What the the generic requirements needed for a patient to officially no longer need antipsychotics?

My first time in the hospital, I was in the children's ward and my psychiatrist said that if I could go a year without another hospitalization, then he would slowly wean me off my medication and I'd be good.

I ended up having three more hospitalizations after that and now my psychiatrist is saying I'll be on my medication indefinitely.

But, if I do really well and I tell him all the voices I'm hearing, or all the thoughts I'm having and they stay under control, can I eventually come off my medication?

My medication is currently costing me over $1000 a month and I really can't afford it anymore. But I don't want to switch medications because I have a hard time switching and it always lands me in the hospital each time I mess around with my meds. I'm sick of the meds now and I want to come off them.

I'm 20 years old now and I've been on medication for years and I feel like I'm ready to come off. I've gone a whole year now without having to go to the hospital and I've had my medication reduced a few times and I'm feeling pretty good. I don't plan on being medicated my whole life.

So, back to my question at hand, are there any general rules or requirements that tell a psychiatrist that their patient is ready to come off their meds?

[A18793715]

I feel your pain. Jut talk to your doctor. You're an adult. You can refuse to take anything. I have hallucinations 24/7 365 days a year. My doctor has been working with me for 5 years now and we've both came to the conclusion that medicine is pointless once we went through the entire list. We are just waiting for a new antipsychotic to come out. She keeps me on my anxiety meds for panic disorder and antidepressants and deplin for depression. You have every right to refuse anything and every right to ask for something g.

[A18793715]

I'm 23, btw.

[Sometimes psychotic]

For my doc who was a psychosis specialist the rule was 6 months of no symptoms at all before you try to come off meds.

[A18793715]

That makes sense. It takes weeks for AP's to fully take effect and there's lots. Old class and the newer ones. Just the older class has a higher rate of side effects. Haldol is a popular old type.

Would 6 months of no symptoms mean like...
6 months of no symptoms at all, like, no voices, no whispers, no slightly delusional thoughts that aren't harmful,

Or 6 months of no dangerous symptoms?

I don't know if I'm making sense, it's hard for me to explain what I'm trying to say.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Kori Anders

Would 6 months of no symptoms mean like...
6 months of no symptoms at all, like, no voices, no whispers, no slightly delusional thoughts that aren't harmful,

Or 6 months of no dangerous symptoms?

I don't know if I'm making sense, it's hard for me to explain what I'm trying to say.

6 months of nothing at all---no voices no whispers no delusions etc

[Blue_Bird]

I haven't had any symptoms in about 6 months exactly, asked my pdoc a few weeks ago about getting off the antipsychotic and she got all snappy with me and said I'd end up back in the hospital. I'm not convinced, but anyway I think it's up to you ultimately. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it or something like that lol So, it would be good to consult your pdoc of course. If you were to come off meds, do it slowly and maybe at least continue therapy in case any symptoms were to return.

[A18793715]

That's because schizophrenia has no cure. Most people who stop taking their meds relapse and do in fact end up in the hospital.

With me, since none of them have any effect on me, I've come to accept it. Yes. There are really bad times but I think I've read so much on it, learned so many coping techniques and so on. I focus on music when things get bad. I'm starting singing lessons next month and I got a piano for Christmas. I normally sing my lungs out until I'm exhausted but I want to make my own. Then it'll be even more better because I'll be able to write down my thoughts and feelings and express them in my own music which would be a good escape and a way not to focus on everything wrong.