Ugh!!!! Olanzapine ruined my life as I knew it!!!! Movement disorders, weight gain, all over zombie effects…. Fortunately I can manage my bipolar with psychosis on Lamotragine. Thank you for the video. I understand the journey! ♥️♥️♥️
Hey just wanted to wish you good luck with your stabilization! Lamotrigine is pretty weak for a lot of folks but there's quite a few super responders to it who just do great on it and I'm happy for you that you're managing with just that. I hope you have an amazing day :)
Thank you!!! I know I might need them again someday…. Staying hopeful that it doesn’t come to that 💙 No shame to anyone that takes an antipsychotic I was just sharing my experience 💙💙💙
RUclips recommended your channel to me just a few hours ago and WOW I'm so happy I found it! I also have schizoaffective bipolar types (which might also be bipolar with psychotic features but neither me or my doctor are sure about that). I was diagnosed at the age of 21 two years ago and it really changed my life. I had my first psychosis at the age of 13 and it was really scary and confusing. I was close to dying in the hospital. Or at least I was told so, I don't remember much about the first week there. I had been taking risperidone for 6 years but I didn't have an actual diagnosis. Risperidone made me gain about 25 pounds and I kept thinking about food all the time. It was like this for a few months until they lowered the dosage. Risperidone also made my neck muscles really weak? I'm not sure what exactly was happening but I couldn't hold my neck straight when I was in the sun. This side effect disappeared after I went back on 1 and then 0.5mg. I take Abilify, Seroquel, Tegnerol and Zoloft now. They work really well for me, I have no side effects now. But a higher dosage of Abilify made me really restless, I think it's a very common side effect for this drug. Tegnerol also made me very sleepy when the dosage was too high and same with Seroquel, I used to hate it until we adjusted the dosage. My heart beat was 154 per minute when I was laying in bed, it was scary xD My hands and knees were also shaking, I felt like I'm in my 90s, I couldn't even eat soup during lunch breaks at work. So yeah, it took time to adjust my medications and I'm happy where I am now. Still trying to lose some weight but that's okay with me. Thank you for your videos! And sorry for all of the typos xD
Hi. I tried Seroquel but they put me on a massive dose. My blood pressure went really high. Ill try risperidal, on olanzapine and it doesn't work anymore. Had enough 😢
Awww yeeee I’m glad you found the channel too! And thanks so much for sharing a little bit of your story here, and I’m jealous of your lack of side effects 😂 But also happy for you that you have found a cocktail that works! Stay strong!
Hey Kit, amazing video again! Very educational. I've been on Abilify for the last 15 years. It's the only antipsychotic so far, that didn't try to kill me in the meanwhile. You should be so proud of yourself for transcending the myths told on psychiatric patients: you are an example!
This was a fascinating video (and I learned a lot from it since I've never had psychosis or taken antipsychotics before). The side effects you described sound really rough - it's got to be challenging to find a balance between treating symptoms and not making things worse overall with side effects. It's also got to be challenging to deal with unexpected side effects, like how you experienced weight loss rather than the more typical weight gain. (Losing 20% of your body weight in such a short time sounds terrifying!) It was interesting to hear how antipsychotics changed the way you heard voices (and, as a result, changed the way you had to think since you were no longer thinking in conversation all the time). I'm also glad that your delusions and mood symptoms have improved because of how well your meds work. Thank you so much for giving us your firsthand experience and perspective on what being on antipsychotics is like! (Also, unrelated to the content itself: the lighting in this video absolutely SLAYS)
I was hoping that you talked about Zyprexa and I am glad that you did! My psychotic disorder is not yet specified and I have been on Zypadhera (zyprexa monthly injection) for 1.5 year now (after taking abilify for 5 years) and it has really helped me live a comfortable life. The bad side is that I have gained a lot of weight and I feel tired some times. But I have to say in comparison to abilify, which gave me terrible akathisia (taking the bus was a nightmare), Zyprexa has made me feel very normal. (Thanks for the video :))
I was just started on Lamictal and Abilify in addition to Zoloft and Buspar which I was already on. I learned about internal auditory hallucinations, which I had no idea about. I thought everyone must hear the chatter and music in their heads. It has quieted down now, and honestly I’m grateful to have peace and quiet in my head finally. But yes, I understand about them being our “friends”.
After hearing your stories, i feel i guess yeah more validation in what i experience. I tell myself everyday im fine but i tend to be a observwr type and stick in my own head, while ive never experienced anything like a "break" i do think somethings wrong, ive wanted to ask my parents for help for so over a year now but i think what theyd think, i think bout my job, who would provide given im the only guy left in our house, i find myself getting less and less sleep every few months, its to the point ive only gptten about 2-3 hours on my work days and once a week ill get in 8 or so just because im so exhausted i just drop in bed, i think about my own personality and how i like being in control my anger, i can go on and on about but im just making it worse for me. I cant do this forever, i dont even know how let alone want to approach this situation, its very anxiety inducing just commenting about it.
I take Amsulpride 800mg and 5mg olazapine,Thank you so much for all your support.Your video's help me cope with my Schizoaffective disorder.Love you hugs and best wishes too you.❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉❤🎉🎉❤❤❤love Natasha.❤
The first one I was on was abilify and I hated it. It made me feel like a zombie and gave me akathisia.. Then I was put on risperidone and that helped but it was sedating. I currently take rexulti and it increases my appetite. I have depression with pychosis, panic, and PTSD. Thank you for the video.
