Medication for psychosis

[Foresight]

Has anyone had any success with medication for psychosis? I'm scared of medicine and I'm wondering what has worked for others. Psychosis as in hearing voices, being confused by what's reality, perception being altered, paranoia about things coming to get you, things like that.

I think I'm developing a psychotic disorder. I don't know whether it's schizotypal or schizophrenia. I don't know much about it because it was categorized as something that will never happen to me in my mind. I think it will be the death of me if I don't treat.

 

[Despondent]

I can't say that I've ever been in a psychosis but at one point, mental health professionals thought that I was in one. I exhibited symptoms -- not the actual illness. I'm really sorry that you're experiencing this love, it sounds and is very scary. When the doctor and nurse thought I was in psychosis, I was on Latuda.

I've been on a few antipsychotics. Loxapine helped a lot with those symptoms that I had (paranoia, inability to sleep, disconnection from reality). I've also used Haldol, and Serequel.

 

[Foresight]

Thank you. So loxapine was helpful? I like that its been on the market for a long time.

I'm going to take a shower and cry. I don't understand what's going on. I know I'm having a bad episode. It will pass. I need to treat this though. I am scared. I have work in an hour. I worked all day yesterday while hearing demonic voices in my head.

 

[noname223]

I will reply later. I want to help. But I currently have no time sorry.

 

[Foresight]

I will reply later. I want to help. But I currently have no time sorry.

It's okay, thank you. There's plenty of time because it's been months of this on and off.

This is really bad. I'll see if the shower helps.

The shower helped ground me. I was floating off to somewhere awful in my mind.

The human mind can be such a blessing but also such a nightmare.

 

[BigG91]

Has anyone had any success with medication for psychosis? I'm scared of medicine and I'm wondering what has worked for others. Psychosis as in hearing voices, being confused by what's reality, perception being altered, paranoia about things coming to get you, things like that.

I think I'm developing a psychotic disorder. I don't know whether it's schizotypal or schizophrenia. I don't know much about it because it was categorized as something that will never happen to me in my mind. I think it will be the death of me if I don't treat.

I've had psychosis multiple times and have been hospitalized and given anti-psychotics for many months even after getting back to normal.

If you are able to function and work you probably don't have psychosis but may have some symptoms... Later you may become Psychotic and you'll have full blown psychosis.

What do you wanna know ?

 

[noname223]

Okay I have a lot of knowledge about antipsychotics. I myself was on several of them and I know a lot of people who take different of them.
I won't go in all detail I would rather prefer that in private chat.
Moreover I am not a professional. I can make mistakes. The best option is to talk openly with a professional about antipsychotics.

Okay now my experience. I tried to live without antipsychotics twice. It made me realize my brain is absolutely dependent on them. If I don't take them I go literally insane. I become psychotic. If I don't take them I am incredible vulnerable and also very very very mild stress can trigger psychotic symptoms. It is for me impossible to stay sane without them.
Most people who ever had a psychosis need antipsychotics for the rest of their lives in my experience. There are very few people who can live without them. These people mostly had drug induced psychosis but they have not become schizophrenic. (But there is absolutely no guarantee for that rule. It probably depends on the individual case and I would strongly advice to talk with your professional about this before stop taking them.)

If the drugs caused schizophrenia also these drug users have to take antipsychotics. These people also need to stay away from drugs (especially psychoactive drugs like weed). It is probably in most cases dangerous to stop taking antipsychotics. The reason is your brain adapts to them. If you want to stop taking them this should happen only very very slow. Though I know many people who followed this rule and still got another psychosis.

There are many different antipsychotics. I tried myriads of them unitl I found one with which I can live. Antipsychotics often have many nasty side effects. Though the other option would be probably becoming more and more insane and being psychotic most time of your life. In my case my psychosis also caused unbelievable depression with extreme psychosomatic pain. Yeah I do a lot in order not to experience this again. I think most people cannot really imagine such an unbelievable psychosomatic pain until they experience it.

