[costello]

The pdoc lowered him to a quarter of a 2.5 mg pill of olanzapine last month. Then they decided just to quit the medication altogether a couple of days ago.

His dose was so tiny, I wonder how much difference it was making. (I keep trying to hold onto Sometime's comparison to Dumbo's magic feather.) Still I'm scared. And my son said the pdoc is nervous. He (the pdoc) has never had a patient successfully go off an AP. My son wanted to try, though. He'll be 30 in March, and he had some goals he wanted to achieve before then.

Other than that, he's doing fairly well. His job is going well. I did see a change in him - not for the better IMO - when he dropped his dose last month, but that might have just been withdrawal and readjustment to the lower dose.

Anyway, I'm asking everyone to keep us in your thoughts and send any good vibes you have. Thanks.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Awesome.....you know what even if he has to go back on later it's not a huge deal although it is disappointing.....something in my brain healed in the time I was off I became the person I once was instead of what the illness made me. So I think a trial off is awesome even if it's not forever but in his case I truly hope it is forever..... Tell him good luck

[costello]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

Awesome.....you know what even if he has to go back on later it's not a huge deal although it is disappointing.....something in my brain healed in the time I was off I became the person I once was instead of what the illness made me. So I think a trial off is awesome even if it's not forever but in his case I truly hope it is forever..... Tell him good luck

Thanks, Sometimes. I'll tell him 'good luck' from you.

[newtus]

Tell him hes in my thoughts and good luck too

[costello]

Originally Posted by newtus

Tell him hes in my thoughts and good luck too

Thank you, newtus. I'll let him know.

[neil w]

Im sure your son wont notice any difference to what he was on. And it sounds like he is coping OK. it may not be a completely smooth run without them but life isnt smooth for most people without this illness either.

[costello]

I've forwarded your messages. He says thanks to everyone.

[Atypical_Disaster]

I'm sending my best wishes as well!

[Erti]

Good luck from Ohio! No more meds! That's awesome!

[junkDNA]

good luck costello's son!!!! i really hope things go well!!!

[costello]

I texted more messages to him. I think he's with a client now, so it'll be a while before I hear back.

[costello]

He says 'thanks' again.

[StarStrike]

Tell him I'm wishing him the best of luck.

[Angelique67]

Me as well, I think it's very brave of him to try going med free. I hope it will be a permanent success.

[seriouslydisturbed]

Hi, can i just ask how many episodes he's had and how long he's been on med's, thanks.

[costello]

Originally Posted by seriouslydisturbed

Hi, can i just ask how many episodes he's had and how long he's been on med's, thanks.

He had his first episode 9 years ago when he was 20. Since then he's had ... let's see .. wow! Isn't this sad? I'm having a hard time remembering. I would say three more? So, four total to the best of my memory.

The first resolved on its own after about two months. He refused medication or any other treatment at that time. Eventually his delusions disappeared. He's always been paranoid, so that probably remained. (He didn't have a good relationship at that time, so I don't know much about that period.) He found a job during the episode, had an apartment, bought a car, and seemed to be functioning well enough.

The second episode was about two and a half years later. I managed to get him into a hospital where he was put on an antipsychotic, and he was receiving housing and employment support through the mental health center.

The third episode was maybe a year and a half later. He received his disability money, moved out of the mental health center's housing, and immediately stopped his meds and started drinking heavily. That one ended when he was hospitalized 750 miles from home after a suicide attempt.

The fourth one was a year later, again after quitting his meds cold turkey.

How long has he been on meds? Let's see. I think it's been since February 2011. He came out of the hospital in March 2011 on a cripplingly high dose of olanzapine, 35 mg. His new pdoc began lowering that rapidly as soon as he was out. With a few bumps on the road, he ended at 2.5 mg. He stayed there for a while - a year, maybe?

I think less than a year ago, he decided he wanted to try going all the way off. His pdoc was willing to try, so he started slowly reducing the dose. Eventually he decided he wanted to stay with a tiny dose - a quarter of a 2.5 mg pill (.625 mg) - just to help him sleep.

Last month he decided he wanted to get rid of even that last bit. So his pdoc had him take his medication only on odd numbered days. Now he's not taking anything.

Knock wood and cross fingers he makes it.

[seriouslydisturbed]

Thank you for the reply, it gives me hope that i too can get off the medication because i am having a hard time being on it

[costello]

Originally Posted by seriouslydisturbed

Thank you for the reply, it gives me hope that i too can get off the medication because i am having a hard time being on it

I'm glad it was helpful. Yeah, he's not one of those people who had a six week episode then never had another and sailed through life after that. This has been an ongoing thing for his whole adult life with several episodes and hospitalizations and medications. And, frankly, he still has stuff come up. Paranoia, irritability, odd thinking, etc. I think it's why he's such a great peer support model. He's had a tough road, and he's still actively working on issues. I think clients can truly identify with him.

I hope my son succeeds off the meds, but that's by no means proven yet. What he has proved is that he can definitely do fine on a very small dose. He's less than a week into the no meds thing. I've seen many people do fine for months after going off meds before they relapse. So we'll be keeping an eye on things.

Maybe you'd do ok on a low dose too?

[seriouslydisturbed]

I've already beaten this illness once and I didn't have any problems at all and never thought anything of it. I was on a really low dose as I was put on the medication before the age of 18, after 2 years of being on it I just decided to see if i could go without and i was well for 4 and a half years. Then I made a BIG mistake and smoked half a cannabis joint one night and from there I went down hill and found myself in hospital within 2 months.

Since then I've had 3 further episodes, i've been on meds now for 6 and a half months. My psychiatrist said i can start reducing my dose once i have been on for 2 years, it gives me confidence to hear of someone getting by on such low doses and even getting to the point of trying with non at all as I have been very negative about getting off mainly due to one of my psychiatrists telling me such bad odds of being able to go without medication.

Keep up the good work it can be done my Dads friend has had quite a few episodes and currently he dosen't take meds, he slowly reduced just like your son.

I'm so pleased for him! And I hope things continue going well for him Costello

*Willow*

Hey Costello! I'm so excited for your son. I'm definitely sending good vibes his way.

Nice to see you around again.

[costello]

Thanks, Willow and Sunshine.

[SmileHere]

Good luck to your son!

I've been tapering off for a while too, and hope to get to no meds as well! Already below the '10mg Abilify is the lowest working dose for psychosis/schizophrenia' for a month and so far so good, knock on wood!

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by SmileHere

Good luck to your son!

I've been tapering off for a while too, and hope to get to no meds as well! Already below the '10mg Abilify is the lowest working dose for psychosis/schizophrenia' for a month and so far so good, knock on wood!

Awesome!

[costello]

Originally Posted by SmileHere

Good luck to your son!

I've been tapering off for a while too, and hope to get to no meds as well! Already below the '10mg Abilify is the lowest working dose for psychosis/schizophrenia' for a month and so far so good, knock on wood!

Good luck, SmileHere. I hope you and my son both make it.