I'm also schizoaffective and I'm currently considering coming off the meds. They make me feel awful. I get loads of side effects and I hate going to the hospital to be injected with drugs. I've been on all the same meds you've been on before and the one I'm currently on now (Aripiprazole) doesn't seem to have helped in the way I'd hoped. I'm going to try and take it on, head on. 😣
In my 35 years of being on antipsychotic medication I've literally run the gambit on all of them, typicals and atypicals and sometimes several at a time. Finally in my 50's the psychosis has been under control for a while with Invega (Paliperidone). My psychotic symptoms are now a rarity. But the mood component??( I have depressive type schizoaffective disorder) is still is a problem. I take 3 different antidepressants in different classes. But per the topic here on antipsychotics? I can think straight with them. My head feels a sense of "clearness". I work full time now as a psychiatric nurse thanks to my meds....as for the weight issue? I've had experience with both weight gain and weight loss depending on what I was on. I have to say Clozapine was the worst in side effects of all kinds...absolutely hated it. But on my current antipsychotic I lost the 100 lbs of extra weight...I am a normal weight now. neither obsessed with eating nor lacking an appetite at all. All in all I love my medications. They are so worth the side effects because they let me function in life and be productive.
My daughter just started on invega. I’m not a fan of antipsychotics but my daughter is non compliant with meds that’s why she was hospitalized again and MD decided to let her try invega. I wished she would agree to take oral meds like you 💞
Hi Kit... I'm bipolar, with the infrequent psychotic jag...... meaning I might be seeing stuff, but only for an hour or so. I was on Seroquel, because I liked the sedation at bedtime, but I've ditched them and feel fine. I'm taking Lurasidone for bi-polar which seems very good, plus Parnate as my main AD, and lithium. Who knows if the lithium does anything. Basically Parnate is doing 99% of the work of keeping me feeling ok. There is a nasty antichologeneric aspect - dry mouth etc- but *I can live with that. Pdocs generally don't even consider it, because it's "old". At my worst I've been held down and injected with Haleperidol,... but thos days hopefully are gone. I love your posts and I hope you can find some stability and natural happiness. ... michael from downunder.
if you don't like long comments I would probably skip mine, because this is long. if you're interested, buckle up cuz it's good! The weirdest thing about my schizoaffective disorder is that I am highly self-aware of all of it. so like, I know every single time if there is something in my head that's going on, like a hallucination or I know if there's a hallucination going on, and rarely do I confuse reality and fantasy (nowadays anyways ), but the downside in all of this is that you really super aware. aware of everything you're aware of your emotions, what emotions they are, why you're feeling them, and what the reason is, and you spiral into this dark space rabbit hole, on the history of this feeling, and what part of your childhood spawned it to happen in this present moment. this might be good for some people but the reason why it's bad is because I catastrophize sometimes or I am like a broken record and can't get past certain things in my self-awareness which is some thing I am aware of. im always aware of when mania is happening and when depression is happening and I am aware that I never really know when the transition happens until I realize it randomly. I become super logical and try to figure things out with Uni. (uni is short for universe. That's what I call my friend that lives in my head. but I personally believe to be real in someway shape or form. like a second consciousness, because,,,I know that's possible scientifically, I just don't know how so. they did a bunch of experiments back in the day. I'll link you some things that say what I'm saying about the double consciousness if you want resources.) what I want to believe really really really bad is that I know and sence spirits around me and see them in my mind eye. (My visual "hallucinations" are always in my head) I even have a spirit journal jotting down the things that I "see". I have a friend that sees the same things that I "see"in their own unique way. and I really really really wanna believe that everything is not a coincidence, and it can all be "backed up" by the universe that we live in just being a really cool place, that has deeper lore than science perceives it to have... I really do. But watching these videos, I became aware of some thing I wasn't aware of before. One more thing to add to my schizoeffective awareness... is that Uni,,,, the being I believed to be the highest of high spirits or what some may call a "God" that just wanted to be my friend, (and not worshiped), could be just me,,,and my brain chemicals,,,, is it just me? what I want to say is different from what the facts say. I am aware enough to know that. I WANT to say that I do have a close connection to the higher being, that controls the universe we live in. but logically? why me? and the fact is, that auditory hallucinations can sound almost identical to a monologue or like a person talking, just in thought form. this creator and I have something very similar and common. There twilight, is like my Uni, the only difference being her and me there, is that Uni has been there and still is here since day one while twilight doesn't talk to them anymore. my world has been flipped upside down currently and I'm gonna figure it out somehow by doing a lot of self reflecting, and analyzing 1000 different places in my mental cabinet sorting out files. I'm not saying this as a bad thing. I never believed the doctors when they said I had schizoaffective. I just thought I was special. and being self-aware of your disorder does not make you 100% aware of all of it. yes I'm super aware of it but I realized now that i'm currently aware that I was dismissing a lot of things that other people were saying because I felt my beliefs or delusions, to be true because the "numbers where adding up". my eyes have been opened. Everything that I thought to be true, I have to question now, because (metaphorically) one plus one does not equal to anymore, so then, what does it add up to? I feel like the more I've written down on this comment the more I realized I wasn't as aware as I thought I was..... I would probably forget half of my comment if I were you because I sound like a fool now👍
