• The Dark Side 💕 Welcome Guest 💕
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads Urgent Hotlines
    Bereavement Mindfulness
    Suicide Support Anger Management
  • TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | paranoid android

Amphetamines with schizophrenia

A

AussieSWIMer

Bluelighter
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
78
Ok so I went through a bit of a traumatic event and had a psychotic episode as a result and they put me on Risperidone (anti-phsycotic) and because I smoke alot of weed they think I'm possibly skitzophrenic. So anyway I've been finding pharmaceutical amphetamines to be very helpful in making me clear, focused and more organized in some of my thinking, like everythings more on track rather than just floating around the place. They also help me get up and out of bed as well as make me more social. I'm not experiencing any abnormal thoughts or freakin out or anything. Is there any chance of me getting prescribed them or would they probably want to opt to just lower my dose of the anti-p? I have known of people to be on both an anti-phsycotics and amphetamine before and I reckon having the ability to boost yourself through the day then slow down at night would have it's benefits. I notice how lazy I normally am when on them and they would make my up coming studies so much easier I think, cause researching on the net's alot better. How should I go about explaining this to my doctor?


Thanks guys!
 
If you're diagnosed with schizophrenia, there's no way any sane doctor would prescribe you amphetamines (schizophrenics have high levels of dopamine, and amphetamines cause a large release of dopamine, which could worsen your schizophrenic symptoms). Talk to your doctor about lowering your dose of anti-psychotics if you feel that they're having too many adverse effects on your life.
 
Amphetamines + schizophrenia is like one of the biggest no-no's ever, for the exact reason that Sweet P outlined.

I understand that the anti-p's are making you demotivated but could you maybe try conventional methods of motivation like making sure you're organised for your studies, set yourself reminders for everything (and I mean everything, I have to do this as well otherwise I forget everything), and setting plans/timetables/checklists for yourself. This will hopefully make your upcoming studies (and everything else in general) easier, without having to resort to using meds.
 
I think this would get more responses in TDS so let's try it over there. TDS mods if you want to kick this back, feel free.


---> TDS

Also, please don't bump your own thread, OP.
 
While amphetamines are off-limit, there have been positive results with modafinil in lethargic patients with schizophrenia and problems with negative symptoms (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Negative_symptoms#Positive_and_negative_symptoms). You MIGHT be able to get a doctor to prescribe that, as it is generally well tolerated.

I feel your pain, I have schizotypal disorder with predominantly negative symptoms and the laziness and lack of concentration is just too much. No way in hell I'm going to get my psychiatrist to prescribe modafinil though, but you might have better luck :)
 
Sweet P said:
If you're diagnosed with schizophrenia, there's no way any sane doctor would prescribe you amphetamines (schizophrenics have high levels of dopamine, and amphetamines cause a large release of dopamine, which could worsen your schizophrenic symptoms). Talk to your doctor about lowering your dose of anti-psychotics if you feel that they're having too many adverse effects on your life.
Click to expand...

I have to firmly agree with this. Talk to your doctor about the amphetamine thing, but don't be surprised if he says absolutely no and explains why it would be a terrible idea. Your doctor knows more about this than I do. As for problems with side effects, that is another thing to talk to with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to adjust the dose or try you on something else if you are having issues with your meds.

I have met many a schizophrenic person in and out of my own mental health treatment, and whenever those people have gotten into drugs it turned into something very terrible. I knew one guy with schizophrenia who was a huge pot head. Nobody could convince him that it was a very bad idea for him to be using pot. He told us that he could see the ghost of his dead grandfather when he got high and that he would talk to his grandfather. He also said that pot gave him special powers; he said he could hear other people's thoughts. He had no idea how symptomatic he was or how crazy he sounded.
 
im diagnosed bipolar disorder along with borderline ADHD and theres no way i would get even methylphenidate i don't think. I certainly wouldnt think any doctor that isint a pill pusher would give me dextroamphetamine. Even though dextroamphetamine in normal doses doesent make me manic it does to alot of people.