There is a tricky and deceiving effect when you stop antipsychotics. It is called the honeymoon effect. When you reduce antipsychotics or just stop taking them. Many will feel better. I also experienced this. My mood increased (or rather I became slightly manic.) But this is unbelievable dangerous. The honeymoon effect makes you think the reduction of the antipsychotic would be helpful. But the truth is it is a warning signal that you become psychotic again. This happened to me when I stopped the antipsychotics for the first time. I really felt better and I had no more side effects. But this feeling was absolutely deceiving. In reality this was the beginning of my second psychosis. Really these were the first warning signs and Ignored them. No I even welcomed them. Always be very careful when you stop/reduce antipsychotics. It is really dangerous. Frequent appoinments where you speak openly about the development with your psychiatrist would be really helpful.

I know a lot of different antipsychotics. We can talk about that in private chat. Often but not always they increase weight.

 

[GentleJerk]

I'm sorry, I haven't been on any sort of medication for something like that, so I can't give you specific advice.

But here's something that I feel you should know, whether or not it will help you, I can't say, but I feel it's worth mentioning.

I developed some heavy paranoia after being under surveillance a few years ago, for crimes that friends of mine committed. I was being watched and followed nearly everywhere I went, I couldn't even go out and have a drink with friends without noticing I was being bloody stalked.

I began to ruminate about it constantly, and it severely negatively affected my everyday life and mental health.

For an unrelated reason (being vegetarian) I decided to try taking a supplement called Acetyl L-Carnitine. I noticed when I started taking this supplement, my paranoia and overactive thoughts improved a lot. I would be able to go outside and travel without immediately being on edge and looking around for prying eyes. And when I noticed them anyway, I was much more centered and unaffected by it. The thoughts didn't wind up and escalate as much.

Fascinated, I looked into why, and found that Acetyl L-Carnitine supports healthy levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. I don't know if my problems were caused by vegetarianism or stress from being spooked, or both, but this explains why it helped support normal brain function and healthier mood for me at that time.

To give you an idea of what the implications of that are, there's drugs in nightshade plants such as datura and some travel sickness medications, that are 'anti-cholinergenic', which means they stop the production of acetylcholine in the brain. This is a big reason why hallucinations, bizzare thoughts, and odd behaviour occur in people who ingest belladonna, brugmansia, jimson weed, or too many Travacalm tablets (scopolamine).

This simple supplement basically does the reverse of what these madness-inducing deliriants do.

I don't know if this will be much help, but you can find it in health food shops and it's probaby worth a try, even as a complementary treatment. It's mainly marketed for fat-burning and exercise.

 

[whatevs]

Thank you. So loxapine was helpful? I like that its been on the market for a long time.

I'm going to take a shower and cry. I don't understand what's going on. I know I'm having a bad episode. It will pass. I need to treat this though. I am scared. I have work in an hour. I worked all day yesterday while hearing demonic voices in my head.

That is horrible, you really should prioritize getting treatment for that. I hate shrinks but if I was on that spot I would get pills as soon as possible. From what I gathered reading online they do work for psychosis, even though not so much for depression or social anxiety in my case.

I'm sorry, I haven't been on any sort of medication for something like that, so I can't give you specific advice.

But here's something that I feel you should know, whether or not it will help you, I can't say, but I feel it's worth mentioning.

I developed some heavy paranoia after being under surveillance a few years ago, for crimes that friends of mine committed. I was being watched and followed nearly everywhere I went, I couldn't even go out and have a drink with friends without noticing I was being bloody stalked.

I began to ruminate about it constantly, and it severely negatively affected my everyday life and mental health.

For an unrelated reason (being vegetarian) I decided to try taking a supplement called Acetyl L-Carnitine. I noticed when I started taking this supplement, my paranoia and overactive thoughts improved a lot. I would be able to go outside and travel without immediately being on edge and looking around for prying eyes. And when I noticed them anyway, I was much more centered and unaffected by it. The thoughts didn't wind up and escalate as much.

Fascinated, I looked into why, and found that Acetyl L-Carnitine supports healthy levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. I don't know if my problems were caused by vegetarianism or stress from being spooked, or both, but this explains why it helped support normal brain function and healthier mood for me at that time.

To give you an idea of what the implications of that are, there's drugs in nightshade plants such as datura and some travel sickness medications, that are 'anti-cholinergenic', which means they stop the production of acetylcholine in the brain. This is a big reason why hallucinations, bizzare thoughts, and odd behaviour occur in people who ingest belladonna, brugmansia, jimson weed, or too many Travacalm tablets (scopolamine).

This simple supplement basically does the reverse of what these madness-inducing deliriants do.

