AphexEther
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2021
- Messages
- 10
Greetings,
I wished to inquire about the experiences the community might have had with the long-term use of antipsychotic drugs and any resulting negative effects. Specifically ones involving involuntary movements. I would also like to share my experience with what, arguably, has been the class of drugs with the most negative impact on my life. I have read the rates for developing such effects are fairly common.
Long story short, I was prescribed Aripiprazole at the ripe young age of 12, and was on it for 8 years with an ever-increasing dose. I later switched to Olanzipine, which is when I noticed the first effects. I went on Ziprasidone some time later, and that is when the movement disorder sank its teeth. I am under as much treatment as possible at the moment, but I put this here as a warning. I am now diagnosed with Tardive Dystonia (a rare and severe form of Tardive Dyskenesia) and Functional Movement Disorder. These disorders are permanent, and while thankfully not degenerative, will never let go for the rest of my life.
Intensity fluctuates. The symptoms are as follows:
I wished to inquire about the experiences the community might have had with the long-term use of antipsychotic drugs and any resulting negative effects. Specifically ones involving involuntary movements. I would also like to share my experience with what, arguably, has been the class of drugs with the most negative impact on my life. I have read the rates for developing such effects are fairly common.
Long story short, I was prescribed Aripiprazole at the ripe young age of 12, and was on it for 8 years with an ever-increasing dose. I later switched to Olanzipine, which is when I noticed the first effects. I went on Ziprasidone some time later, and that is when the movement disorder sank its teeth. I am under as much treatment as possible at the moment, but I put this here as a warning. I am now diagnosed with Tardive Dystonia (a rare and severe form of Tardive Dyskenesia) and Functional Movement Disorder. These disorders are permanent, and while thankfully not degenerative, will never let go for the rest of my life.
Intensity fluctuates. The symptoms are as follows:
| Key: | All higher level symptoms are cumulative with those below them. Different episodes can vary in symptoms, and certain aspects can be dominant over others. |
| 0-3 (Mild) | Barely noticable to mild. While potentially uncomfortable at times, it does not significantly interfere with daily tasks. Twitches are mild to nonexistent, mind is close to clear, peripheral "electric" symtptoms are easy to ignore if there at all. |
| 4-6 (Moderate) | Moderate. Distracting, painful and persistent. Muscles are rigid, like tetanus, and will not leg go for days to weeks at a time. Twitches likely happen at some point. Mind is mud. Nerves zap, static snow in vision, buzzing in ears. Hard, though possible to go about day. Likely to sleep little and wake at 3-6am. |
| 7-9 (Severe) | Full-blown episode. Like sticking metal in an electrical outlet and holding on. Severe twitches on and off (neck snapping from side to side, trunk contortion, waving arm rapidly for many minutes, kicking, facial grimaces, locking muscles with tetanus-like rigidity, etc.) Serious nerve pain. Mind is wired but exhausted. Can't function, getting downstairs for water or such is a fight. Likely no sleep, and often sleep less than an hour if I get any. Brain physically feels like it's on fire. |
| 10 (Extreme) | COMPLETE disability. Thankfully rare, but one of the most painful experiences I have ever had. I have basically no control over any aspect of my body. Surges of electrical nevre pain wrack me and it is bad enough to make me want to scream. I lose the ability to speak, and often think and speak in loo-loo-loo-loo-loo-loop-ing-ing-ing-ing ba-ba-ba-ba-bables, which I cannot control nor stop. I wil be unable to walk, unable to sit up, unable to be still and this can last for many hours. I will hallucinate, and be unable to say my own name. From an extenal point of view it is firghtening, and those who do not know my condition are likely to call uneeded emergency care. The very worst of these trigger psychosis for their duration. This has only happened a dozen or so times. |
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