I have been on risperidone, olanzapine and now seroquel for bipolar disorer. Ive been on it before but switched to risperidone for awile. This along with lamictal, clonazepam and bupropion.

So yeah giving amphetamines to anyone with any psychotic disorder is a big no no. Amphetamines boost dopamine and to a lesser extent serotonin which will make schizophrenia worse in alot of cases.
 
I've seen schizophrenics on meth, pretty much instant paranoid delusions. Amphetamines would be a very bad idea.
 
Dont, DONT do it...

Amphetamines are not only VERY addictive but would be a terrible idea for someone schizophrenic...

Seriously dont do it you'll regret it.
 
AussieSWIMer said:
Ok so I went through a bit of a traumatic event and had a psychotic episode as a result and they put me on Risperidone (anti-phsycotic) and because I smoke weed the think im schizophrenic.
Click to expand...

woah, care to elaborate, from what you said above, that sounds like ptsd, get several opinions! what do you mean because you smoke weed they think you are schizo?!?

i dont want to razzle you, but i was on risperdone for years at 4 mg. this is not anything to take lightly, being diagnosed worth a schizo disorder is a lot to take on in its self, and drugs like that are fucking serious.

please, from what you have said, go get more opinions, docs are skeptical about my diagnosis, but after 3 or more diagnosis, and the knowledge ive gathered about the disease, it apparent. but i dont take neuroleptics/D2 inhibitors/anti psychs any more because of adverse severe reactions, but instead take other meds that in a round about way cool down the disco from hell in my head...

maybe you are leaving something out, but man, go get more opinions, before that stuff is established in your system, this could be resolved with therapy, and a temporary prescription to help you sort things out.

there are many schizo types, and they have their own unique classic symptoms. it usually needs to be a chronic, way of life, not a delirious raging outburst brought on by an external traumatic situation.

please do, see a psychologist, & a different psychiatrist, maybe the psychiatrist first, to see what they think about your situation and this resolution.

my schizo effective crash landed when memories i had suppressed came back in an in patient treatment center. i went pretty fucking wild for months though.
:\
 
I'm on risperidone and my concentration is shot. Amphetamines are a bad idea because of how prevalent they make schizo episodes appear to you. Instead of remembering to slow down and think about something else when it seems like everything is acting in tandem, amphetamines make it feel good to feed that thought process. Then you have the crashes but the mental effects are still there. It'll make someone all twisted around.
 
marijuana has the corrective effect to that scenario, and the realization of other delusions, be it the way i perceived daily occurrences, or larger scale ones like; walking down stairs, stopping, remembering something that happened a few days ago, or today, was that just snip of a dream...

the cbn properties are in the works to cut out a anti psychs, and used in conjunction with another "lighter" mood stabilizer etc. most likely, along with therapy.
 
It's more complicated than amph boosts DA, SZs have already high DA, hence they can't take it. I know SZs that take wellbutrin for attention issues so there's that. It helps with energy levels, but it won't get you high. Quit amph while you can. Nicotine is a mini-amphetamine take advantage of it - chew nicorette all day iif you need to. The only way for amph *might* work for you is if you take it in the same spot every time and be sure as hell to isolate yourself from non-essential stimulation. Use it just for desk work. Even that might fuck up you prefrontal cortex. Also, no more than 10 mg/day. Seriously nicotine will help you with executive function - planning, focusing, calming, and it helps control SZ.
Don't fuck with your brain for short-term gains.
 
tell the truth and just ask the doctor its your only chance... mainly I say tell the truth because if your prone to scitz and you do get prescribed amphetamines your going to need them watching you to make sure you don't have a bad reaction you won't be able to trust your own reaction.

don't get your hopes up doctors won't prescribe something if there is a chance it will hurt you (not because they care) they just don't want to get sued once you mention Scitz your pretty much never getting anything good :P Kind like when say your a addict, its good to tell the truth and not all doctors punish you for it but some sure do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top