I don't know if this will be much help, but you can find it in health food shops and it's probaby worth a try, even as a complementary treatment. It's mainly marketed for fat-burning and exercise.

Quite interesting! During my years-long supplement craze phase I took ALCAR as well and I did amazing on my exams. I really felt some cognitive improvement with it, I believe. I don't remember it lessening my social paranoia, perhaps it did.

 

[noaccount]

I hope you find something that works for you, the Hearing Voices Network (USA chapters) is also an excellent source of non-judgemental peer-to-peer support among other people who've 'been there.' <3

 

[Gordy99]

I am on risperdal and klonopin for a little over two years now. I do not hear voices or hallucinate but I was extremely hypervigilant. The hypervigilance caused a lot of problems for me because of the situation I'm in. It felt maddening. I went to the hospital two years ago to get quick access to a psychiatrist and medicine. Where I live there is an extremely long wait to see a psychiatrist unless you go to the hospital and state your case. Anyway, the doctors at the hospital diagnosed me with unspecified psychosis.

The paranoia I used to have and hypervigilance went away after I started the medication. Medication isn't always the answer but it sounds like it might help with your current situation. If there is a long wait time to see a psychiatrist where you live then I strongly suggest going to the hospital. I hope you feel better.

 

[Foresight]

It's just taken over me. Second time this year. I'm partly in and partly out. More out than in. Thank you for the suggestions. I'll need to read them over when I can think better.

When I'm really raw and honest with myself I think I lost my battle but I tried really really hard. I'm ready to make peace with that. My mind is tired, I've been through too much.

 

[noname223]

It's just taken over me. Second time this year. I'm partly in and partly out. More out than in. Thank you for the suggestions. I'll need to read them over when I can think better.

When I'm really raw and honest with myself I think I lost my battle but I tried really really hard. I'm ready to make peace with that. My mind is tired, I've been through too much.

Maybe it is not already too late. I don't know if I annoy you with that. But antipsychotics could prevent the worst case scenario. In my experience psychosis barely can be prevented without antipsychotics. Just sensory deprivation was not enough for me. A therapist of mine who was specialised on psychosis and antipsychotics also had this opinion. "Natural treatment methods" like taking a walk or trying to rest is often not sufficient for preventing a psychosis.
When I was on the edge of a psychosis I had emergency appoinments with him. I think this could also help. If you are too scared about antipsychotics you could also take benzos (for example lorazepam) or Z sleeping medication (like zopiclone) . I mean this would be still way better than getting a psychosis. For me these things have helped.

I don't know whether you have a psychiatrist. But if you don't have one I think you could make an appoinment with your general doctor. Maybe when you describe him the situation he can prescribe you these medication.

Psychosis without antipsychotic medication is often a chronical condition. If people with psychosis don't take longterm this medication many relapses are likely. This doctor who was specialised on psychosis told me especially the people who don't take antipsychotics have a high risk for suicide.

I hope you can get help just in time. It is important that you can sleep now. A healthy sleep is important for preventing a psychosis. Though I don't know your particular symptoms. The medication which I mentioned above has helped me to get an healthy amount of sleep when I was on the edge of a psychosis.

 

[Foresight]

Maybe it is not already too late. I don't know if I annoy you with that. But antipsychotics could prevent the worst case scenario. In my experience psychosis barely can be prevented without antipsychotics. Just sensory deprivation was not enough for me. A therapist of mine who was specialised on psychosis and antipsychotics also had this opinion. "Natural treatment methods" like taking a walk or trying to rest is often not sufficient for preventing a psychosis.
When I was on the edge of a psychosis I had emergency appoinments with him. I think this could also help. If you are too scared about antipsychotics you could also take benzos (for example lorazepam) or Z sleeping medication (like zopiclone) . I mean this would be still way better than getting a psychosis. For me these things have helped.

I don't know whether you have a psychiatrist. But if you don't have one I think you could make an appoinment with your general doctor. Maybe when you describe him the situation he can prescribe you these medication.

Psychosis without antipsychotic medication is often a chronical condition. If people with psychosis don't take longterm this medication many relapses are likely. This doctor who was specialised on psychosis told me especially the people who don't take antipsychotics have a high risk for suicide.

