How do you feel about APs making you emotionally numb?

[konings]

Ive heard others describe this as something transient. For me when this happens it is emotionally painful and time goes extremely slowly. Ive figured that is because I simply need to be constantly thinking or doing something, but if APs have that effect then I am not interested in anything so thats why. Im just wondering how others compare to this?

 

I am just wondering because this is a side effect and for me its one of the very worst Ive ever had on any AP and Ive had it on all APs as long as the dose is high enough.

Edited April 30, 2013 by konings

[Parapluie]

I do not find that APs make me emotionally numb, and I am on the maximum dose of Abilify. In fact, Abilify brought me out of a depression that was making me numb and now, I can feel regular emotions again. 

 

Feeling numb would be an intolerable side effect for me. I'm sorry you deal with this. Have you spoken to your pdoc about feeling numb?

[notfred]

I don't find they do.

[jarn]

I have not had this issue - I have felt dulled on AAPs though, if that's what you mean.  It's what I like about Saphris, I feel awake.  I agree talking to your pdoc sounds like a good idea. 

[larkspur]

I don't find myself emotionally numb either. It's more like someone baby-proofed my brain, and blunted all the sharp and painful corners with little rubber endcaps. 

[bpladybug]

I feel a lot less emotional pain on an AAP.

It is wonderful, actually.

 

There is some numbing and I tolerate it for the beneficial aspects of the drug.

[mellifluous]

it's been a major factor in medicatino non compliance that i've felt less truly alive when taking them as prescribed.  i can't honestly say that that's actually due to medication creating anhedonia though.  that said, ust the idea of being numb...disturbs me more than enough to discontinue, despite that historically not working out well for me.

[melissaw72]

None that I have been on have made me feel emotionally numb.

[heavendj4]

That's how's antipsychotics work. You're off your face so they *bring us down* . Sometimes too far that it interferes with our ' normal ' emotions.

[Chaos]

I experienced numbing, dulling, apathy and deadness on a couple of AAP's - not on Abilify, but Abilify made me very agitated and hypomanic so isn't an option. For me, personally, it is something I cannot tolerate. But it was also something I only experienced when the dose was raised to what I believe was too high, and I think there is a balance to be struck between sufficiently controlling symptoms and negatively impacting the ability to feel alive. Definitely worth a chat with your pdoc.

[dtac]

My pdoc specifically wants to avoid numbness so he's cautious on how he prescribes. He's not afraid to use any drug as a tool to help, but he's reserved about upping dosing unless it's absolutely necessary. He's also of the "less is better" prescribing, so I'm moving down to 2 meds to see if that can work for me.

I've never had numbness, unless you count being a zombie on a few meds.

[spokety]

It could be the illness, that's what my doctors said.  Those are symptoms of schizophrenia, not being interested in anything.  I experience the same thing, but if it continues after a month then I know that it's the wrong medication for me.

[hagar]

I wish my AAP would numb my emotions. I usually find them to be overwhelming.

[Narshe81]

Worst feeling ever. I feel like a zombie. I never knew a human being could feel like this. I regret every single day that I was forced to take the neuroleptic.

 

Careful not to mistaken it as progression of your illness or whatever. For some reason many people out there tend to refuse that neuroleptic drugs can cause anhedonia despite all the evidence you can find.

 

 

My doctor swears up and down that Invega Sustenna doesn't cause anhedonia. I really find that hard to believe when I found so many other people who are experiencing the same symptoms on the same med.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Narshe81

[spokety]

You've been on it for 10 months feeling like that?

[spokety]

You were forced to take it? I don't understand

[Narshe81]

.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Narshe81

[spokety]

?

[Narshe81]

I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia last year and was mandated by the court to take Invega Sustenna. I took it for 10 months and my doctor stopped it three and a half months ago.

 

I am really screwed up from it. All the symptoms started a week or so after the first injection and just continued to get worse. Mainly anhedonia. Right now I haven't felt even a bit of improvement yet.

