Antipsychotics and stimulants

[ToastedAlmonds]

Up until 2 weeks ago I was taking 2 different antipsychotics at moderately high dosages. I stopped them because I noticed it was basically negating the Dexedrine I'm also prescribed, making it basically have no effect. I thought the half life for the drugs was 48-100hrs and figured I'd see a difference in regard to the Dexedrine within that time span, but I've yet to notice any change. How long does it take for antipsychotics to completely leave the system? How long until I should notice a difference? Thanks!

 

[Rybee]

A drug is generally said to have fully left your system once it's completed 7 half life cycles.

I can't really comment on how long it should take for you to notice a difference.

 

[MrSpeedyG]

Curious to know why your prescribed both a stimulant and and anti-psycotic... unless its for sleep at night?

 

[sean107]

It's going to take at least a week for stimulants to do anything other than wake you up after you stop taking them, although depending how long you were prescribed and how high of a dose they might never work well again. I can't go into further detail right now because I'm too sleep deprived. I will say though that the doc put him on both of those meds despite interaction because most (all the ones I've met) doctors don't know about that drug interaction or hardly any others for that matter. I generally have to use BL to figure that stuff out.

 

[ToastedAlmonds]

I've been on adderall or dexedrine since off and on (mostly on though) for ~10 years. About 2 years ago, I started hearing voices- I think it was related to being prescribed high dosages of opiates... somewhere within that time frame (I don't remember- I was too high on fentanyl) my psychiatrist put me on abilify then I was switched to zyprexa and have gone through a few other similar antipsychotic meds before finally being put on both 20mg zyprexa and 20mg latuda this fall. I asked my psychiatrist if the dexedrine was negated by the antipsychotics but he told me there shouldn't be any interaction- however, after a lot of research I know that he's dead wrong.

The thought of the possibility that my dexedrine will never work properly again is really fucking scary and makes me a sad panda. I remember a few years back when 10mg dexedrine had me flying for hours even after taking it for years, but now I don't feel anything and have absolutely no energy. I'm desperate for the dexedrine to work again. Fucking antipsychotics should be banned.

 

[blight12]

Antipsychotics like Seroquel will definitely block and pretty much 99% negate any good effects from all SRI,DRI etc stimulants while they are in effect, ONLY, and usually not longer then that. There should not be any directly long term effect.

For example, I was on Seroquel for years and would take it the pervious night for sleep and know for a fact that the next day afternoon or evening it would no longer be in effect and stimulants would work perfectly and in full effect.

Why I imagine these two drug types would be perscribed together would perhaps be the antipsychotic in the evening or at night/overnight and the stimulant during the day. That would work very well. Used at the same time however would be utterly pointless and block the stim completely.

 

[pasha]

anti-psychotics don't always negate the effects of stimulants. at times they're co-prescribed to augment each other. of course, dose dependently, they may very well block the effects of the stimulant since it's an anti-dopaminergic and anti-adrenergic drugs. two catecholamine's which stimulants are highly dependent on.

the time it takes for an anti-psychotic to leave your system is dependent on which one(s) you're using. also, a drugs half-life and the time it remains active are not always correlated. diazepam has a 200 hour half-life, yet it stays active for a small fraction of that time period.

with olanzapine, it might block the effects of the dexedrine for a maximum of 24-36 hours in my experience. having said that, you have to ask yourself why you're on anti-psychotics in the first place. if it's to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia, then perhaps leaving them isn't the best idea. if it's for any other indication, then i agree with your sentiment that they're dangerous and destructive drugs and i advise you to have an honest discussion with your doctor on why your on them when they're extremely high risk drugs.

best of luck.