I hope you can get help just in time. It is important that you can sleep now. A healthy sleep is important for preventing a psychosis. Though I don't know your particular symptoms. The medication which I mentioned above has helped me to get an healthy amount of sleep when I was on the edge of a psychosis.

You never annoy me. I appreciate any advice sent my way.

I cried all night and have been sleeping badly. I know that's making it worse. Doctors in the States barely give out benzos nowadays. I can't find a single one who will give me klonopin even though it always helped. They are just against it now. I guess it's understandable.

I'm going to make an appointment next week and discuss what's happening. I'm kind of embarrassed? I feel shame about it for some reason. That on top of my fear of people and my fear of medication injury is just making it all difficult.

I don't know. I think overall my case is closed. I didn't mean to be all over the place from recovery to the end but I always was suffering from very hard circumstances. This just kind of puts nail in my coffin. I think the human mind can only endure so much.

 

[noname223]

You never annoy me. I appreciate any advice sent my way.

I cried all night and have been sleeping badly. I know that's making it worse. Doctors in the States barely give out benzos nowadays. I can't find a single one who will give me klonopin even though it always helped. They are just against it now. I guess it's understandable.

I'm going to make an appointment next week and discuss what's happening. I'm kind of embarrassed? I feel shame about it for some reason. That on top of my fear of people and my fear of medication injury is just making it all difficult.

I don't know. I think overall my case is closed. I didn't mean to be all over the place from recovery to the end but I always was suffering from very hard circumstances. This just kind of puts nail in my coffin. I think the human mind can only endure so much.

Also in my country it is hard to get benzos from psychiatrists. But I have found a very good one who trusts in me she is more liberal with them. This was really good because they can be very effective when they are used shortterm.

Maybe you can ask for a Z-medication. It is a very strong sleeping pill. But it can also be addictive. But hell a new psychosis is worse than that.

Crying all night is not a good sign. This is a clear warning sign. An appoinment as soon as possible is important. The faster you can get the right medication the better. Maybe it is not too late.

For many Quetiapine is very helpful. It is also called Seroquel. I know many who don't have nasty side effects with it. I also took it for a time period. It can be very very good for treating sleeping problems. I can really recommend it for that.

I don't know if you have ever tried Abilify. I have heard good of it. Also not much side effects.

Maybe you could also consider Amisulpride or Ziprasidone (the latter has often no weight gain.) I can really recommend it.

All of these are antipsychotics. But I am not a professional take my advices always with a grain of salt.

You absolutely don't need to feel ashamed. The smartest choice is clearly in your position now an appoinment to get the right treatment. The consequences of not acting now would be way worse in the future. You are a great person you don't deserve such an horrible way to live/ or die.

 

[Foresight]

I search for random signs from the universe because I'm insane and believe in angels and demons and this set me off:




My recovery, brought to you by Walmart™ and my hallucinatory angels My head is gone.

 

[houseofleaves]

At some point I've been taking Paliperidone (Invega), it was… weird, i wasn't really stable on that one. Than i was prescribed Olanzapine, this one was cool, it made me stop caring about anything and live a chill life :) but the weight gain…….

 

[Gordy99]

That description of olanzapine sounds so nice. I'm going to look into all these medicines and talk to someone soon. I'll probably gain weight because I did on seroquel. I'm already chubby.

I spoke to my demon and it told me I sold my soul to the wrong side as a teenager. I asked it if christ hates me and it said "deeper than I even know."

It's kind of rushing me out the door. It wants me to throw all my belongings out and self harm. I haven't self harmed in over a decade.

It talks over me in my head and yanks at my body. Is this schizophrenia? How am I supppse to tell another human being this is happening? I hope I don't get involuntarily committed. I have too much trauma already for that bullshit. My mind is racing.
It wants me to self harm badly. I'm going to find a suicide helpline. My mind is racing. I'm so alone.
It's asking me to sleep forever. I can't die today. It's my mom's birthday. I'm going to order SN and see if that quiets it for a little while.

Such a strange progression. I went from normal one day, a little anxious the next, full blown voices the next, to drowning in psychosis. Insanity is what it is. So bizarre and overwhelming. I'm going to gather supplies for suicide and see if it lets me keep my stuff if I do that.

I don't like labels and I am not sure if you are experiencing schizophrenia. There is no shame in asking for help. I was embarrassed because of my situation but my older brother forced me to go to the hospital. After hearing about my situation they involuntarily committed me and gave me medication after doing blood tests. Looking back on things...I am glad I went to the hospital. I needed help even though the experience wasn't fun.

