Posted by med_empowered on June 13, 2006, at 0:42:46
In reply to Re: whats so bad about stopping antipsychotics?, posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2006, at 19:17:24
I say do it, especially if your doc backs you up on it. Here's the thing, though: there really is a neuroleptic withdrawal syndrome, so tapering should be gradual. Your doc might want to try sedatives, like Valium, for a while, possibly also mood stabilizers, to ease the transition.
Some people experience a "withdrawal psychosis"--basically, when the neuroleptic is withdrawn, the pyschosis re-occurs with greater intensity than before. Also, some patients who were never psychotic (say, they were taking neuroleptics for bipolar or something) may become psychotic for the first time ever.
Sooo...I guess I'd say by all mean, go for it, but try to go for it carefully. From what I understand, if you can avoid a relapse your first 6months med free, you stand a good chance of not turning psychotic ever again.
Good luck!
poster:med_empowered
thread:656193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060602/msgs/656310.html