I was wondering how things would go on the doubled dose of your medication after you mentioned it in a previous video, so it was great to get this update! I'm glad the body jerks were only a temporary issue that happened shortly after your dose increase. The lack of urges to spend money is really interesting and not something I would have expected (yay for that being one of the good side effects!). And it's awesome that you're able to read and write on the higher dose this time around! So really, it sounds like the focus issue is the one lingering side effect that isn't so great... I hope that improves over time and doesn't continue to disrupt your usual workflow for this channel. Big props for still putting out great videos like this one, even when you have to take more breaks in the creation process. Thank you again for this update! :)
I've tried cariprazine, aripiprazole, paliperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine. With the side effects you never know what's going to hit you. I was on lurasidone first, made me anxious and sleepy at the same time and hungry as hell, two years later tried it again and no side effects so far, it has been 3 weeks. More power to you Kit and to all of us dealing with psychosis 🎉
I am here going to subscribe. Thank you for sharing your journey in this Chaotic life. Helps people going through things not to feel so lonely and extremely different. Life is very hard to many of us.
Also- there are people with psychotic depression, like me, who are also helped by anti-psychotics. I know you know, Kit, just restating for others just in case.
I have MDD with psychosis as well. I recently quit my meds due to side affects, but I think the psychosis is finally subsiding...to much LSD years ago...not a good idea.
Recently diagnosed and getting it treated. Just added another med. What I noticed the most is how quiet things are in my head and with delusions. The second medication seems to be treating the hypomania and depression a bit better. Taking Abilify and lamotrigine.
I love your videos, you describe things very clearly and I've learned so much from you. Also hope some of these side effects get better with time. Yay for being able to read or write! You deserve to feel better, keep strong! ❤
I’ve been on abilify 30mg (max dose) had to stop cause I was still psychotic and this caused a hospitalization for me. I also gained 80 pounds from being on abilify. So at the hospital they switched me to risperidone, which quieted my brain and pulled me back to reality quickly. Over time the risperidone eventually creeped up to 3mg and I gained 87 pounds from that. Now I’m on Latuda and I’ve lost 32 pounds of all the weight I gained! I just went from 40mg of Latuda to 60mg and it was good for a week but now my symptoms are flairing up again so I called my provider and I hope to see her next week to discuss options. Latuda has been the best antipsychotic I’ve been on cause I’m not constantly hungry and it certainly helps my condition. I also take Lithium for my bipolar and clonazepam for my anxiety. I have what you have Kit, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Taking things one step at a time, sending love from Texas
@@AndyDrew5001 im super suscebtible to weight gain from medication i guess too. i was on olanzapine and gained soo much weight! i was on 120 mg of Latuda and it made me very sleepy yet unable to get a fulls night rest every night. id feel drowsy and would pass out an hour after taking it then wake up in 5 hours and not be able to sleep anymore. i couldnt handle that side effect so i went on riseperadone 4mg but that gave me headaches and dizziness and i still heard voices then i tried the injection and ive been having dizziness, headaches and rashes but im not really hearing voices. i really dont know what to do im going to keep trying medications with my psych and i hope something eventually works well for me. hope it all works out for you too!
This lady must have a lot of support to be able to have this UA-cam channel. Schizo-affective disorder, which I'm pretty sure is now called 'bipolar type 2' is debilitating. My dad had it. Thankfully he had an amazing family support system.
Bipolar is half of schizoaffective disorder , the other half being schizophrenia. Bipolar is diagnosed as bipolar 1 if the patient has full blown mania and bipolar 2 if the patient has hypomanic episodes which are less severe.
@@andrewoats it's just that a psychologist told me they don't call it schizo-affective disorder anymore. That's an old term apparently. She said it's just either schizophrenia, bipolar type 1 or bipolar type 2.
Being sober is great. I used to use cocaine and go up into hypomania from time to time. Now I'm mostly even with my mood and symptoms are much much better. I feel much better being sober. Thank you for your weekly videos.
