While I agree that meds can usually be a temporary solution, I don't think the best therapist in the world can resolve someone's delusions in a few hours or days. They will have to chip away not only at the current symptoms but what is causing the symptoms in the first place. If someone is really deep into their delusions, it could takes weeks or months to build enough trust with a therapist just to open up and share their problems with them. I'm not saying it's a lost cause, just that it isn't always as cut an dry as sitting in a chair for a few sessions and bam, delusions cured!
Like I said, I agree that meds as a temporary intervention is ideal but I honestly think you are exaggerating a bit here. Not ALL meds cause the side effects you listed and most will not cause the entire list. While the side effects of SOME meds will change a person, not all of the side effects listed are guaranteed to occur.
When I first experienced psychosis, they hit me with Seroquel aka Quetiapine. The only major side effect I got was lethargy; it made me tired all day. I complained about this to my doctor and he took me off it. But apparently for the short amount of time I was on it, it worked.
It sounds like you might be projecting the Invega experience with all other psych meds and antipsychotics. While Invega, Risperdal, and Abilify injections are the worst drugs one can be prescribed, there are others that are not as harsh.
@stardust10 Thank you for being there to support your friend. Having allies is crucial for the recovery of individuals experiencing these ailments. Being alone and feeling outcast seems to exacerbate things whether they realize it at the time or not.
Yes, your friend needs to try to have a say in her own treatment plan although this can be difficult if she doesn't have much insight. Also, as has been mentioned here and in other threads, long acting injectable medications like Invega or Risperdal or Abilify do greatly increase the risk of activating one, some, or even all of the side effects listed above. If your friend *must* be prescribed something in order to make a clean exit from the hospital, meds in pill form (other than Invega) are the best way to go. I've taken Risperdal pills and they were nothing like Risperdal injections. I've been on Abilify pills for like 15 years and have had relatively zero side effects. Of course, these are all subjective experiences because each person reacts differently to each medication. But I think we can ALL agree that the injectable forms are indeed the worst.
If she wants to spend the least amount of time there possible, she needs to unfortunately play by their rules doing things like attending group therapy and any classes they offer, eating all her meals, showering regularly, and generally not being a nuisance to the nurses, staff, and other patients. Deviating from these simple actions could potentially create a situation where they keep her for weeks or months as well as placing her on court order where she is forcefully given meds, usually in the form of injections that have already been mentioned here.
All of these things I speak of are from personal experience. I've been the one refusing meds, not eating, not showering, and not doing anything to demonstrate I wanted to "get better". I've been ordered by a court to remain locked up for several months and during that time was forcefully injected, which gave me many of those side effects and it did change me. I've also been inside psych wards and took the pills, ate the food, showered at least once over couple of days, and attended group and classes and they kept me there no longer than a week. Most of this occurred some 18-20 years ago but yeah, sometimes playing by their rules is the only way out.
) she also said I stole all her belongings. I really wish I could help in some way. Today I'm gonna try and get in touch with her support workers and ask wtf they are doing etc. I was angry for a second just had to recover from the week when she was here as it was heavy going not gonna lie but I really do care about her and I don't understand why her care team aren't fucking helping her!!