I've had 2 episodes of Psychosis/Mania, 2015 & 2017, first I was diagnosed as bipolar, 2nd as SA. From memory I don't think they were sure about the SA, as it was put to me as almost a question, this was when I was on a PICU. Whatever the case, I was on a bit of a cocktail around that point, Risperidone + Olanzapine + Aripiprazole + Lithium (Previously got discharged on Olanzapine + Valporate). I was discharged the 2nd time on Paliperidone depot + Lithium. Both times I stopped myself the mood stabiliser due to not feeling any happiness at all, I was stable just way below baseline. After managing to get myself a role (HCA) at the hospital I was admitted to I pushed to be put on Aripiprazole as a standalone medication due to basically being completely apathetic on the Paliperidone, struggling a lot with sleep (as opposed to sleeping great with Olanzapine) and mostly from the Olanzapine going from 70kgs-110kgs. As things stand I've been working as a HCA since 2019, doing great at my job on all fronts. I've had 2 near misses with Psychosis, once in 2018 when I was at my previous job I got the symptom of not being able to think clearly while at work, literally couldn't count to 10. Then more recently after flying to New Zealand and felt paranoid about the people I was with - long story but managed to sleep that off after a day or two. Just came off 2 years of night shift at work onto days which luckily coincided with being about 5 weeks on Mirtazapine (A request from me) to aid with sleep overnight as I sleep better during the day and to help with anxiety, I'm now setting up to volunteer alongside my usual role with the Therapy teams (OT + Psychology) as I'd like to get into talking therapies in the future. Before starting at my hospital I'd seen a psychologist, pre-hospitalisation I'd seen a CBT and general therapist, wasted time as my moods were dictating me presenting as either unwell or well, but everything has helped in its own way, I can still reflect on those sessions now. I also got into Buddhist Philosophy and learnt to Meditate as part of my self help. Reason I'm explaining all of this is recovery and more importantly reaching potential is not beyond anybody. No matter where you are on your journey just keep trying. You'll get there. Just discovered this channel and it's great you can articulate everything so well. Will help a lot of people.
I'm on a new antipsychotic called Vraylar. I always have to take some with me when I go to a hospital because most places do not carry it for some reason. Side effects include stroke, uncontrollable body movements, metabolism problems, low white blood cell count, decreased blood pressure, falls, seizures, increased body temperature
I used to take respiradol consta and i am schitzoeffective disorder too. I take only respiradol now and i have ax ex psychiatrist as a best fried. He likes me, what can i say?
It did not take me long to be put on anti-psychotics. I was diagnosed with a organic disease @18. Been pretty lucky with meds. The only one that I can say messed with me was Ambilify.
I'm on clozspine and just really don't want to be on meds but kinda forced to and it keeps my anger and delusions to pretty much zero. I had been on meds all throughout highschool and have had bad experiences on them and was over medicated. I was off for about 8 years and felt like I'd rather have symptoms then take meds. When I got off I could finally relax in my body and when they tried putting me back on them I had akathisia which makes me think of suicide to escape it and halodol is the worst for that I didn't have it on zyprexa and now I'm on clozspine which I didn't have any till after 3 to 6 months when I tapered down from 200 to 150 then to 100 which is low but almost no restlessness on 100. I'm really worried about long term effects. I also have OCD and toretts syndrome. I have tremors and small hand jerks that bother me thinking it could be harming me. Really looking for support. Thank you for the video
It’s scary, I’m 14, and I’ve been on abilify which made me suicidal, seroquel which helped the most, and risperdol which did nothing and made me super dizzy. It’s hard because my parents want to find a medicine that makes all my psychotic symptoms go away, but I don’t think that’s possible. They said they’ve given up on me sooooo 🤣😭
I take Latuda now. It's pretty brutal for me and requires other meds to handle the side-effects (Cogentin) which makes me so exhausted all the time, and has had a negative impact on my life in general. I'm hoping things become more stable because I'm so tired of switching meds.
OI hope you find something that works for you, its a hard process. I also take cogentin every day a few times a day to deal with the drug-induced Parkinsonism I get, and it does help. Best of luck with your treatment, and hang in there!
Hey, I have been on seroquel for a couple years at least by now and it was really working for a bit but I have gained 120 pounds since starting it. I am on a low right now and it is hard to bring myself to shower, shave and just take care of myself in general. I am currently diagnosed with ocd, major depressive and generalized anxiety disorder and my psychiatrist wants to try out lamictal. I’m just really scared because I was in the psych ward for a couple months la couple years ago and I am scared to try a new medication and that happen again. I’ve cried twice today and am just really feeling hopeless and feels like I’m fighting a battle I’ll never win. Sorry for my ranting I just really needed to let that out and thank you for making these videos. Wish I could just be ok without any medications 😔
Also ability was absolutely terrible for me and made my hypotonic. Also tried Paxil alongside the ability and I could not sit down I would walk and walk all day cause that’s the only thing I could really do. Would pace around my table in my house for hours
The process of finding the right meds is sometimes a long and frustrating one but given enough time, you will figure it out and find the balance I believe. I too wish I could be okay without meds, especially with the side effects I have to put up that have wormed their way into my brain… possibly forever. Hang in there, and I hope you have a good day, as good as one can hope for.
