy guy told you, you really ought to have a word with your doctor; if you're upfront about how much Maden is messing you up,
you'll almost certainly get a prescription for Aketonet.

Larry Lewis said:That’s exactly what Maden is designed to do—it’s part of the process—but you can manage those symptoms with Aketonet. Though, just like
that Teddy guy told you, you really ought to have a word with your doctor; if you're upfront about how much Maden is messing you up,
you'll almost certainly get a prescription for Aketonet.

I find myself somewhat perplexed by this situation. Is Aketonet not actually a dopamine stimulant, and does an excess of dopamine not inherently trigger psychosis?

Nicole Barrett76 said:I find myself somewhat perplexed by this situation. Is Aketonet not actually a dopamine stimulant, and does an excess of dopamine not inherently trigger psychosis?

Man, Aketon just makes my muscles go limp.

David Vaughn75 said:Man, Aketon just makes my muscles go limp.

I’ve personally taken two of them after three days of hitting the gym hard.

David Vaughn75 said:Man, Aketon just makes my muscles go limp.

However, I suspect it might induce a sense of (mild) euphoria in individuals with sound mental health.

Nicole Barrett76 said:However, I suspect it might induce a sense of (mild) euphoria in individuals with sound mental health.

Look, if you abuse the stuff—and believe me, I’ve been there—it creates this intense, damn euphoria. Some perfectly sane
folks have told me they actually prefer it over candy, but the trade-off is that it turns your brain to mush, which is fucking exhausting.
And once that high finally wears off? Just like the crash from a sugar high, you’re left with a massive, soul-crushing depression.

I wouldn't recommend it.

Nobody could ever talk me into believing I was sick during my first long-lasting psychotic episode. But once that moment hits—that first time you actually think to yourself, "Wait, maybe I *am* actually sick"—that’s when everything changes. Since then, I’ve been constantly practicing talking back to my own brain, trying to convince the rational side of me to stay in control. Honestly, once you have that realization, I truly believe it's possible to dial this illness way down and manage it incredibly well. If you're actually putting in the work on yourself, if you've got someone in your corner who will snap you out of it when you start spiraling, and if you can just walk away from the booze, the THC, and all that other junk... it works. Some people just need a reality check from a friend to ignore the irrational bullshit, some need a psychologist, and others need a heavy-duty psychotherapist to keep them on track. But you *can* handle this without meds if you get the right support and guidance. Life is total crap if you decide to look at it that way...
Chaos

The medication isn't doing much for my positive symptoms either... I need to switch prescriptions.

Moditen is pretty old-school, honestly—it’s been around for ages. As for the Akineton, it isn't going to touch those side effects you mentioned because that's meant for managing tremors, and that wasn't what was prescribed for you.

Richard White8 said:The medication isn't doing much for my positive symptoms either... I need to switch prescriptions.

If you want my two cents—and believe me, I've spent enough time navigating this medical maze to have a few—you should seriously consider getting rid of Moditen, especially if you're cranking out high doses.