I have danced up and down with Seroquel for decades. Mostly i hate the hangover. When going up in dose, I can take them at 8pm and still feel less than sober at 10am. Obviously weight, sweating, muscle spasms, a huge reduction in self trust, and completely ignoring my hobbies. Also the loss of nice hallucinations (stars would sing, trees would dance, believing in deity as something I'd seen) Pro: I could drive without seeing people jumping in front of my car. I could parent so much better and it showed in my children's behaviour towards me. I can't wait for my kids to gain independence, so I might be able to lower some of my medication because I won't need to be as constantly aware.
I don’t want to frighten you, but I would reconsider the possibility of lowering (or even stopping) your medication when your children gain independence. My friend from high school had a schizophrenic father who did exactly that. Unfortunately it caused a huge rift in their relationship as my friend became an adult. It was so bad that my friend moved quite a distance away from his father (while I maintained a close relationship with his father) and it took me a great amount of effort to encourage my friend to come see his father before he unfortunately passed away. Myself and one other friend of mine were all this man had in the world for the last 5 years or so of his life. It was really sad and hard for him. I’m not suggesting that this will definitely happen to you but that you should try and ensure a life long relationship with your children. The possibility of creating a rift in your relationship can be more damaging to you in the long run than you might anticipate now. Also, given the trouble you seem to have with what you’re taking now, have you considered alternatives medications or even alternatives in general? I am sure that you do all you can but I hate to hear when anyone sounds to be having a rough go of things. I too am a parent and I know unsolicited advice from strangers doesn’t always make us feel great, so I really hope my story didn’t offend you in anyway and I wish you all the luck in the world💕
@@HeatherWP I do understand. I'm probably going to wait until they are in their mid to late 30s. I have a plan in place for a death with dignity (Switzerland) and want time off the worst side effects before then. We have, as a family, experience with people who chose their ends, and we all agree that it's a good thing to have as an option. My kids are already just about legally adults, but it's still a while away. It would be with my psychiatrist, so I hope that with medical supervision it can be done in a way that causes others the least trauma. But I also want to experience the least trauma, and the medication side effects are traumatic. I'd like to go having been myself again.
its fully up to you either way; one thing that often gets emphasized less in medication choice is patient autonomy, ultimately i feel we know our lives and our selves best and i place trust in that and my fellow humans. if you do go off them at some point i wish you the best in your journey with your self ❤️ and in the meantime, you got this :)
I went up on my antipsychotic, risperadon or whatever don’t remember the exact spelling-but yeah I upped the dose for pm meds and it really improved my overall mood. I don’t have serious schizophrenia experience for the same schizoaffective disorder, except the one time walking home from work and heard “I’ve got your back” or “I’ll get you back” while listening to loud music
Well I'm on a relatively low maintenance dose of 7.5 mg of zyprexa and to be honest I keep wondering if I'm over-medicated since I live like a vegetable compared to normal people. About a year ago I had a mood bump so I sounded an alarm to my doctor, and she upped it to 10 mg even though she did say there was no need (I guess I was overly cautious), and very soon after that I was an even bigger vegetable than my usual. Zyprexa has that powerful effect on me. However, aside from huge weight gain and hypersomnia I have no other side effects, even my blood sugar is ok-ish. Having said all that I must note that I decided to try to lose weight recently, so I've been walking for 6 days straight now, like really decent long walks and I guess I'll see how that goes. I think walks are amazing, especially for overweight people like me (I'd probably destroy my knees and put huge strain on my heart by running of lifting weights). I guess wish me luck and may my determination persist :). Good video as usual Kit, love the lighting and make up :)
Another amazing video!!! I thought it was just me that couldnt read, comprehend, or retain information that I read….. this side effect of antipsychotics are the worst with it making college a struggle:(
Sorry to hear about the side effects. What are you taking to combat the twitching? Curiously enough, I used to have "full body jerks" once a night or every other night so I know how that feels. (Usually only one a night, but it jerked me awake.) I never attributed it to any meds, it just happened. It only stopped (for the most part) when I told myself to stop having them, so I have a very silly mantra that I repeat to myself every night after laying down. Thank you for posting; celebrate your successes!