 

I've been living like this for over a year now...

Edited December 15, 2013 by Narshe81

[spokety]

Are you sure your misdiagnosed? How can you hold down a job like this, can you do anything all day? How do you even manage?

[Narshe81]

Are you sure your misdiagnosed? How can you hold down a job like this, can you do anything all day? How do you even manage?

 

Yes. I didn't come to the conclusion on my own. It was my psychiatrist who said I was misdiagnosed. He now thinks it's PTSD and a form of mood disorder. I cannot hold down a job. I lost my old job and have been on disability ever since. I am working part time to supplement my disability because it doesn't pay enough. I work 2 days a week, 4 hours each shift and even that is almost unbearable.

 

The truth is I cannot manage. I just have no choice. I have been like this for over a year now and every night I pray that when I wake up the next morning I would feel better. But that never comes.

 

It's a never ending nightmare for me. I curse the day that I was started on the Invega Sustenna program.

[Narshe81]

, 

Edited December 17, 2013 by Narshe81

[Polarsuds]

I get this, my doctor calls it emotional blunting and it is incredibly common. My moods and emotions are dead I find it hard to feel sadness, joy, excitement etc my moods are straight down the middle. Sometimes this is good but often I feel like I need a good cry and I can't, like when my father in law passed away. It's a trade off with being well and something I put up with.

[Dilli]

-

Edited October 18, 2015 by Dilli

[Er1s]

I most definately get blunted affect, for the most part I would say it is positive for me. It dulls my highs but flattening out the lows is what makes it worth it. I think I have cried enough for two lifetimes and dont miss it. Occasionally something strange like powerful music will trigger tears and then only for a brief moment and then its gone. For me the worst part is occasional complete anorgasmia and most of the time partial, the only thing that helps that is cannabis. I also take Bupropion but it doesnt help in that department.

Is it strange that I prefer to be a somewhat emotive robot rather than riding an emotional rollercoaster?

[hairymonkey13]

More the illness than an antipsychotic doing this

[San]

I've been on a fair selection of AP's from abilify to haldol to zyprexa, now I'm on an injection called piportil (voluntary, not CTO) and I've never been emotionally numb. 

I can tell if I'm emotionally numb, its generally the disorder. 

[melissaw72]

Are you sure it is the AP making you feel emotionally numb, as opposed to something that might have happened?

[CeremonyNewOrder]

I've had many side effects from APs but emotional numbness wasn't one of them. Emotional numbness comes from the depression.

[San]

I've had many side effects from APs but emotional numbness wasn't one of them. Emotional numbness comes from the depression.

 

Couldn't have said it better.

I haven't had emotional numbness, really, since before I had ECT. That's because I haven't had a true depressive episode since before ECT. And godddamn, they were bad. Anhedonia and numbness are hell.

[jt07]

I have taken 6 different antipsychotics to augment my other meds for depression. None of them have given me emotional blunting. Now SSRIs are a different story. SSRIs have blunted my emotions, made me apathetic, and have given me anhedonia. Still I take one because it is better than depression and anxiety. But antipsychotics, no, not any blunting. In fact, I experience more and better defined emotions on Abilify than on any other med I have taken. It actually offsets the blunting due to my SSRI.

[Er1s]

I could most definately be wrong about quetiapine being the cause but when I went off it for a while last year those symptoms disappeared and then came back once I resumed therapy. I am no stranger to getting some bizarre side effects, it could be coincidence but this is not the first time having my reported symptoms be dismissed as being just the illness. I understand correlation doesnt equal causation, perhaps it is the combination of what I take.

[Horizons]

The only emotion AAPs take away from me is the depth of depression that makes me want to die, an emotion which I don't miss in the slightest. As others have posted, the depression blunted me far more than drugs do. I don't feel at all "out of it" on my meds. I actually feel more alive and in touch with real reasonable emotions than I do without them.