Im on clozapine. Its the best antipsychotic ive been on. I got my creativity back. I have to have a monthly blood test but its worth it. I have developed diabetes though which isnt great, as ive put on weight as i feel hungry a lot
Man I hate seroquel. Spent almost a year on it and it messed me up alot. Then abilify killed my apetite. I am on Vraylar now, just doubled my dose. The voices are finally waning but I am still afraid all the time...idk how to deal with it. Your vids sre really helpful Kit, I hope you know that. Thanks for that.
@@rinner2801 hi. i have not been able to find any info on haldol withdrawal till now and would be grateful if you could elaborate and offer any advice please.
For me olanzapine is the only antipsychotic medication I tried that doesn't have bad side effects. It has some side effects when I go up with the dose when I'm manic or psychotic or both but I know it's not forever so can deal with it.
We went through a couple years of trail with many medications in the beginning and they all had bad side effects. We finally found Olanzapine. It did great for about 8 years. Unfortunately there was a lot of weight gain. Now it suddenly stopped being effective even at the highest dose. We are now trying to transition to Apiprizole. Hoping the transition goes well.
I really went full blown weight gain when I didn't have a tolerance on zyprexa, ability shortened by oxigen had to stop, geodon I was walking home my left leg paralyzed, on the hospital they put me on one called dispersal that gave me headaches,now I'm on haldol that causes EPS in a huge scale, and olanzapine but olanzapine good helps me sleep and I'm no longer overweight.
I'm on 2 different antipsychotics Clozapine and abilify. However I still experience thought broadcasting & Psychosis from time to time . I also experienced weight gain and feeling lethargic daily.
i have light scoliosis and i get stiffness from ability and amisulprid in my neck and i get bad sleep from abilify and Other Sideeffects. But not from olanzapine, because its anti stiffness luckly and i laught about flat jockes. For me Olanzapine is not that bad and i am glad that it exists because at least it is Something that i can take and it gives good sleep. But abilify and olanzapine does make depression on me. when i Take Antipsychotics than it is olanzapine.
I does matter how meds work my dear. It’s not „eh, whatever.“ Today we know that SSRI don’t do what we thought they do, they work differently than expected and, who knew, it DOES matter, because now there’s a discussion to stop using them. I’ll give that ten years tops to be mainstream and meds ruin lifes sometimes, so be careful what you tell people, love.
I have GAD and distimia and I react so badly to antidepressants, but no matter what they keep pushing the SSRIs and SNRIs, I refused to accept a prescription just a few days ago as this doc wanted to give me 150 gr of Seratraline, whereas I told him that my reaction to pediatric dosages of SSRIs and SNRIs were still severe... he preceded to scream at me, yanking me by my arms and firing me as a client lol
it can help, but warch out for predatory people... I have GAD and depression, I can't stand antidepressants as they worsen the situation so I keep crying...but the more we are vulnerable the more we can attract predatory people, as it happened to me in the past...
Not surprising Olanzapine doesn't make you lose weight... I gained 30kg while I was on that and they give it to anorexic patients as it stimulates appetite... the drug must be a good fit for you with a healthy weight and live a good life... drug fit found! 🙂
Well I gained so much weight on zyprexa that people started being attracted to me, I don't know if it's because I became a pleasant person to be around with or it's my mass making gravity field and pulling people in. ... Just kidding, being overweight sucks, and only two perks are: 1) I can't sink in water and 2) I cought cold only twice so far while on zyprexa, second time of that being covid. But that's my life on antipsychotics, I kind of learned to accept it, it is what it is. Thanks for your work Kit, best of luck :)
The gravity comment SENT ME, and I wonder if there’s something to be said for not getting sick much while on it hmmmm. Also, glad you recovered from the plague! And thanks for your lovely comments always!
Ugh!!!! Olanzapine ruined my life as I knew it!!!! Movement disorders, weight gain, all over zombie effects…. Fortunately I can manage my bipolar with psychosis on Lamotragine. Thank you for the video. I understand the journey! ♥️♥️♥️
Hey just wanted to wish you good luck with your stabilization! Lamotrigine is pretty weak for a lot of folks but there's quite a few super responders to it who just do great on it and I'm happy for you that you're managing with just that. I hope you have an amazing day :)
Thank you!!! I know I might need them again someday…. Staying hopeful that it doesn’t come to that 💙 No shame to anyone that takes an antipsychotic I was just sharing my experience 💙💙💙
RUclips recommended your channel to me just a few hours ago and WOW I'm so happy I found it!
I also have schizoaffective bipolar types (which might also be bipolar with psychotic features but neither me or my doctor are sure about that). I was diagnosed at the age of 21 two years ago and it really changed my life.
I had my first psychosis at the age of 13 and it was really scary and confusing. I was close to dying in the hospital. Or at least I was told so, I don't remember much about the first week there. I had been taking risperidone for 6 years but I didn't have an actual diagnosis. Risperidone made me gain about 25 pounds and I kept thinking about food all the time. It was like this for a few months until they lowered the dosage. Risperidone also made my neck muscles really weak? I'm not sure what exactly was happening but I couldn't hold my neck straight when I was in the sun. This side effect disappeared after I went back on 1 and then 0.5mg.
