Mental Health Anti-psychotics for schizo-affective disorder/repressed memories.

Boku_

Bluelighter
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Nov 4, 2008
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Melbourne AU
I was wondering if there is anyone on bluelight or has been on anti-psychotics medication for 30 or 40 years plus. I've been on them for 14 years and i find it doesn't matter what i do, drink smoke meth drink caffeine if my meds work i work. But i find every 7 years or so i have a mini breakdown and have to go to hospital to come off my old meds which have stopped working and start a new anti psychotic. Now having to go to hospital every 7 years doesn't bother me but my question is can you run out of antipsychotic meds to take? Also do you think they will ever make an anti psychotic that doesn't have weight gain as a major side affect? or is that simply impossible
 
Now having to go to hospital every 7 years doesn't bother me but my question is can you run out of antipsychotic meds to take? Also do you think they will ever make an anti psychotic that doesn't have weight gain as a major side affect? or is that simply impossible

To answer your first question, it is entirely plausible that one could "run out" of antipsychotic medications to take. This is mostly down to the fact that not every medication will work for every individual. It varies a lot from person to person. In fact, as you may well know, there are individuals who are medication-resistant for which few, if any antipsychotics make a difference. It's almost impossible to tell whether you will "run out" without first trying all the different medications, for which there are thankfully many. If you've not had too much problem in finding new medications in the past though, I wouldn't worry yourself to much.

Also bear in mind that new antipsychotics are popping up relatively regularly. This will therefore give more options should you find yourself running out of options for an effective medication. This year alone, there have been two new APs approved, in the US at least: Rexulti (brexpiprazole) & Vrylar (Cariprazine).

As for antipsychotics that don't cause weight gain, there are already some that are taunted as "weight neutral"... to name a couple: Aripiprazole & Geodon. However, that doesn't mean that you can't gain weight on them, there are still people who will. It's just less likely to be a major problem.
 
Hey Boku_,

I think it's important to keep in mind that using recreational drugs, especially smoking meth, will make it more likely for you to have to be hospitalized, even years down the line. Commitment to recovery involves the understanding that using drugs can only set you back.

Also, the medication works as a grounding factor. It allows talk therapy to work, which will help you fine-tune your perspective so that you can be as happy and successful as possible!

As I remember, there are about fifteen antipsychotics on the market today, probably closer to twenty. And of course there are more in trials. I won't say that everyone will have a neuroleptic that works for them for the rest of their life, but I don't see you running out of options in the future.

I'd encourage you to invest some time and energy to think about what may be causing you to have to go to the hospital every seven years. Maybe it's completely natural. I don't know. But I think it's worth some time to brainstorm if there's a specific factor at play. I guess one thought would be if you end up in the hospital during or immediately following drug use.
 
Seven years without a relapse is amazing! Well done, you!

I don't have this problem with antipsychotics (yet, at least) but when I've been on SSRIs and SNRIs, I've had them regularly "poop out" on me after four or five years. It means a couple of months of symptoms as I come off one and go onto another.
 
I've actually had two spells of 7 years without being hospitalized. The last time my meds "poop out" me i had symptoms for about 3 weeks. That was in June this year now i'm all good
 
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