[kateislate]

I have taken 6 different antipsychotics to augment my other meds for depression. None of them have given me emotional blunting. Now SSRIs are a different story. SSRIs have blunted my emotions, made me apathetic, and have given me anhedonia. Still I take one because it is better than depression and anxiety. But antipsychotics, no, not any blunting. In fact, I experience more and better defined emotions on Abilify than on any other med I have taken. It actually offsets the blunting due to my SSRI.

Exactly my experience.

[melissaw72]

 

I don't feel at all "out of it" on my meds. I actually feel more alive and in touch with real reasonable emotions than I do without them.

 

^THIS.

[San]

I feel great on my meds. I'm on an injection now (Piportil, not available in the US, similar to Prolixin, I believe, from what meli has told me) and I feel amazing. Not manic, not depressed, not psychotic. I'm doing more, I'm able to concentrate, my mind is clear. I'm sorry people have had bad experiences.

 

Schizophrenia has a lot of negative symptoms, and people sometimes confuse them with med side effects. I don't think antipsychotics are "evil" like a lot do, though. I think they're great. I've been on pretty much all of the atypicals, and a lot of the typicals, and never had emotional blunting.

 

I was pretty out of it when I was taking OTC cough syrup for my cold. What is up with that?!

[melissaw72]

 

I was pretty out of it when I was taking OTC cough syrup for my cold. What is up with that?!

 

Idk which ingredient in the cough syrup it is, but there is something in there that can have that effect.  Maybe DXM?  If you google DXM there are explanations about it.  Not saying you abused it, just saying it can have an out-of-it effect when using it.  Maybe you are sensitive to the ingredients in the cough syrup.

[jt07]

 

Schizophrenia has a lot of negative symptoms, and people sometimes confuse them with med side effects.

 

I think that people get them confused because people are usually introduced to antipsychotics when they are in a bad psychotic phase precisely coinciding with the onset of negative symptoms. I also think that some people feel that they blunt them when the APs bring them down from a manic episode thus quelling the intense emotions of mania. But I do think that antipsychotics do blunt some people. However, I think that unless one has refractory psychosis and respond to precisely one AP that also happens to blunt them, then I think that it is possible to find an AP that does not have this side effect.

 

This is of course just speculation on my part.

Edited February 9, 2014 by jt07

[San]

 

 

Schizophrenia has a lot of negative symptoms, and people sometimes confuse them with med side effects.

 

I think that people get them confused because people are usually introduced to antipsychotics when they are in a bad psychotic phase precisely coinciding with the onset of negative symptoms. I also think that some people feel that they blunt them when the APs bring them down from a manic episode thus quelling the intense emotions of mania. But I do think that antipsychotics do blunt some people. However, I think that unless one has refractory psychosis and respond to precisely one AP that also happens to blunt them, then I think that it is possible to find an AP that does not have this side effect.

 

This is of course just speculation on my part.

 

 

True. Sometimes people are put on high doses of meds when they're very psychotic or very manic to bring them down FAST, and take that as emotional blunting. This can be common. The dose is often lowered after stabilization, but sometimes people don't wait that long. I know I've had episodes where I've been kind of brought down by higher doses of medications, and it's been lowered once I've come back down, so I'm speaking from personal experience, and also the experience of others I know.

 

I, personally, haven't been blunted, and I've been on huge doses of various things. I've got an ex-med list a mile long, ugh. I'm thankful for that. I'm not saying it can't happen, I'm saying it probably doesn't happen as much as people say. 

 

Schizophrenia has a bitch of a list of negative symptoms, and they still happen on meds. Like how people with BP diagnoses, or schizoaffective, can still have manic and depressive episodes, on meds. So, it can be hard. Are you blunted from the meds, or the disease? Are you manic because of the meds, or the disease? Etc.

 

ETA: melissa: Just checked, the DXM I think. It was also a 'nighttime' formula. I wasn't abusing it (or I would have puked my brains out, if I take even a drop over the set dose of any cough syrup, I puke), but when taken with my cocktail it can hit stronger. Thanks though. The cold is mostly gone, and I haven't had any since yesterday. It's in my fridge, probably going to expire before I need it again. It was "Tylenol Complete". Amazing how OTC stuff can just smack you down like that.