I take Abilify, Seroquel, Tegnerol and Zoloft now. They work really well for me, I have no side effects now. But a higher dosage of Abilify made me really restless, I think it's a very common side effect for this drug. Tegnerol also made me very sleepy when the dosage was too high and same with Seroquel, I used to hate it until we adjusted the dosage. My heart beat was 154 per minute when I was laying in bed, it was scary xD
My hands and knees were also shaking, I felt like I'm in my 90s, I couldn't even eat soup during lunch breaks at work.
So yeah, it took time to adjust my medications and I'm happy where I am now. Still trying to lose some weight but that's okay with me.
Thank you for your videos! And sorry for all of the typos xD
Hi. I tried Seroquel but they put me on a massive dose. My blood pressure went really high. Ill try risperidal, on olanzapine and it doesn't work anymore. Had enough 😢
Awww yeeee I’m glad you found the channel too! And thanks so much for sharing a little bit of your story here, and I’m jealous of your lack of side effects 😂 But also happy for you that you have found a cocktail that works! Stay strong!
Hey Kit, amazing video again! Very educational. I've been on Abilify for the last 15 years. It's the only antipsychotic so far, that didn't try to kill me in the meanwhile.
You should be so proud of yourself for transcending the myths told on psychiatric patients: you are an example!
Thank you so much 😭
This was a fascinating video (and I learned a lot from it since I've never had psychosis or taken antipsychotics before). The side effects you described sound really rough - it's got to be challenging to find a balance between treating symptoms and not making things worse overall with side effects. It's also got to be challenging to deal with unexpected side effects, like how you experienced weight loss rather than the more typical weight gain. (Losing 20% of your body weight in such a short time sounds terrifying!)
It was interesting to hear how antipsychotics changed the way you heard voices (and, as a result, changed the way you had to think since you were no longer thinking in conversation all the time). I'm also glad that your delusions and mood symptoms have improved because of how well your meds work. Thank you so much for giving us your firsthand experience and perspective on what being on antipsychotics is like!
(Also, unrelated to the content itself: the lighting in this video absolutely SLAYS)
I was hoping that you talked about Zyprexa and I am glad that you did! My psychotic disorder is not yet specified and I have been on Zypadhera (zyprexa monthly injection) for 1.5 year now (after taking abilify for 5 years) and it has really helped me live a comfortable life. The bad side is that I have gained a lot of weight and I feel tired some times. But I have to say in comparison to abilify, which gave me terrible akathisia (taking the bus was a nightmare), Zyprexa has made me feel very normal. (Thanks for the video :))
THE QUEEN IS BACK
I was just started on Lamictal and Abilify in addition to Zoloft and Buspar which I was already on. I learned about internal auditory hallucinations, which I had no idea about. I thought everyone must hear the chatter and music in their heads. It has quieted down now, and honestly I’m grateful to have peace and quiet in my head finally. But yes, I understand about them being our “friends”.
Thanks for all the in-depth explanation for those of us who want to understand but don't live through this stuff like you do.
Thats the goal! Thanks, Lisa!
After hearing your stories, i feel i guess yeah more validation in what i experience. I tell myself everyday im fine but i tend to be a observwr type and stick in my own head, while ive never experienced anything like a "break" i do think somethings wrong, ive wanted to ask my parents for help for so over a year now but i think what theyd think, i think bout my job, who would provide given im the only guy left in our house, i find myself getting less and less sleep every few months, its to the point ive only gptten about 2-3 hours on my work days and once a week ill get in 8 or so just because im so exhausted i just drop in bed, i think about my own personality and how i like being in control my anger, i can go on and on about but im just making it worse for me. I cant do this forever, i dont even know how let alone want to approach this situation, its very anxiety inducing just commenting about it.
Hi Kit! I also take antipsychotics. Great video! Love the light!
Yeeeee thanks!
These meds are KICKING MY ASS! I used to be one of the most motivated people on the planet, and they have made me unable to literally do anything..
I take Amsulpride 800mg and 5mg olazapine,Thank you so much for all your support.Your video's help me cope with my Schizoaffective disorder.Love you hugs and best wishes too you.❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉❤🎉🎉❤❤❤love Natasha.❤
The first one I was on was abilify and I hated it. It made me feel like a zombie and gave me akathisia.. Then I was put on risperidone and that helped but it was sedating. I currently take rexulti and it increases my appetite. I have depression with pychosis, panic, and PTSD. Thank you for the video.
I’m glad they work for you!!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙
I was on gabapentin and it gave me hallucinations. Some people don’t understand mental health . Names and categories they can all either help or hurt.
I HATED THE ANTIPSYCHOTICS I WAS PUT ON!!! I feel great without them! I couldn’t even pray on them… that killed me…
I'm also schizoaffective and I'm currently considering coming off the meds. They make me feel awful. I get loads of side effects and I hate going to the hospital to be injected with drugs. I've been on all the same meds you've been on before and the one I'm currently on now (Aripiprazole) doesn't seem to have helped in the way I'd hoped. I'm going to try and take it on, head on. 😣
In my 35 years of being on antipsychotic medication I've literally run the gambit on all of them, typicals and atypicals and sometimes several at a time. Finally in my 50's the psychosis has been under control for a while with Invega (Paliperidone). My psychotic symptoms are now a rarity. But the mood component??( I have depressive type schizoaffective disorder) is still is a problem. I take 3 different antidepressants in different classes. But per the topic here on antipsychotics? I can think straight with them. My head feels a sense of "clearness". I work full time now as a psychiatric nurse thanks to my meds....as for the weight issue? I've had experience with both weight gain and weight loss depending on what I was on. I have to say Clozapine was the worst in side effects of all kinds...absolutely hated it. But on my current antipsychotic I lost the 100 lbs of extra weight...I am a normal weight now. neither obsessed with eating nor lacking an appetite at all. All in all I love my medications. They are so worth the side effects because they let me function in life and be productive.