Have you made any videos about your drinking days/ problems with alcohol? if not I would be very interested in hearing about that! I know mental illness and substance abuse/ addiction goes hand in hand. This is coming from someone with bipolar and in recovery from heroin.
I have beem on zyprexa for many yrs. I have a problem with med compliance so they put me on the zyprexa relprevv injection. I really enjoy your videos . Very informative
Hey! I just discovered your channel! I can't say how much it means to have a voice like yours to help make sense of things. I'm wondering if you have any sense for what difference there may be in what you experience and drug-induced psychosis? I really appreciate you sharing your story and creating a space where these conversations can happen. Your voice is so important in helping others understand these complex experiences. Thank you for being brave enough to put yourself out there - it truly makes a difference. I'd like to share a personal experience, if you're open to it. However, please don't read further if other people's hallucinations are a trigger for you. The short version is: I had an intense experience with paranoia and hallucinations. Even now, looking back, I can't easily distinguish the false details from reality. It's only through time and understanding my behavior that I know I was hallucinating. It took years to process this, and I still occasionally catch myself in thought patterns that give me pause. My main coping strategy has been metacognition - constantly asking myself, "What is veqv doing right now, and why? ---- I used to be homeless and very self-destructive this happened during a time where I was smoking, snorting and generally ingesting any stimulant that came near me without question. (sober 7 years now!). One of the most confusing experiences I have ever had involved a sense that "everyone" had some kind of unknown intent against me. Not necessarily that the intent was bad or that they were out to hurt me - but that they were watching me closely. I ended up walking through Seattle for a very long time, walking so long and in such distress that my feet got bloody, I was honestly seeking help but so out of sorts that I didn't feel I could trust anyone. A kind woman gave me money for a cab to get to the hospital and I ended up walking after getting too scared of the cabbies radio. Later, in the ward - my mind was telling me that I recognized all the doctors as people I saw on my worried walk. When I think about it these days I'm stricken by how very real it still feels. How my mind can still go "nah, you saw this doctor on this path, it was around noon the other day, you recognize him because of his hair reminded you of your father's from that one photo of your parents at their wedding...." but obviously none of that was real. Now, I'm a logical person - used to study math, currently do programming - and it was as if the entire machine of my mind was on fire mulling over the puzzle of what my senses were telling me, unable out of worry or anxiety or fear to detach enough to recognize that the rest of my perceptions were just straight up lies, and that my reasoning was all bonk. As I said, it's been seven years since then, and I still have to employ a kind of meta-cognition in times of high stress to be sure that I'm not spiraling - if someone talks about me to someone else in front of me I have to ignore it or my brain just makes up delusions. Anyway, if you made it this far - thank you for reading! I hope everyone with similar or disparate experiences can get something from this kind of thing. Being a human is wild.
I'm bi polar, and several years ago I went through a series of medication changes and dose experiments (long story). At one point I was given an anti-psychotic. I can't remember off the top of my head which one it was. The thing I do remember was the insanely itchy, full body rash which developed about a day later. Turns out, I am allergic. It was horrible. I've had extensive cases of poison oak rash...no comparison. I wanted to claw my skin off. It lasted for about three days. Three...horrible...miserable...days.
Zyprexa was awful for me. It ruined my life and body due to some of the side affects you’re mentioning. I am so glad I tapered myself off. I’m doing much better now and in the process of getting off my vyvanse and then reducing my cannabis.
Finally working on myself and following suggestions of doctors and people trying to help. I wish it didn’t take so long I almost ended up on the streets
Increased olanzapine made me so lethargic and sleepy, couldn’t get anything done! And the insatiable hunger, put on 4 stones. It also made me drool a lot at night. Am in the process of switching to lurasidone. Hoping it works just as well to combat the psychosis without the hunger.
