Mental Health Anti-psychotics and use in treatment of (possible) brain damage

[alt 14]

What if someone was prescribed risperdal or some other anti-psychotic for psychiatric conditions after chronic use of neurotoxic drugs, like say a couple/few grams of mephedrone a day on average for a year straight? With a diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia.. With notes that the symptoms could be drug related... After the symptoms subsided, what would be proper protocol? I mean, if it was brain damage, and the symptoms stopped, would continued medication be required, or could the patient come off the anti-psychotic until and unless the symptoms returned? Thanks.

Basically just wondering if its even worth investigating if mephedrone has done this to me or if I'm a simple schizophrenic. If medication would be required anyway, the answer would obviously be no.

 

[cashmunny]

A lot of schizophrenics can do ok for a while without medication. But then something happens, maybe a stressful life event, and it will trigger a relapse. And a relapse can really mess up your life. A close relative of mine had to be committed for a month by a judge in order to get help during a psychotic episode. Once someone becomes psychotic they lose all perspective and think people are out to get them so it's very difficult for them to get help voluntarily.

So coming off medication is a real crap shoot for someone who has had psychotic episodes in the past because once you stop taking meds your mental state may deteriorate so slowly that you may not have insight into the condition that you are in. I think having a really good support system in place is crucial whatever you decide to do. As is not using any more recreational drugs.

 

[missmeyet?]

Are you asking that once the symptoms stopped you should come off the meds? Umm..don't you think the reason the symptoms stopped was because you are on the meds. If its working why would you stop? That would cause the symptoms to come back....

 

[Fotze]

Quite often Psychiatrists prescribe these due to the symptoms. Depending on where the doctor was educated, he may have an older philosophy on prescribing. That would mean any symptoms of schizophrenia (whether drug related or not) are treated with anti-psychotic meds. Not really the answer in all cases. It's really a 'suck it and see' type approach, where the best is hoped for.

Good luck

 

[missmeyet?]

Symptoms of psychosis, whether from organic disease or as a result of drug use can be treated with drugs made to treat psychosis, hence, anti psychotics. Of course different ones work for different people.

So for Fotze, your answer makes no sense.

 

[alt 14]

Umm yeah I suppose the drugs very well could be the reason I don't hear voices anymore, but say it was brain damage and not schizophrenia. And that it was more neuroplasticity than the medicine stopping the voices. If my question was unclear. Anyway I'll just ask my doctor because I'm not going to be satisfied with an answer not coming from him or some other medical source. Thanks anyway.

 

[paranoid android]

Anti-psychotics won't repair brain damage but they can stop the symptoms from excessive use of drugs like mephedrone, amphetamines, cocaine, etc. Basically they just treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder anyway they don't cure it.

 

[cashmunny]

Keep in mind that if you do have schizophrenia and go off of your meds you may never get a second chance to go back on them. All those homeless people you see babbling and ranting in the downtown areas of major urban centers are probably schizophrenics who went off their meds. Now they are too far gone for anyone to convince them they need treatment. Be careful.

 

[missmeyet?]

Anti-psychotics won't repair brain damage but they can stop the symptoms from excessive use of drugs like mephedrone, amphetamines, cocaine, etc. Basically they just treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder anyway they don't cure it.

Exactly. I think that may be what the OP is not understanding. Its not like antibiotics, you take them for awhile and they heal whatever the problem is.

OP, yes you definitely should talk to your doc before you stop any medications regimen. I have been a nurse for a very long time but I would not presume to give advice such as stopping meds. You should ALWAYS talk to your doc and not rely on things you read on the internet. If you felt that way then I'm not sure why you asked.

 

[alt 14]

No, I understand that it treats symptoms.. I'm not stupid. This has to do with whether or not the voices would've gone away on their own. The brain is pretty durable and good at handling brain damage. The fact is I don't, and no one here, or my doctor, know if that would've been the case. If I'm on medicine that made the symptoms go away, fine, I would obviously stay (or get back on) the meds.

My doctor knows I've used over a quarter-half a pound of mephedrone in a relatively short amount of time, and he also told me if its brain damage and its all sorted thanks to time ( neuroplasticity), I may no longer need them. Luckily I have a supportive family and they've seen the side effects (tooth enamel gone due to vomiting, 1.5lb weight gain very week, etc) and I think they would urge me to seek help if problems were to manifest after coming off the drugs. This would of course confirm schizophrenia. And they've had me committed 3 times (well technically the doctors) and I imagine they would again if I was unaware of my symptoms. Thanks for the guesses though. Thought I'd give a little update


Now will I come off my meds, idk, well see if geodon does good first. If I don't have severe side effects, it'd be a pointless risk to take, like you guys were getting at.

 

[missmeyet?]

I apologize, in no way was I trying to imply that you were stupid. I also understand what you are saying a little better now. Makes sense to me and if you are better without the meds then you certainly are better off not taking them. Since you also have a support system in place that will be able to observe and take care of any issues I would go for it.