Edited February 9, 2014 by thesystemisdown

[kateislate]

I think, to be honest, that a lot of the negative feelings about antipsychotics are because many are forced to take them when they're in the hospital or on a treatment order. It's a very different experience, I'm sure, to have a side effect you had no say in, than a side effect when you chose to take the risk, because you knew you needed help. I lost more than a year to SSRI-apathy, and Though I'm not happy about it now, I would feel exponentially worse about it if it had been forced on me.

On top of which antipsychotics are most used for the illnesses where insight is compromised, so it's kind of hard to accept a side effect to treat an illness where you can't tell how sick you are.

[mellifluous]

why is it so impossible for others to accept that someone might have an experience on antipsychotics that isn't identical to the their own?

 

I find the fact that this thread exists and as taken the turns it as, in light of this thread where people are concerned about being discredited on the basis of mental illness, vexing: http://www.crazyboards.org/forums/index.php/topic/67678-others-using-your-mental-illness-as-a-way-to-discredit-you-help/page-2#entry731513

 

isn't it common knowledge that side effects vary just as symptom presentation can? why the fuck is it not possible for us to accept that others have side effects we may not?

 

sitting around saying what someone's side effects really are...and how they're really the illness...so much for a first person site. that's BULLSHIT. maybe you can say IF IT WERE YOU...what the effects would be caused by. but speaking for others ...speaking for illness YOU DON"T HAVE=bullshit.

 

I do think there's something to the treatment orders factoring in, kate....though not quite the way you put it. though, yes...it is hard not to be angry. i'm angry

 

i'm FAR MORE angry at how there's all too often an attitude here that if someone is on CTO then they deserve it. that we deserve it. oh, sure....be outraged at the way the law treats mentally ill persons when they're not on CTO...be outraged at shootings and tasings and say the system is botched....oh,....but NOT when it comes to CTO. then we're penalized both by a faceless system that doesn't give a fuck and just wants to check a box on us and to have done their due diligence or whatever....but we're ALSO penalized by having to hear that our side effects are just the result of us not wanting to be on treatment order or that it MUST be something else as if we couldn't possibly be fucking telling the truth.

 

four legs good; two legs better is all i'm seeing here. your side effects are legitimately ascribed if they fall in line with what others experience. at least a few folks had the decency to say "I don't personally experience emotional blunting, but that's just me" without needing to speculate about what it "really is". I thought we weren't to diagnose each other here and yet how many have in this and other threads diagnosed narshe as symptomatic without listening TO HIM or letting his reporting of his experience be sufficient? and how many of you would be totally fine with having your side effects be poo poohed away as really just symptoms or really not what you're saying?

 

why don't we just head over to the side effects section and open season?  why is it ok to do to someone with this side effect...with this diagnosis...in this section? I agree that there's something different going on here and it's fucking bullshit.

Edited February 10, 2014 by mellifluous

[kateislate]

Mel, I'm sorry if my post upset you. I don't know how I came off, but I agree with almost everything you say. I do think that emotional blunting is a real - and serious - side effect. The reason I brought up CTO's is be caused I'm completely opposed to them, and I can't imagine what it must be like to have a bad side effect forced on you with no say. I think CTO's are a violation of mind and body, with no good evidence they even do any good.

I also agree that people were way too dismissive of Narshe - if I remember right, it was one of his threads which was just closed for no other reason than "we're a pro-med site" which made me bullshit - I have zero respect for whoever did that.

But I don't think it's entirely true that ppl are being treated totally different just because of a diagnosis. I know that if someone brought up apathy or anhedonia on an SSRI - someone would pipe up that those are also side effects of depression. That's what I was told way back when. And it's the truth - it's hard to tell what's what when you're taking a med. But yeah, the skepticism seems to be a lot worse when it comes to antipsychotics.

