Life on anti-psychotics - can people actually come off them?

I TOTALLY get you and hear you @Lattepowered

Firstly, so great to see you again as I haven't seen you in a long time.

Side note: As much as we can share personal experiences, when it comes to medication, everyone is different - so in this case, it's of utmost importance that you share you concerns with the prescribing doctor. Perhaps they can look at an alternative med or a lower dosage? Only they will be able to tell you.

It is well known that anti-psychotics have side effects. This is the battle I'm having with my brother in law. He's refusing to take his and just laughs when I point out delusions he is having. However, he is not 'bad' enough to be involuntarily admitted, so I can't do anything for now but sit tight.

If your partner has depot injections, it can be quite strong, and when you first have the injection, it can have a lot of side effects. Over time this wears off....until the next dose.

I guess the question is, do you prefer him to have the paranoia/delusions, or be chirpier person?

It's not easy to answer.

I'm not sure anti-psychotics for paranoia is something you get 'come off'... you can lower the dose, but that's why it's important to ask the prescribing doc.

Sitting with you.

Hi there, sorry to hear that your partner is not themselves. They are probably trying to stabilize your partner at this stage, even though he has blunted emotions. When he is better it would probably be good for him to see a private Psychiatrist who can make recommendations about long term plans and medications. I saw one today online via telehealth called Dokotela. They are pricey but you will get a lot of it back. They might be able to suggest different medications or correct combinations for the blunted emotions. Sorry i do not know if you can come off them, a good psychiatrist will be able to answer this one. Sending you a big hug.

Hi @@

As you alluded to, coming off might happen when they do enough therapy to have coping strategies to deal with the symptoms

Hi @Lattepowered I hear you, as someone living with mh issues and taking antipsychotics.

I don't want to disappoint you or be preachy but in science and medicine people have to distinguish between correlation and causation. Yes people recovering from psychotic illnesses and on antipsychotics seem to battle with blunted affect and anhedonia but is that "side effect" or showing the "negative symptoms " of their/our/my illness. I certainly lost my spark but feel I need to stay with antipsychotics as the edginess of paranoia and incipient mania or full-blown psychosis is in no way comparable to the quick wit, sense of humour and capacity for enjoyment I had prior to my first florid episode. The window of brightness and responsiveness while remaining well seems a narrow target. I've compromised - my psychiatrist allows me to be on a lower maintenance dose over periods of months and years, then increase the meds when vulnerable or becoming symptomatic. It's possible for me as I'm on oral meds not a depot injection. It does entail having fairly close supervision from a longterm and trusted psychiatrist, having reasonable insight into the condition, and willingness to be compliant with recommendations (easier in the earlier stages of relapse).

I wish I could reassure you that the alternatives are clear and that decisions are easy - antipsychotics bad, withdrawal good - but for me I navigate cautiously and do the best I can.

Take care.

@Dimity I know negative symptoms primarily as symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

The OP speaks about Delusional Disorder. Which to my knowledge doesn't include negative symptoms

@Lattepowered

Hearing you regarding the side effects..

my wife has been on antipsychotic class medications along with anti anxiety and anti depressant for 10+ years. Antidepressants for 10 years before that.

the emotional blunting and lack of any emotional connection is very difficult.

for us the alternative is something to that is far more scary,

Darling asked her dr at last visit about reducing doses, he instead increased one and wants to add another. She is not ok at the moment and wanted to reduce to reduce sedation to hopefully get more energy and motivation for exercise.

side note, for us it is oral and totally voluntary, having limited agency over decisions would be so much harder.

Thank you everyone for sharing @Dk5 @Lattepowered @Determined @Dimity Dogman.

This is such an important topic of discussion. I'm always longing to learn more, especially as I'm battling this at home. It's so close to home at the moment.

@Lattepowered @DogMan79 my apologies I'm unfamiliar with delusional disorder.

From what I just read although antipsychotics are used it can be resistant to treatment with medication alone.

But I guess I've become sceptical of clear demarcations between diagnoses as I've seen so many including myself shunted between different labels, and the current tendency for multiple diagnoses, and so I probably overgeneralise through ignorance.

It's interesting how genetics is now showing so many possible markers related to mh conditions, and clustering of markers of diagnoses of conditions previously thought distinct. It's complicated.