Lived Experience Forum

[Shaz51]

Hello everyone

My Hubby has a big Question : Are Antipsychotic medications taken for short term or long term ??

[Former-Member]

Hi @Shaz51

I think it depends on the reason for taking them... I took them short term. And i think different psychiatrists have very different views on them and their uses too. How was appt?

lj

[mrkotter]

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@Former-Member wrote:

Hi @Shaz51

I think it depends on the reason for taking them... I took them short term. And i think different psychiatrists have very different views on them and their uses too. How was appt?

lj

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+1 I've taken both short and longer term. 

[JasJac]

Hey @Shaz51,

I think the new theory is that for the shortest possible time (rather than you are on meds forever old school thinking.

After an experience of psychosis, I was on antipsychotics for nearly 2 years. With the medication I was severely depressed without realising this, I had trouble with self regulating my body temperature, I had a lot of trouble understanding what people were saying or being able to read emotions, I could not stop my thinking even with trying. when I stopped the meds I felt relaxed, i could feel myself, i had better sensory experiences which was blocked by the meds. I think for me the medicine was essential at the beginning, to get sleep and restore my brain including slowing my thoughts. I thought I needed to keep taking it to be able to work but I really didn't and didn't realise that I could be fine without it until I stopped. 

I have previously taken them for a longer period, i think the issue of whether they are needed or not is that it takes a few weeks to get off the meds to then figure out whether they are still needed and it is difficult to focus and carry out work and social acitivities in the first few days of stopping it which means you need to plan ahead for the experiement. 

I would say most meds are for the shortest period of time. Having meaning, purpose, nice relationships etc can resettle those brain chemicals and reduce /eliminate the need for meds in the long term. 

what is your hubby looking at doing?

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member, @mrkotter, @JasJac

the appointment with the specialist went good , all the blood test came back ok ,except for one which he has very high Cholesterol

He wants to stop the meds , he has tried reducing the meds  but soon finds out he can not cope without them

the specialist said he needs to take a long time to go off them , he has been on them for a year and a half

Having meaning, purpose, nice relationships etc can resettle those brain chemicals and reduce /eliminate the need for meds in the long term. -- can I ask how you did it @JasJac, so I can know how to help my hubby

[Former-Member]

Glad the appointment went well, and that a decision has been made, though i know that its not easy... Is the psychiatrist going to monitor the reduction/tapering off? and has he suggested any ideas for how to make this more successful?

lj 

[Shaz51]

ah ha @Former-Member xx

Is the psychiatrist going to monitor the reduction/tapering off? -- Hubby has not agreed to it

I think he thinks he can do it alone

[Kurra]

Hi @Shaz51
I only take antipsychotics when psychosis is active. When the psychotic episode has settled I slowly reduce the dose and then stop taking them completely. I don't resume taking them unless I'm becoming manic and psychotic or I'm experiencing dysphoric mania. Hugzzz 💕 🎶

[Mazarita]

Hi @Shaz51, I've been taking anti-psychotic medication for about 8 years. I believe it has really improved my overall wellbeing and has assisted greatly in some terrible behaviours I had. My psychiatrist has tried to wean me off them as his attitude too is the less meds the better. But I have something of a relapse each time we've tried. I expect to take them long term because of this. It's difficult for you with your husband taking matters into his own hands without medical support. Probably the worst thing he can do is yoyo between taking them and not taking them, which I have read you saying elsewhere that he has been doing. I hope for both of your sakes that he reduces them very slowly if he is going to wean off them. This will minimise or just about eliminate the side effects of withdrawal.  

[Ayesha]

I've been on anti psychotics for 13 years now and every single attempt to take me off leaves me psychotic and/or in hospital.
Trouble is even WITH the antipsychotics I'm still symptomatic even at the higher doses.... I'm on 2 different antipsychotics and for example had full blown hallucinations last night and have had a few this morning (I "test" them if I'm not sure).

I believe I will always be symptomatic no matter what med I'm on (and I've tried them all) so unless a new drug comes along ??????

I don't like the fact I'm on antipsychotics especially since I realise I'm probably not coming off them but I don't love full blown psychosis either