[confused]

I thought I responded to this before, but it must have been a similar topic.

 

I felt emotionally numb at one point.  I forget the term I used to describe it-nothing technical, just the way it felt. Oh I remember my moods felt flat-no highs or lows.  It was due to my med dosage and my pdoc lowered it and I felt more human.  So yes, I agree it can be a side-effect but it may be something that can be changed and not just tolerated.

[mellifluous]

Mel, I'm sorry if my post upset you. I don't know how I came off, but I agree with almost everything you say. I do think that emotional blunting is a real - and serious - side effect. The reason I brought up CTO's is be caused I'm completely opposed to them, and I can't imagine what it must be like to have a bad side effect forced on you with no say. I think CTO's are a violation of mind and body, with no good evidence they even do any good.

I also agree that people were way too dismissive of Narshe - if I remember right, it was one of his threads which was just closed for no other reason than "we're a pro-med site" which made me bullshit - I have zero respect for whoever did that.

But I don't think it's entirely true that ppl are being treated totally different just because of a diagnosis. I know that if someone brought up apathy or anhedonia on an SSRI - someone would pipe up that those are also side effects of depression. That's what I was told way back when. And it's the truth - it's hard to tell what's what when you're taking a med. But yeah, the skepticism seems to be a lot worse when it comes to antipsychotics.

 

thank you and kate, your post wasn't actually one that upset me a lot...but i see how mine came off that way.

 

i do think you have a point and apologies if i seemed to be launching that at you. it's really a larger force i see and not a single individual but i did cite the treatment order part and you and meant to say more like...yes, i do agree, kate, that there is a role ctos play...but not to say you were wrong exactly. sorry if that's not making sense right now as i did take night meds but also really wanted to let you know that i wasn't furious with you and i really really appreciate your posts and the contributions i've seen you make on this issue and on that one thread i started about treatment orders. x

 

 

 

EDIT: one other thing: i'm so sorry that happened to you when you reported having trouble with ssris.  that would be just as horrible and i don't want to make light of that and it sucks you weren't listened to...and it's quite gracious of you to note that there is difficulty and the levels of skepticism might be different. even if they are, that's no less deplorable to be invalidated, regardless of medication type or diagnosis. and bottom line...it's different to ask someone "is this possible?" and let that person's reporting of own experience stand...very different than it is to suggest and when the person says no just move to conclude "this is the case and person P just doesn't see what's really happening" and that's what i find far too much of. but no, not from you x

Edited February 11, 2014 by mellifluous

[San]

I'm not terribly fond of CTO's. If I were forced on a medication and not allowed off it and it had terrible side effects, I'd be more than fucking pissed off and unhappy. It's not right.

 

I've taken meds with horrible side effects, not necessarily psych meds, a few psych meds in my time, I've been doing this for 15 years, like Zoloft, which made me so violent towards myself I was literally throwing myself down the stairs, for example and, a non psych med, when I had the Mirena IUD it made me so batshit crazy, I had to beg to have that thing taken out, getting called a liar by my ob/gyn, that it "doesn't do that", ending up an involuntary inpatient, and having to get pdoc's to fight for me, too, to have the thing taken out of my uterus. 

 

I've had psych meds cause problems that doctor's haven't heard of, like diabetes insipidus, caused by lithium, which happens to 1/100,000 people, it's rare. I've been called a liar because I said my blood sugar was fine, because they heard "diabetes" and not known what "insipidus" was, that I had a kidney disease, not a pancreatic problem. Then they did unnecessary tests, to realize, oh shit, we should have looked that up. By doctor's, who should know better. 90% of doctor's asked my sugar level, while only a few knew it was kidney disease, and only one treated it. 

 

I gave my experience and opinion. The OP asked How we felt about AP's make us emotionally blunt. I said, in my case, they don't, and so did a few others.

