Hi. For 5 years I took Seroquel at an 800mg per night dose and when I tried to come off it (tapering off an extra 200mg a month)I ended up with psychosis when I stopped it completely. This led to a rediagnosis of schizophrenia and a prescription of Zyprexa and then Abilify. I am currently on 1mg of Abilify but have not told the psychiatrist that I have reduced it to this level. With my GP I reduced it to 2.5mg. I don't have a 1mg spoon to measure it out so it is an estimation. I feel fine as far as the psychosis goes and my OCD is ok too. But I do worry that coming right off it will lead to withdrawal psychosis again or that my brain is now dependent on antipsychotics. It certainly wasn't 6 years ago and I was psychosis free. If the medical profession has given me schizophrenia by prescribing me antipsychotics for OCD I would not be surprised. It does make me angry as I imagine there are millions of other people in the same position.

Should I just accept that I am now dependent on the medication because I was on a high dose of an antipsychotic for 5 years? How long is it before your brain can't do without them??

[LucyG]

I don't know if the meds can cause schizophrenia, but it is very common for people to have a terrible time getting off these meds so becoming psychotic doesn't surprise me.

I believe [this is based on coming off meds myself and treating my bipolar 2 with amino acids] that the reason we have some of these issues is because our brains aren't able to produce the needed neurotransmitters on their own to keep us feeling normal so we need to supplement with amino acids and other nutrients just as a diabetic needs insulin. Don't assume you can't get off the meds if you want to. It may be a long, slow process, but chances are you can if you give your brain and body what they need to build your health back up.

Here's some resources to help you figure out how to come off whatever meds you want to go off of without it almost killing you.

This is a web site dedicated to coming off meds. I haven't looked at it other than to scan it, but it looks like it's worth checking out.

Coming Off Psychiatric Medication

This is a book on coming off meds as well using amino acids and other nutrients to help you from going through serious withdrawals. The book is very helpful.

Break Your Prescribed Addiction by Bille Sahley, PhD-painstress

I know that schizophrenia can be drug induced. A psychoactive drug can cause it. Antipsychotics are psychoactive drugs. So are antidepressants. So it makes sense that these drugs can cause schizophrenia. If I have it it is definitely drug induced. I have never taken cannabis or any other illegal drug so the psychosis must have been brought on by withdrawing from antipsychotics. It's disgusting how psychiatrists can change a diagnosis and say they got it wrong all those years ago rather than admit their drugs caused the problem. That is the power they have I am afraid. They should be in jail.

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by cyberwoman

I know that schizophrenia can be drug induced. A psychoactive drug can cause it. Antipsychotics are psychoactive drugs. So are antidepressants. So it makes sense that these drugs can cause schizophrenia. If I have it it is definitely drug induced. I have never taken cannabis or any other illegal drug so the psychosis must have been brought on by withdrawing from antipsychotics. It's disgusting how psychiatrists can change a diagnosis and say they got it wrong all those years ago rather than admit their drugs caused the problem. That is the power they have I am afraid. They should be in jail.

I completely agree!!

People don't and won't admit that Big Pharma is in control of the medical profession, and pays doctors to prescribe certain meds. And if there's a side-effect like you experienced, well it's the fault of the patient, an unfortunate side-effect or a freak accident as it can't be the fault of the doctor. I love how doctors minimize side-effects--'you might be nauseated, constipated or get a slight headache, but other than that, it's completely safe.' Lies, lies, lies!!!

Here's an article from Scientific American entitled How Much Are Drug Companies Paying Your Doctor:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...g-your-doctor/

[CobolCapsule]

Coming off of an anti-psychotic can induce psychosis, even if you have never had it before. Be careful in reducing dosages, for this can bring on withdrawal.

Ive been reducing mine by 10% every two weeks since July, and i am down to 1.68mg of risperidone from 3mg. I might have a couple of more years left of reducing dosage, because i am making cuts off the reduced dosage. I learned that from here:Surviving Antidepressants
They help with withdrawal from any medicaton.

good luck

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by LucyG

I completely agree!!