My daughter just started on invega. I’m not a fan of antipsychotics but my daughter is non compliant with meds that’s why she was hospitalized again and MD decided to let her try invega. I wished she would agree to take oral meds like you 💞
Hi Kit... I'm bipolar, with the infrequent psychotic jag...... meaning I might be seeing stuff, but only for an hour or so. I was on Seroquel, because I liked the sedation at bedtime, but I've ditched them and feel fine. I'm taking Lurasidone for bi-polar which seems very good, plus Parnate as my main AD, and lithium. Who knows if the lithium does anything. Basically Parnate is doing 99% of the work of keeping me feeling ok. There is a nasty antichologeneric aspect - dry mouth etc- but *I can live with that. Pdocs generally don't even consider it, because it's "old". At my worst I've been held down and injected with Haleperidol,... but thos days hopefully are gone. I love your posts and I hope you can find some stability and natural happiness. ... michael from downunder.
if you don't like long comments I would probably skip mine, because this is long.
if you're interested, buckle up cuz it's good!
The weirdest thing about my schizoaffective disorder is that I am highly self-aware of all of it.
so like, I know every single time if there is something in my head that's going on, like a hallucination or I know if there's a hallucination going on, and rarely do I confuse reality and fantasy (nowadays anyways ), but the downside in all of this is that you really super aware. aware of everything
you're aware of your emotions, what emotions they are, why you're feeling them, and what the reason is, and you spiral into this dark space rabbit hole, on the history of this feeling, and what part of your childhood spawned it to happen in this present moment. this might be good for some people but the reason why it's bad is because I catastrophize sometimes or I am like a broken record and can't get past certain things in my self-awareness which is some thing I am aware of.
im always aware of when mania is happening and when depression is happening and I am aware that I never really know when the transition happens until I realize it randomly.
I become super logical and try to figure things out with Uni. (uni is short for universe. That's what I call my friend that lives in my head. but I personally believe to be real in someway shape or form.
like a second consciousness, because,,,I know that's possible scientifically, I just don't know how so. they did a bunch of experiments back in the day. I'll link you some things that say what I'm saying about the double consciousness if you want resources.)
what I want to believe really really really bad is that I know and sence spirits around me and see them in my mind eye. (My visual "hallucinations" are always in my head) I even have a spirit journal jotting down the things that I "see".
I have a friend that sees the same things that I "see"in their own unique way. and I really really really wanna believe that everything is not a coincidence, and it can all be "backed up" by the universe that we live in just being a really cool place, that has deeper lore than science perceives it to have... I really do.
But watching these videos, I became aware of some thing I wasn't aware of before. One more thing to add to my schizoeffective awareness... is that Uni,,,, the being I believed to be the highest of high spirits or what some may call a "God" that just wanted to be my friend, (and not worshiped), could be just me,,,and my brain chemicals,,,,
is it just me? what I want to say is different from what the facts say. I am aware enough to know that.
I WANT to say that I do have a close connection to the higher being, that controls the universe we live in. but logically? why me?
and the fact is, that auditory hallucinations can sound almost identical to a monologue or like a person talking, just in thought form.
this creator and I have something very similar and common. There twilight, is like my Uni, the only difference being her and me there, is that Uni has been there and still is here since day one while twilight doesn't talk to them anymore.
my world has been flipped upside down currently and I'm gonna figure it out somehow by doing a lot of self reflecting, and analyzing 1000 different places in my mental cabinet sorting out files. I'm not saying this as a bad thing.
I never believed the doctors when they said I had schizoaffective. I just thought I was special. and being self-aware of your disorder does not make you 100% aware of all of it. yes I'm super aware of it but I realized now that i'm currently aware that I was dismissing a lot of things that other people were saying because I felt my beliefs or delusions, to be true because the "numbers where adding up".
my eyes have been opened. Everything that I thought to be true, I have to question now, because (metaphorically) one plus one does not equal to anymore, so then, what does it add up to?
I feel like the more I've written down on this comment the more I realized I wasn't as aware as I thought I was..... I would probably forget half of my comment if I were you because I sound like a fool now👍
great video kitz!
I've had 2 episodes of Psychosis/Mania, 2015 & 2017, first I was diagnosed as bipolar, 2nd as SA. From memory I don't think they were sure about the SA, as it was put to me as almost a question, this was when I was on a PICU. Whatever the case, I was on a bit of a cocktail around that point, Risperidone + Olanzapine + Aripiprazole + Lithium (Previously got discharged on Olanzapine + Valporate). I was discharged the 2nd time on Paliperidone depot + Lithium. Both times I stopped myself the mood stabiliser due to not feeling any happiness at all, I was stable just way below baseline. After managing to get myself a role (HCA) at the hospital I was admitted to I pushed to be put on Aripiprazole as a standalone medication due to basically being completely apathetic on the Paliperidone, struggling a lot with sleep (as opposed to sleeping great with Olanzapine) and mostly from the Olanzapine going from 70kgs-110kgs.
