Are you on an AP?

Since my last episode, they put me on saphris. I've been on it for a year. Before that I was on haldol for about a year. I truly believe I do not need an ap. It helps with sleep. I really don't understand why they are keeping me on it. I havent had an episode in over a year. I never experienced any real bad hallucinations and never any auditory.

I think aps should be used short-term while in mania/psychosis. I fear for long-term side effects of these heavy duty drugs, which there is not much research out there on. Studies have shown APs increase the size of grey katter in the brain. this drug also makes me sleep 10+ hours a night and I hate it. I want off!

Are you on an AP? Thoughts?

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I'm on a ap-rexulti. It's really helped me. I think I'm almost stable andbim not sure how long I'll take it. For now I am grateful

I'm on Abilify. I am not aware of the long-term effects (to be truthful, when I finally got on meds it was out of desperation so I didn't really ask), but I think it's helped me. I've been relatively stable for almost 2 years now and we dropped the dose to 7.5 and it's still working quite well...

I'm on abilify as is my husband. It's for anti mania. I hate meds but at least that is an injection. Have you tried activating antipsychotics? There is two types of ap activating and sadating. Abilify is an activating one, I don't know the others in that category. As for side effects long-term I know all of them but as my ex pdoc said "it's about quality of life ". What ap are you on? Will Dr's let you half your dose?

Rexulti is activating too, like abilify

I can't stand meds that make me want to sleep 10+ hours. Saphris did that to me when I was on it. My kid was constantly late to school because of me! Latuda kind of makes me sleep like that too, but more like 9 hours. I miss getting by on 6-7 hours. It makes me feel like a child to have to put myself in bed by 9pm.

I've been on Invega for a year and a half and have not had any psychosis or mania in that time. I would love to be off of it, but as I still get hypomanic, I don't want to chance it. If I were completely stable I might give it a go but I'm afraid the hypomania would shoot into mania. Mania is fun for me until it devolves into a mixed episode which happens every. Single. Time. I don't care much about long term side effects. If it's going to help me be productive and a good mother now then that's what I want. When I get manic I get abusive toward my son and I hate myself for it. I'll take some loss of brain functioning if I can be a better mom. I don't want to scar him for life.

Of course it's easier for me because I don't have any side effects from the Invega. If I had side effects I might sing a different tune.

I hear you wildflower
I use to have the traditional manic then crash to dark depression but as I got older the Mania lasts longer then turns to a horrific mixed

I take saphris and it does not make drowsy. I take it with water which my psychiatrist is on fence about because she says if its not making me drowsy it prob is not working. But i hate the numb feeling it gives my mouth and it causes my sleep apnea to act up.

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I 'm on Invega Sustenna and zyprexa, they help me immensely. I have been stable since starting them over a year ago, no need to mess with something that already works

Saphris made me manic. Not sedating at all. Abilify made me restless. Also not sedating. Topamax caused suicial thoughts but helped with sleep and latuda caused suicidal thoughts and actions. I told my pdoc no more APs for awhile my brain cant take it. I hate the mixed state that Im stuck in or was stuck in. Im actually feeling okay right now. I just think an AP isnt necessary. I dont have psychosis and hypomania isnt over the top. Its the depression for me. But this isnt about me sorry. I hear you though with questioning the need for APs. Some ppl need them and thats ok.

I take Risperdal for mania and psychosis. I've also tried Invega...insurance issue. I know there are side effects but I can not blame all on Risperdal. I take Lithium and it was the first med I started taking. Then Risperdal second. I have cognitive disfunction and I blame Lithium. But without it I'm in the hospital.

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I'm on Abilify and have been on other APs. I don't have psychosis either but my pdoc uses them for quick anxiety relief, since I can no longer take benzodiazepines. Most of the ones I had to be taken off because of heart issues, but not for brain stuff. Still, I rather have them rather than hurting myself.

I'm on Saphris, too. I've been on it for a little over a year. I find it helps my depression boosting my AD. It does help me sleep too but I probably only sleep 8-10 hours a night which I'm satisfied with. I'll keep taking it as long as it is working.

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Latuda is my friend 20 months now. 3+ years on an AP. i've got a little weight gain and some high cholesterol so I consider asking about coming off of them but then again I'm very stable so I don't know.

Started old time ap in 1970. After a few years off for around 6. Back on fairly steadily until now. Just got back on after a 2-3 year break. Nothing else will keep me approaching stability. I do not go psychotic. Am on other psych meds. Just doesn't work without the ap or the ad. Been on ssdis since mid 1980s. So definitely have been on both types of meds long term. Not having problems with them now. Due to changes in body metabolism being a senior now and having become more sensitive to meds my dosages are lower. But obviously I have no concerns about long term effects. How long does long term define? I can't live without the meds. Nothing else works. So be it. I am on a lot of meds for regular medical problems too. Am not going to worry about them either. My docs try their best to keep up on med interactions with all of them but there is so much unknown there too. Not worried about that either. All I care about is to be able to have a life I can live n do what it takes to maintain it for as long as I can.

I am on Latuda and seroquel and they slightly control my mania. I don't hate them, but I don't think I need them

I've been on 2 APs for a couple of years now and it doesn't look like I'm coming off them anytime soon. I'm doing well, and if it ain't broke don't fix it. I used to be kind of hung up on the idea of being on more than one AP, but I got over it...one's got to do what works.