Also, I'm in the states as well and my psychiatrist prescribes me klonopin. I'm not sure why your doctor will not. I have been on klonopin for over two years and it helps a lot. The effect of it went down over time but it still works well enough for me.

 

[Foresight]

I wish I could go to the hospital but I can't because I'm disfigured, and people hate disfigured people including doctors. They think i should die too. If I go to the hospital everyone will gasp and mock me and treat me like I should have just stayed home and killed myself. People treat me like I'm already a corpse.

My life is so awful. I wish I could delete this thread I'm ruining the recovery section. I'm the darkest person who exists on earth. I almost want to apologize to humanity that I exist.

I think you're all so kind. I hope you all have the best night possible because you're kind and full of light.

 

[noname223]

I wish I could go to the hospital but I can't because I'm disfigured, and people hate disfigured people including doctors. They think i should die too. If I go to the hospital everyone will gasp and mock me and treat me like I should have just stayed home and killed myself. People treat me like I'm already a corpse.

My life is so awful. I wish I could delete this thread I'm ruining the recovery section. I'm the darkest person who exists on earth. I almost want to apologize to humanity that I exist.

I think you're all so kind. I hope you all have the best night possible because you're kind and full of light.

I am sorry you are struggling this much.
I don't think the doctors want that you die. Maybe this the fear of people which you have described?
Have you ever been to a (mental health) hosptial? Have you made negative experiences?

My experience was that many there are more concerned with their own struggle. Many think more about the own pain instead of what is wrong with other people. And if other people still judge you they are not worth your sorrows.
I have been to many clinics. I opened up and showed a lot if vulnerability. I ususally did not receive any negative feedback. And if I had an argument with someone which was very rare we just ignored each other. The therapists always try to settle arguments very fast.

You don't need to apologize for existing. You are a wonderful person and I think many would miss you here.

 

[Gordy99]

Talkspace offers psychiatry services where you video chat. I'm not sure if you need a therapist first and then they refer you. This might be an option for you but could be expensive since they don't take many insurance plans. Keep in mind though that talkspace is not allowed to prescribe controlled substances (klonopin).

I'm just trying to give you another option to the hospital. I hope you feel better.

 

[Foresight]

Talkspace offers psychiatry services where you video chat. I'm not sure if you need a therapist first and then they refer you. This might be an option for you but could be expensive since they don't take many insurance plans. Keep in mind though that talkspace is not allowed to prescribe controlled substances (klonopin).

I'm just trying to give you another option to the hospital. I hope you feel better.

This is what I need. Thank you so much!

 

[Gordy99]

This is what I need. Thank you so much!

You are welcome. Just do a google search for talkspace psychiatry and it's the first link to click. It looks like you can sign up directly to their services after completing a few questions. It doesn't look like you need a therapist first. Just keep in mind that you will most likely need to video chat once a month which means more money.

 

[Krieger]

I don't know if you have ever tried Abilify. I have heard good of it. Also not much side effects.

I was on abilify for severe intrusive thoughts and it made me feel horrible. Did anyone else experience this and will I feel like this on risperidone?

 

[Gordy99]

I was on abilify for severe intrusive thoughts and it made me feel horrible. Did anyone else experience this and will I feel like this on risperidone?

I can't speak for abilify but I take risperdal/risperidone and it works for me. There are side effects but they are minimal. Also, one side effect is restlessness but the klonopin I take with it stops that from happening.

 

[whatevs]

I can't speak for abilify but I take risperdal/risperidone and it works for me. There are side effects but they are minimal. Also, one side effect is restlessness but the klonopin I take with it stops that from happening.

The antipsychotics helped with the persecutory feelings and thoughts?

 

[Gordy99]

The antipsychotics helped with the persecutory feelings and thoughts?

They helped calm me down and stop my hypervigilance. I just re-read my previous post and perhaps I accidentally mislead the other person. I was trying to let them know that risperdal does work but obviously everyone reacts differently so maybe it won't solve their problem.

 

[Squiddy]

I've been on a few antipsychotics for my Schizoaffective disorder and some have helped. Currently I'm on the pill version of Invega and it helps to an extent though I still get some psychosis occasionally depending on how stressed I am