Posted by Christ_empowered on April 21, 2011, at 16:38:25
In reply to Antipsychotic side effects?, posted by sheilac on April 21, 2011, at 16:22:25
BP II often doesn't require an antipsychotic, anyway. BP I sometimes does; schizophrenia+schizoaffective disorder usually do. To me, as someone who has to take Abilify for his issues, you're better off w/o an antipsychotic if you can manage; fewer risks that way.
Sometimes antipsychotics can cause agitation/hypomania (I've read case reports of full-blown mania). A lot of the atypicals have antidepressant properties (I wish I could explain how, but...I can't), so if you're low dosing it anyway (less anti-manic action), and you're taking an antidepressant and a stimulant, you might be setting up a stimulating, rather than traquilizing, mix.
Its also important--and I have to keep reminding myself of this--that diagnoses are really just educated guesses, and they're the best docs can do. Experts don't really understand what's going on with mental illness; the research is focused on suppressing certain symptoms with meds. So, if your symptoms are under control, you have a good quality of life, and you don't have any serious side effects, I'd say just forget about your official diagnosis and enjoy your stability.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:983448
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110418/msgs/983450.html