People don't and won't admit that Big Pharma is in control of the medical profession, and pays doctors to prescribe certain meds. And if there's a side-effect like you experienced, well it's the fault of the patient, an unfortunate side-effect or a freak accident as it can't be the fault of the doctor. I love how doctors minimize side-effects--'you might be nauseated, constipated or get a slight headache, but other than that, it's completely safe.' Lies, lies, lies!!!

Here's an article from Scientific American entitled How Much Are Drug Companies Paying Your Doctor:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...g-your-doctor/

Everything you post is your opinion. It is not fact. You have come on this site to spread your opinions all over the place, but you state your personal experience as though you know everything about every poster. You do not know the medical history of anyone on PC. In my opinion you need to preface your posts with "In my experience" or "in my opinion". Or, most truthfully, "I assume".

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by cyberwoman

Hi. For 5 years I took Seroquel at an 800mg per night dose and when I tried to come off it (tapering off an extra 200mg a month)I ended up with psychosis when I stopped it completely. This led to a rediagnosis of schizophrenia and a prescription of Zyprexa and then Abilify. I am currently on 1mg of Abilify but have not told the psychiatrist that I have reduced it to this level. With my GP I reduced it to 2.5mg. I don't have a 1mg spoon to measure it out so it is an estimation. I feel fine as far as the psychosis goes and my OCD is ok too. But I do worry that coming right off it will lead to withdrawal psychosis again or that my brain is now dependent on antipsychotics. It certainly wasn't 6 years ago and I was psychosis free. If the medical profession has given me schizophrenia by prescribing me antipsychotics for OCD I would not be surprised. It does make me angry as I imagine there are millions of other people in the same position.

Should I just accept that I am now dependent on the medication because I was on a high dose of an antipsychotic for 5 years? How long is it before your brain can't do without them??

It is very possible that your schizophrenia reemerged because you are no longer on the medication you need. 1mg. of Abilify is so low, it is basically like not taking it at all. I am curious about something: If you were psychosis-free 6 years ago, why did your doctor prescribe 800mg. of Seroquel?

I was prescribed it for OCD. The Seroquel is supposed to augment the effects of the clomipramine I was on. I had never been psychotic before last year. It only happened after coming off the Seroquel.

For what it's worth, I do agree with Lucy G, and I know I'm not the only one out there that feels that way. A lot of people feel they have to defend psychiatry. Those who attack it are always criticised. There's plenty of evidence out there that this can happen and of other people experiencing it.

I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I've also heard that smaller doses of antipsychotics can be more effective. Lots of people manage on small doses. Taking too much for too long can stop them from working properly so it makes sense. The psychiatrists don't listen because their friends in the drug companies want as much money as possible. It's hardly caring is it?

Sorry, going off on a rant again. Feel free to disagree. I know that many people are happy to take high doses of medication if it stops the symptoms but I would rather be physically healthy too. If I don't need to take a medication I would rather be off it and I am willing to try. It's my personal choice and if it all goes wrong I only have myself to blame.

[*Laurie*]

It is natural to want to blame someone for our illnesses. Oftentimes, it is pdocs and the pharmaceutical companies who get blamed because we are angry about having mental illness. I don't deny that big pharma is making enormous amounts of money. I am, however, very familiar with, and have used, alternative medicine, and it is far from free! To see an alternative health practitioner cost $$ and supplements are also expensive - at least, more expensive than I can afford.

If you believe that alternative medicine can help you with OCD, go for it.

My issue with LucyG is that she pretends to know what is good for everyone on PC. I believe her attitude is dangerous for some people.

I am thinking of trying alternative medicine for my problems. I'm on antidepressants for the OCD and I'll probably stay on them. I don't know if I need the antipsychotic though. That's why I'm coming off it.