As things stand I've been working as a HCA since 2019, doing great at my job on all fronts. I've had 2 near misses with Psychosis, once in 2018 when I was at my previous job I got the symptom of not being able to think clearly while at work, literally couldn't count to 10. Then more recently after flying to New Zealand and felt paranoid about the people I was with - long story but managed to sleep that off after a day or two. Just came off 2 years of night shift at work onto days which luckily coincided with being about 5 weeks on Mirtazapine (A request from me) to aid with sleep overnight as I sleep better during the day and to help with anxiety, I'm now setting up to volunteer alongside my usual role with the Therapy teams (OT + Psychology) as I'd like to get into talking therapies in the future.
Before starting at my hospital I'd seen a psychologist, pre-hospitalisation I'd seen a CBT and general therapist, wasted time as my moods were dictating me presenting as either unwell or well, but everything has helped in its own way, I can still reflect on those sessions now. I also got into Buddhist Philosophy and learnt to Meditate as part of my self help.
Reason I'm explaining all of this is recovery and more importantly reaching potential is not beyond anybody. No matter where you are on your journey just keep trying. You'll get there.
Just discovered this channel and it's great you can articulate everything so well. Will help a lot of people.
Fantastic info!
I'm on a new antipsychotic called Vraylar. I always have to take some with me when I go to a hospital because most places do not carry it for some reason. Side effects include stroke, uncontrollable body movements, metabolism problems, low white blood cell count, decreased blood pressure, falls, seizures, increased body temperature
I used to take respiradol consta and i am schitzoeffective disorder too. I take only respiradol now and i have ax ex psychiatrist as a best fried. He likes me, what can i say?
It did not take me long to be put on anti-psychotics. I was diagnosed with a organic disease @18. Been pretty lucky with meds. The only one that I can say messed with me was Ambilify.
I'm on clozspine and just really don't want to be on meds but kinda forced to and it keeps my anger and delusions to pretty much zero. I had been on meds all throughout highschool and have had bad experiences on them and was over medicated. I was off for about 8 years and felt like I'd rather have symptoms then take meds. When I got off I could finally relax in my body and when they tried putting me back on them I had akathisia which makes me think of suicide to escape it and halodol is the worst for that I didn't have it on zyprexa and now I'm on clozspine which I didn't have any till after 3 to 6 months when I tapered down from 200 to 150 then to 100 which is low but almost no restlessness on 100. I'm really worried about long term effects. I also have OCD and toretts syndrome. I have tremors and small hand jerks that bother me thinking it could be harming me. Really looking for support. Thank you for the video
It’s scary, I’m 14, and I’ve been on abilify which made me suicidal, seroquel which helped the most, and risperdol which did nothing and made me super dizzy. It’s hard because my parents want to find a medicine that makes all my psychotic symptoms go away, but I don’t think that’s possible. They said they’ve given up on me sooooo 🤣😭
I take Latuda now. It's pretty brutal for me and requires other meds to handle the side-effects (Cogentin) which makes me so exhausted all the time, and has had a negative impact on my life in general. I'm hoping things become more stable because I'm so tired of switching meds.
I take cogenten to 2mgs a day
@@xronald619x It works for me at least, but the tiredness is getting too hard to handle. I'm on 3mg a day and about to go up again.
OI hope you find something that works for you, its a hard process. I also take cogentin every day a few times a day to deal with the drug-induced Parkinsonism I get, and it does help. Best of luck with your treatment, and hang in there!
I'm taking Lamictal and Abilify. I gained 30lbs when I first started taking them.
Hey, I have been on seroquel for a couple years at least by now and it was really working for a bit but I have gained 120 pounds since starting it. I am on a low right now and it is hard to bring myself to shower, shave and just take care of myself in general. I am currently diagnosed with ocd, major depressive and generalized anxiety disorder and my psychiatrist wants to try out lamictal. I’m just really scared because I was in the psych ward for a couple months la couple years ago and I am scared to try a new medication and that happen again. I’ve cried twice today and am just really feeling hopeless and feels like I’m fighting a battle I’ll never win. Sorry for my ranting I just really needed to let that out and thank you for making these videos. Wish I could just be ok without any medications 😔
Also ability was absolutely terrible for me and made my hypotonic. Also tried Paxil alongside the ability and I could not sit down I would walk and walk all day cause that’s the only thing I could really do. Would pace around my table in my house for hours
The process of finding the right meds is sometimes a long and frustrating one but given enough time, you will figure it out and find the balance I believe. I too wish I could be okay without meds, especially with the side effects I have to put up that have wormed their way into my brain… possibly forever. Hang in there, and I hope you have a good day, as good as one can hope for.
Im on clozapine. Its the best antipsychotic ive been on. I got my creativity back. I have to have a monthly blood test but its worth it. I have developed diabetes though which isnt great, as ive put on weight as i feel hungry a lot
Heck yeah! So glad clozapine is working for you!