 

There's been a huge, raging generalization around here lately that AP's and AAP's make you emotionally blunt, give you anhedonia, ruin your life, shrink your penis, etc with barely any evidence that it actually does any of that, except a few people that are glaringly anti-treatment and anti-psychiatry that want to get high on recreational drugs, while most of the members here have had success and no problems on many different cocktails of medications.

 

Does it happen? Yes. How often? Pretty rarely. If it happens? It's not permanent. My kidneys are fine now, from the damage done by lithium, it repaired itself over a year and a half, and that's a major side effect. People are insinuating that medications are causing brain damage, when in fact, mental illness does if it goes untreated long enough. Look it up. 

 

Yea, it sucks when you have side effects. Mental illness sucks. CTO's suck. I've had periods of anhedonia and numbness, but it wasn't from the meds. That's my answer. 

[mellifluous]

Right. And I said "some people had the decency to speak for selves, etc." you were one of those people. I wasn't excluding you from that. I wasn't attacking your posts and I'm sorry it came off that way as it wasn't my intention. I was raging yes legitimately, but not at you personally or any one individual specifically and I apologize to all for not having made that bit more clear

Edited February 12, 2014 by mellifluous

[San]

No apology needed meli. There's a time and place for apologies, here isn't one. I know you've been angry lately, fuck, I'd be too. i want to say I respect your opinion, and your posts. 

 

I wasn't just replying to you. I was venting a bit, as a member, not a mod. Often when I reply, 99% of the time, I'm replying as a member. I vent, too. You're allowed to vent, you know, and not apologize for it.

 

When I was dx'd when diabetes insipidus, I cried until I saw an endocrinologist, who gave me shit for not testing my blood sugar. Then he did, and realized he had the wrong type of diabetes. Then I was told a med that kept me stable for 5 years, I could never take again, for risk of permanent damage. I was so angry, and I've been on and off different meds for years

 

I've had some cognitive side effects from mood stabilizers. Like Topamax, sometimes jokingly called Dopamax (my friends neurologist LOVED it when I said that, at one of my friends appointments, he uses that name now because he knows of the dulling) but it mostly went away. I'll quickly sub in different words.

 

People need to be open with pdocs and not give up after one med. Honestly, I am a bit afraid of Invega Sustenna, that's why I went for Piportil, because I've taken it before. I saw a lot of bad reports on it, AAP's don't help me much either, and suggested Piportil, which is harder to get at pharmacies, to my doctor. I know people don't have the fortune of being able to do this. 

 

I don't envy those on a CTO, but I DO NOT think less of them. If I was in another country, I could easily be on one, myself. There are a lot of great minds on this forum, in this topic. I acknowledge peoples bad experience, but when i see "I couldn't get high after" and such, it bugs me.

 

I'm on a big combo, a different combo, and we ALL react differently. Something that worked for me, may not work for you, or something that hasn't worked for me, may work so well. Like abilify, at a low dose, and as it increased, I got terribly manic and got akathasia that was out of control. I consider it a horrible drug, but I see so many positive stories of people that it's helped. I don't make it my goal to spread how horrible it is, because its helped a lot of people. One truth for me may be a false for others.

 

I respect so many people here, and I couldn't care less if they're on a CTO or voluntarily taking medication. I wouldn't know if people were or weren't on treatment orders unless they told the forums, and it takes guts to say that! I say this as a member, I've been a member longer than a mod, anyways. 

 

Sometimes it takes years to find the right meds, or med combo. It's frustrating, and its sad when someone gives up after one med and then falls into mental illness. Misdiagnosis happens. Bad doctors happen, which sucks. A LOT. 

 

I really don't want to upset anyone, and I sincerely apologize if I did. 

[mellifluous]

right on x

i didn't read your post carefully, but i did fear that i'd been misunderstood at attacking so cheers for that.

 

you don't have to worry about the member moderator distinction. not with me at least.

i didn't apologize for that reason ; )

just more...i felt like what i'd said ...you know...if kate felt attacked or you...that's

 

i just want to set that straight as not my intention and i don't always communicate clearly, espeically when i'm agitated as all fuck out, which...thank fuck for extra zyprexa today...