Maybe telling people to come off their medication isn't a good idea but this is personal choice for me. No one has told me to come off. Lucy G is just stating fact here. She hasn't told me to come off them. At the end of the day if someone wants to come off meds it has to come from them though. It's well known that psychiatric drugs can cause illness as well as treat them. There's plenty of evidence and research out there which says so. If the psychiatric profession was constrained by morality, they wouldn't give 1 year olds antipsychotics. It is all about money.

But I appreciate that no one on here should tell others to come off drugs. I haven't seen any evidence of that on this site yet though.

[CobolCapsule]

I am currently coming off risperidone, and wonder if i am doing too slow of a taper, and should speed it up. Do most people not experience withdrawal anxiety etc., or is it just a minority that do?

What is the right time frame to withdrawal from a drug two months?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

I am currently coming off risperidone, and wonder if i am doing too slow of a taper, and should speed it up. Do most people not experience withdrawal anxiety etc., or is it just a minority that do?

What is the right time frame to withdrawal from a drug two months?

I wish I could answer your question, but everything depends upon the medication, the individual, how long you've been on it, and so on. I do, however, think a slow taper is always better.

[CobolCapsule]

I do, however, think a slow taper is always better.

Thanks LauraBeth for the response.

Wouldn't a slow taper like i am doing, just habituate the drug to my brain more the longer i am on it, or will that not effect the taper?

It will take at least a couple more years for me to come off risperidone, which i have been on for 21 months. So far i have not experienced any withdrawals reducing 10% every two weeks from reduced dosage, and wondering if i could go faster.

Some people seem to be able to come off meds in just a couple of months with no problems, while others suffer greatly by doing that.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

Thanks LauraBeth for the response.

Wouldn't a slow taper like i am doing, just habituate the drug to my brain more the longer i am on it, or will that not effect the taper?

It will take at least a couple more years for me to come off risperidone, which i have been on for 21 months. So far i have not experienced any withdrawals reducing 10% every two weeks from reduced dosage, and wondering if i could go faster.

Some people seem to be able to come off meds in just a couple of months with no problems, while others suffer greatly by doing that.

Your question is a good one. I don't know the answer to it, but your pdoc might be able to shed some light.

I understand the med withdrawal thing...I've been on Klonopin for twenty years and am coming off of it verrry slowly.

[CobolCapsule]

I am just don't know why i am not experiencing withdrawal at all. Could it be due to the other meds i am on? Thats what i suspect possibly.

My Dr. was wanting to withdraw me from risperidone over a couple of months, which i would love to do, but ive read all about these horrible experiences people have coming off too quickly.

My Dr. said i wouldn't get withdrawals, but ive also read Dr's dont necessarily believe in withdrawals, and or are just ignorant to it.

Dont know what to do.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

I am just don't know why i am not experiencing withdrawal at all. Could it be due to the other meds i am on? Thats what i suspect possibly.

My Dr. was wanting to withdraw me from risperidone over a couple of months, which i would love to do, but ive read all about these horrible experiences people have coming off too quickly.

My Dr. said i wouldn't get withdrawals, but ive also read Dr's dont necessarily believe in withdrawals, and or are just ignorant to it.

Dont know what to do.

Some doctors are ignorant about withdrawal, others (in my experience, anyway) are very sensitive to it.

It's a fortunate thing that you're not experiencing w/d symptoms. Sometimes, some people don't.

[CobolCapsule]

Yeah it's just kind of hard to know if i speed it up ill experience withdrawal, and yet if i stay on it longer i feel ill just become more dependent on it.

Maybe some people are just less sensitive to withdrawal, and it doesn't matter how long your on the drug.
I dont know whether to gamble on my central nervous system, and try and move faster, or take my time with it.

Some people can come off psychiatric drugs in a couple of months or less, and be just fine.
I just dont want to have debilitating withdrawal from tapering too fast, and not be able to work.

I think i plan to continue to taper slowly until the end of the year. I will then be down to 1 mg, but from what ive read thats when your suppose to slow it down. I will make an evaluation about whether to speed it up or not, for then i will be at the two year mark of being on it, I guess ill try not to worry about it till then.

[Fuzzybear]

You are not alone... Fellow uk dweller