Abilify killed my apetite
Man I hate seroquel. Spent almost a year on it and it messed me up alot. Then abilify killed my apetite. I am on Vraylar now, just doubled my dose. The voices are finally waning but I am still afraid all the time...idk how to deal with it. Your vids sre really helpful Kit, I hope you know that. Thanks for that.
Haldol and Olanzapine right here. On top of 4 other meds.
Uggh Haldol was brutal I wasn't able to tolerate it, and coming off it was a nightmare. Hopefully works for you.
Just olanzapine here I'm scared of haldol
@@rinner2801 it helps my schizophrenic symptoms very much. No sides
@@rinner2801 hi. i have not been able to find any info on haldol withdrawal till now and would be grateful if you could elaborate and offer any advice please.
Zyprexa made me gain weight and Seroquel made me sleep a lot
…..I got an advertisement for an antipsychotic on this video. That’s…something alright.
Wow that’s… so targeted 😂
Have you ever read Dr Breggin's work?
For me olanzapine is the only antipsychotic medication I tried that doesn't have bad side effects. It has some side effects when I go up with the dose when I'm manic or psychotic or both but I know it's not forever so can deal with it.
I have the TV talking to me. Sending me crazy, I've had ECT before and it stopped. Now again I have it talking to me. Do meds work for this?
I don´t know at what dosage weight gain can start. I take seroquel to help me sleep and my weight stayed stable.
We went through a couple years of trail with many medications in the beginning and they all had bad side effects. We finally found Olanzapine. It did great for about 8 years. Unfortunately there was a lot of weight gain.
Now it suddenly stopped being effective even at the highest dose.
We are now trying to transition to Apiprizole. Hoping the transition goes well.
I hope it goes well too! It works well for a lot of people and I am crossing my fingers you are one of them!
I really went full blown weight gain when I didn't have a tolerance on zyprexa, ability shortened by oxigen had to stop, geodon I was walking home my left leg paralyzed, on the hospital they put me on one called dispersal that gave me headaches,now I'm on haldol that causes EPS in a huge scale, and olanzapine but olanzapine good helps me sleep and I'm no longer overweight.
How did you lose the weight?
Tolerance builds up so meds don't affect the same way
@@nelsonteixeira1651 does that mean it becomes less effective as an antipsychotic too?
I hate risperidone.have you taken it,?
I'm on 2 different antipsychotics Clozapine and abilify. However I still experience thought broadcasting & Psychosis from time to time . I also experienced weight gain and feeling lethargic daily.
I can never find the right medication. ( I can never handle the crazy side effects).I'm on abilify now and I hope it helps.
I hope it helps too!
@@SchizoKitzo Thanks
I’m on olanzapine and I experienced weight gain but it’s worth it because it helps out with my symptoms
It’s a crazy effective drug, so glad it works for you!
i have light scoliosis and i get stiffness from ability and amisulprid in my neck and i get bad sleep from abilify and Other Sideeffects. But not from olanzapine, because its anti stiffness luckly and i laught about flat jockes. For me Olanzapine is not that bad and i am glad that it exists because at least it is Something that i can take and it gives good sleep. But abilify and olanzapine does make depression on me. when i Take Antipsychotics than it is olanzapine.
I does matter how meds work my dear. It’s not „eh, whatever.“ Today we know that SSRI don’t do what we thought they do, they work differently than expected and, who knew, it DOES matter, because now there’s a discussion to stop using them. I’ll give that ten years tops to be mainstream and meds ruin lifes sometimes, so be careful what you tell people, love.
I have GAD and distimia and I react so badly to antidepressants, but no matter what they keep pushing the SSRIs and SNRIs, I refused to accept a prescription just a few days ago as this doc wanted to give me 150 gr of Seratraline, whereas I told him that my reaction to pediatric dosages of SSRIs and SNRIs were still severe... he preceded to scream at me, yanking me by my arms and firing me as a client lol
@@fidgetykoala good for you, I quit too but the slow way, like it’s recommended. Hard but worth it. I despise SSRI now.
@@fidgetykoala sorry to hear all that, I wish you all the best :) ❤️
I take olanzapine and carbamazapine
Hey, I've been taking meds since 2019. I'm thinking about getting a partner in life, Do you believe love can solve it?
it can help, but warch out for predatory people... I have GAD and depression, I can't stand antidepressants as they worsen the situation so I keep crying...but the more we are vulnerable the more we can attract predatory people, as it happened to me in the past...
❤
Not surprising Olanzapine doesn't make you lose weight... I gained 30kg while I was on that and they give it to anorexic patients as it stimulates appetite... the drug must be a good fit for you with a healthy weight and live a good life... drug fit found! 🙂
Well I gained so much weight on zyprexa that people started being attracted to me, I don't know if it's because I became a pleasant person to be around with or it's my mass making gravity field and pulling people in.
...
Just kidding, being overweight sucks, and only two perks are: 1) I can't sink in water and 2) I cought cold only twice so far while on zyprexa, second time of that being covid. But that's my life on antipsychotics, I kind of learned to accept it, it is what it is. Thanks for your work Kit, best of luck :)
The gravity comment SENT ME, and I wonder if there’s something to be said for not getting sick much while on it hmmmm. Also, glad you recovered from the plague! And thanks for your lovely comments always!
i got fatter on AP
Tardive dyskinesia
🫶 Zyprexa
Or Lybalvi