 

yeah, so ...i can only imagine how it must be to be a member and a moderator but i really don't see you lording it about or whatever. i don't really think of you as

 

well, i divide my world into "robot" and "person", roughly. seriously. so you're all good with me x

Edited February 12, 2014 by mellifluous

[Chemical Lobodomy]

I no longer get any pleasure out of anything. How long will this feeling last after I stop taking the drug?

[confused]

I no longer get any pleasure out of anything. How long will this feeling last after I stop taking the drug?

 

Are you sure you aren't depressed?  This is really a question for your pdoc-maybe you can change dose, med, or maybe they will just take you off of it.  My pdoc reduced my dose of abilify and it is supposed to have more of an anti-depressant effect according to him.  I didn't feel the way you do about aap's though.  They gave me a sense of relief by decreasing my symptoms.

[iwishididnthaveanhedonia]

I no longer get any pleasure out of anything. How long will this feeling last after I stop taking the drug?

hey, im also having the same feelings, although I haven't stopped taking it (because my family wont let me). i am going down on it 1mg a month though so another 7 months of this misery.... and thats not even counting the time after you stopped taking it when the feelings still persist, so probably another year. from what i hear from other people it can take months before you regain feelings of pleasure. 

[spokety]

No apology needed meli. There's a time and place for apologies, here isn't one. I know you've been angry lately, fuck, I'd be too. i want to say I respect your opinion, and your posts.

I wasn't just replying to you. I was venting a bit, as a member, not a mod. Often when I reply, 99% of the time, I'm replying as a member. I vent, too. You're allowed to vent, you know, and not apologize for it.

When I was dx'd when diabetes insipidus, I cried until I saw an endocrinologist, who gave me shit for not testing my blood sugar. Then he did, and realized he had the wrong type of diabetes. Then I was told a med that kept me stable for 5 years, I could never take again, for risk of permanent damage. I was so angry, and I've been on and off different meds for years

I've had some cognitive side effects from mood stabilizers. Like Topamax, sometimes jokingly called Dopamax (my friends neurologist LOVED it when I said that, at one of my friends appointments, he uses that name now because he knows of the dulling) but it mostly went away. I'll quickly sub in different words.

People need to be open with pdocs and not give up after one med. Honestly, I am a bit afraid of Invega Sustenna, that's why I went for Piportil, because I've taken it before. I saw a lot of bad reports on it, AAP's don't help me much either, and suggested Piportil, which is harder to get at pharmacies, to my doctor. I know people don't have the fortune of being able to do this.

I don't envy those on a CTO, but I DO NOT think less of them. If I was in another country, I could easily be on one, myself. There are a lot of great minds on this forum, in this topic. I acknowledge peoples bad experience, but when i see "I couldn't get high after" and such, it bugs me.

I'm on a big combo, a different combo, and we ALL react differently. Something that worked for me, may not work for you, or something that hasn't worked for me, may work so well. Like abilify, at a low dose, and as it increased, I got terribly manic and got akathasia that was out of control. I consider it a horrible drug, but I see so many positive stories of people that it's helped. I don't make it my goal to spread how horrible it is, because its helped a lot of people. One truth for me may be a false for others.

I respect so many people here, and I couldn't care less if they're on a CTO or voluntarily taking medication. I wouldn't know if people were or weren't on treatment orders unless they told the forums, and it takes guts to say that! I say this as a member, I've been a member longer than a mod, anyways.

Sometimes it takes years to find the right meds, or med combo. It's frustrating, and its sad when someone gives up after one med and then falls into mental illness. Misdiagnosis happens. Bad doctors happen, which sucks. A LOT.

I really don't want to upset anyone, and I sincerely apologize if I did.

Hi can you explain what CTO is?

[spokety]

I no longer get any pleasure out of anything. How long will this feeling last after I stop taking the drug?

Are you schizophrenic? If so it would not be wise to get of meds friend.

