Coming off antipsychotics

[bellend123]

I was due my antipsychotic depot injection yesterday but I refused it cos I'm sick of being so fat, I've put on five stones thanks to various types of antipsychotics.

My diagnosis is paranoid schizophrenia but no-one close to me thinks that's right, I just had really bad OCD which led to psychosis.

I wonder if anybody has any experience of stopping antipsychotics and how it was? I notice some emotions (happy ones) coming back and I feel fine. I don't wanna get I'll again, at my worst I spent five months in hospital. Thanks

[AnxiousCarer]

My DH came off his last year (olanzapine) the psychiatrist weaned the dose down gradually over a couple of years prior to stopping. He had some nasty withdrawal symptoms for the first week mood swings in particular. He managed okfor 2 months and lost a lot of weight but then had another psychotic episode and is now back on a high dose and has put on weight again. To be fair though he wasn't looking after himself prior to getting ill so didn't give himself the best chance of staying well.

I've discussed it with one of the CPNs who said that some people can have a relapse and still eventually end up medication free.

Did you just have the 1 episode?

[bellend123]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I had just one episode which lasted for quite a while

[whatishistory]

I can understand why you would want to stop the AP, but doing it cold turkey can cause rebound psychosis (even in people who haven't been psychotic before). Do you have a psychiatrist who can help you taper the dose?
Ultimately, you have the right to choose, but there are better/safer ways of coming off medication.

[AnxiousCarer]

Did you ever have involvement from an early intervention in psychosis team? I think they are a relitavely new concept and work on teaching people ways to manage their mental health to reduce the risk of psychosis. This is who my DH sees. As you already have a diagnosis and it was a while ago you may not meet the criteria but if you have a CPN have they worked with you on long term management to reduce the risk of recurrance? From what I understand from the CPNs on DHs team some people are able to manage eventually without medication others need it long term to avoid recurrance. Do you have a good sjpport network who can let you or you CPN know if they are worried that you are starting to get poorly?

[bellend123]

Thank-you anxiouscarer. No I've not heard about the early intervention in psychosis team, it sounds good though. I hope it has helped you and your dh.

I saw my psychiatrist today and asked to be put on aripriprazole, which he agreed to so I've started that. My appetite seems to have gone down so hopefully that will help me lose weight