advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
arabianbird
New Member
arabianbird has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: europe
Posts: 4
5 yr Member
Default Aug 28, 2018 at 10:28 AM
  #1
Hi Folks,

I have been suffering from psychotic episodes for the last 8-9 years. I got a lot of diagnosis, mainly schizophrenia, etc. I always smoked a lot of weed.


I was at a rehabilitation for half a year, and a doc told me that it seems (I was there in marijuana free environment) that I'm not schizophrenic, but I had cannabis induced psychosis.


For a year now I'm working, have a girlfriend, and enjoy playing music. I'm totally ok.

That doc at the rehab told me that I could try without meds, and I can be med free in about a year. A year has passed, and I'm still on 3mg invega. No doc where I live would agree to reduce the amount now, they either tell me to wait, or want to make me sign a paper that they can take me to the hospital against my will if my condition is a bit worse. Then they would make the reduction.

I am so tired of this med, I really feel bad about it, and maybe I don't need it. I don't drink or smoke weed anymore.

Anyone here thinks it would be ok to quit 3mg invega cold turkey?


thanks!
arabianbird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Skeezyks, still_crazy

advertisement
Sometimes psychotic
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Sometimes psychotic's Avatar
Sometimes psychotic Typo queen !
 
Member Since: May 2013
Location: Chicago
Posts: 26,409 (SuperPoster!)
10 yr Member
22.8k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Aug 28, 2018 at 11:18 AM
  #2
3 mg of invega is still a high dose, you’d want to taper off with a doc, why not sign the paper for the hospital, they are just looking out for you.

__________________
Hugs!
Sometimes psychotic is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
arabianbird
New Member
arabianbird has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: europe
Posts: 4
5 yr Member
Default Aug 28, 2018 at 12:47 PM
  #3
Hi sometimes psychotic... well yes i understand what you mean. The doc thinks its better for me to get medication immediately if something goes wrong. Instead of possibly developing a serious psychosis. The thing is that its true that when i get psychotic i refuse medication.

But still, i live in a country in europe and i would be taken to a restricated class. Not fun at all. Somehow i dont feel ok to sign such a paper. Who would tell the symptoms? I still have to live with my parents and i would freak out at the possibility that if i have an argument with my mom she'll say im having problems. There are a lot of psychosocial factors involved. I would not be able to feel ok under pressure of such impending doom
arabianbird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Sometimes psychotic
Skeezyks
Disreputable Old Troll
 
Skeezyks's Avatar
Skeezyks has no updates.
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!)
8 yr Member
17.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Smile Aug 28, 2018 at 03:18 PM
  #4
Hello arabianbird: I cannot comment with regard to your question. However I noticed this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral! I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

Here are links to 2 articles, from PsychCentral's archives, on the general topic of stopping psychiatric medications:

Withdrawing from Psychiatric Medications

Discontinuing Psychiatric Medications: What You Need to Know

I do understand your concern with regard to signing a document that would allow a doctor to hospitalize you against your will. (I presume that would be legal where you live. I doubt it would be where I reside.) Giving someone that kind of power over you is not something to be taken lightly, at least from my perspective. On the other hand, based on what you wrote, it sounds as though perhaps agreeing to something such as this may be necessary if you're going to get off the Invega.

I see you list yourself as being somewhere in Europe. Of course I don't know anything about how things work where you live. If you were here in the U.S. I think what I would suggest would be to contact your local mental health association & perhaps see if there would be a mental health legal advocacy organization, or perhaps an attorney, you could discuss this with as well as perhaps receive some guidance from. Perhaps something similar could be done where you live?

It may be, if you simply can't find a physician who will help you get off of the medication without giving them this kind of authority, you may need to agree to something such as this. But it would be best, I would think, to go into it with the support of a knowledgeable organization or perhaps legal professional. At least those are my thoughts with regard to your post. I wish you well...

__________________
"I may be older but I am not wise / I'm still a child's grown-up disguise / and I never can tell you what you want to know / You will find out as you go." (from: "A Nightengale's Lullaby" - Julie Last)
Skeezyks is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
arabianbird
New Member
arabianbird has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: europe
Posts: 4
5 yr Member
Default Aug 28, 2018 at 09:18 PM
  #5
Hi Skeezyks,

Thanks for your answer.... This IS my first post


I actually dwelled on the topic you linked for some time now. I've like read through the withdrawal symptomps and about quitting antipyschotics in general.

I just wanted to know if someone here could make it from 3 mg invega without getting a rebound effect. I know it varies from person to person.


I regularly go to a psychologist, and he got a doc (well a psychiatrist) who would be willing to reduce the dosage. The problem is, that in general the attitude of the docs is that they don't want to take the responsibility. They prescribe the higher dosage, so if I have a problem, they are covered. It is my choice to take a medication, but I would not want to quit without medical supervision, and I would want to taper off anyway.

It's just I'm stuck. This is the doc who wants me to sign the paper. It's just I cannot find anybody who would accept the theory of cannabis induced psychosis. I've been hospitalized a lot of times. I started to heavily use marijuana prior to my first episode. I know basically nobody knows what would happen if I quit medication, but me and my family would take the chance and the responsibility.

Another psychiatrist told me to stop taking medication now (he cannot prescribe medication for a reason), and I'm considering the issue. I thought writing here would be a good idea.

I am really afraid of withdrawal symptoms, and my symptoms coming back from drug withdrawal.


I've been told to sigsaw the invega, but it does not seem to be a good solution.


Thanks for your advice. There are NGOs for civil rights here, but I don't know what can they offer to help, since it's just that I cannot find a doc who is willing to cooperate with what I would like in terms of medication. If they're reluctant to help me with my plans, it's their choice either.

have a nice day
arabianbird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Blue_Bird
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Blue_Bird's Avatar
Blue_Bird is ready for recovery!
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: Hogwarts
Posts: 36,660 (SuperPoster!)
10 yr Member
14.3k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Aug 29, 2018 at 09:40 AM
  #6
I was on 256 mg Invega Sustenna (the shot) every 3 weeks for about 5 years. I'm off it now and doing well. I've been off it since January

__________________


R.I.P mom 8/6/55-1/15/16

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” -St. Francis of Assisi
Blue_Bird is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
arabianbird
New Member
arabianbird has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: europe
Posts: 4
5 yr Member
Default Sep 24, 2018 at 09:21 PM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue_Bird View Post
I was on 256 mg Invega Sustenna (the shot) every 3 weeks for about 5 years. I'm off it now and doing well. I've been off it since January
Hi Blue_bird, nice....

thanks for the replies. I found another psychiatrist and now I'm taking 1.5mg risperidone.

Horrible. But now I can taper it off........... good luck!
arabianbird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
mugwort2
Poohbah
mugwort2 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Aug 2015
Location: Philadelphia PA.
Posts: 1,291
8 yr Member
28 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 24, 2018 at 09:36 PM
  #8
Generally speaking I heard its never good to go cold turkey on any psych med. Its best to withdraw gradually I wish you well being on risperidone.
mugwort2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.