[freezing_moon]

-

Edited October 23, 2022 by freezing_moon

[Schizophrenic_Sanity]

For me personally I don't think AP's or AAP's make me emotionally numb.  My loved ones have blamed the meds on it before, but for me personally it was negative symptoms and not my meds.  

Edited April 16, 2014 by Schizophrenic_Sanity

[mellifluous]

 

No apology needed meli. There's a time and place for apologies, here isn't one. I know you've been angry lately, fuck, I'd be too. i want to say I respect your opinion, and your posts.

I wasn't just replying to you. I was venting a bit, as a member, not a mod. Often when I reply, 99% of the time, I'm replying as a member. I vent, too. You're allowed to vent, you know, and not apologize for it.

When I was dx'd when diabetes insipidus, I cried until I saw an endocrinologist, who gave me shit for not testing my blood sugar. Then he did, and realized he had the wrong type of diabetes. Then I was told a med that kept me stable for 5 years, I could never take again, for risk of permanent damage. I was so angry, and I've been on and off different meds for years

I've had some cognitive side effects from mood stabilizers. Like Topamax, sometimes jokingly called Dopamax (my friends neurologist LOVED it when I said that, at one of my friends appointments, he uses that name now because he knows of the dulling) but it mostly went away. I'll quickly sub in different words.

People need to be open with pdocs and not give up after one med. Honestly, I am a bit afraid of Invega Sustenna, that's why I went for Piportil, because I've taken it before. I saw a lot of bad reports on it, AAP's don't help me much either, and suggested Piportil, which is harder to get at pharmacies, to my doctor. I know people don't have the fortune of being able to do this.

I don't envy those on a CTO, but I DO NOT think less of them. If I was in another country, I could easily be on one, myself. There are a lot of great minds on this forum, in this topic. I acknowledge peoples bad experience, but when i see "I couldn't get high after" and such, it bugs me.

I'm on a big combo, a different combo, and we ALL react differently. Something that worked for me, may not work for you, or something that hasn't worked for me, may work so well. Like abilify, at a low dose, and as it increased, I got terribly manic and got akathasia that was out of control. I consider it a horrible drug, but I see so many positive stories of people that it's helped. I don't make it my goal to spread how horrible it is, because its helped a lot of people. One truth for me may be a false for others.

I respect so many people here, and I couldn't care less if they're on a CTO or voluntarily taking medication. I wouldn't know if people were or weren't on treatment orders unless they told the forums, and it takes guts to say that! I say this as a member, I've been a member longer than a mod, anyways.

Sometimes it takes years to find the right meds, or med combo. It's frustrating, and its sad when someone gives up after one med and then falls into mental illness. Misdiagnosis happens. Bad doctors happen, which sucks. A LOT.

I really don't want to upset anyone, and I sincerely apologize if I did.

Hi can you explain what CTO is?

 

 

in the states it's assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) and in the UK it's community treatment orders (CTO) i haven't lived or been subjected to the legal mental health system elsewhere so i can't say apart from that. but it means that you live in your own or group residence, etc, but that you are REQUIRED, to take medication. if you don't there are consequences which are either inpatient commitment or jail, depending on your scene. and also depending on how crowded either happens to be.

 

i'm on one and currently it's only for antipsychotic depot injections (what're also called "parenteral neuroleptics", which sounds fucking condescending as fuck, but note, not "parental"...but the whole thing IS condescending as fuck still.). that gets taken care of at a clinic or hospital programmes, depending, but i've had times where people come to my house and watch me take oral medications twice a day. i think they can vary somewhat, is my point in noting the difference. most seem to be six months to a year and then renewals. i have found it not so easy to fight them.

 

that exhausts my personal experience with them, but if you wanted to, i'm sure you could google to learn more about the exact legal whatnot, because it makes me obviously furious to discuss and i'm in a decent mood and saw this awhile ago, but was in less of a good mood. hope that helps with your question.

Edited April 18, 2014 by mellifluous