When I went up on the antipsychotic I got more tired. When I went up on the mood stabalizer for the bipolar I wouldn't realize I was irritable until after I got upset.
Just an FYI about Zyprexa aka Olanzapine for me in the UK it gave me diabetes it's one of the possible side effects but honestly does my head in going to the doctors all the time when i have agoraphobia
Great video!...I recently had my Geodon bumped up to quell the not so great effects of coming off Abilify, which gave me akathisia, like really bad if you've watched my videos, I was super twitchy. Now after stopping Abilify I'm significantly more depressed??...so idk ...I see my new psych on Thursday
Great and informative video! Thanks! Hey have you read into psychedelic therapy? It was scientificaly studied deaply and in many cases it had life changing results without the negative side effects of ssri or antipsychotic meds. There's also a great 4 episode documentary about it "how to change your mind". Highly recommend reading more into it specially psilocybin, tell me if more info would help
I have a had a range of symptoms depending on the antipsychotic that was being increased. Involuntary moments in my hands and neck were the most noticeable, but I’ve seen sedative affects from some, and just over all feeling more lethargic. Overall they calm the other positive symptoms I experience, but decrease motivation and desire to achieve things each day.
I'm on Olanzapine 10mg for the past two years and at first, there was a numbness to my feelings. I wasn't feeling things much. That could also be attributed to my post psychosis phase that I was going through but I definitely think the antipsychotics played a major role. Also gained a ton of weight on Olanzapine. Trying to shed it off now
By far the most annoying side effects for me is that they a) leave me basically nonfunctional in the morning, and b) it feel like there is maybe a 0.5 second delay in comprehending things / finding the right words when talking. The first one is pretty straightforward. It just sucks as I hate having to constantly explain to people that, no, I can’t do an 8:30 meeting as I will probably still be a drooling mess and will not be able to comprehend anything they say 🤣 The second one (the delay in comprehension) really, really annoys me though as I used to be pretty quick like that ☹️ It feels like my meds dumb down those parts of my brain which I really, really hate. I mean, I feel like some people now think I’m stupid because I feel like I am staring at them blankly for a fraction of a second while I process what they said, and then I sometimes trip over my words or can’t find the correct word when I speak.
That last one rings so true with me! I call it processing time. It’s not exactly like what you describe but when I get info in a meeting at work I need five minutes of it just… sitting in my brain for me to grasp it. I used to be quicker too and it sucks. Thanks for sharing this!
@@SchizoKitzoDid you have any processing speed issues before meds or psychosis.? Also, what are your experiences with Aripiprazole for side effects and understanding of its dangers short term and long-term? And, have you explored the benefits of a proper therapeutic ketogenic dietary protocol? God bless and protect you, Mike
Oddly, I had to discontinue an antipsychotic due to my kidneys and developed facial tics and head jerking. Over the course of a year it has all but stopped, but It was a major issue for a while.
Hello! I have a question. I have watched quite a few of your videos and am impressed on how well adjusted you are even on bad days. My ex was diagnosed bipolar and was not good with keeping up with her med and then did a deep dive into drugs and alcohol. We divorced and I ended up raising the kids by myself. I know in a past video you did not want to have kids and I get that but you haven't talked about a significant other unless I missed that video. Do you have someone that you have in your life? Just from seeing things from the other side of it, it is both painful and incredibly stressful but it can also help the person suffering if they have someone that is willing to help. I hope you do. Also, don't be 100% against children. Both my kids with my ex turned out ok and are fully aware of possible mental health issues of their own.
I started taking an invega sustaina injectible 3 months ago. its pretty great, except towards the end of the month i start to get paranoia a little bit. also i consider that maybe as i stay on it for a longer period, (6 months to a year) then maybe it will work better overall...i hope. i was taking lithium and zyprexa for 5 years just about. but now im on lithium and invega. my paranoia and anxiety is almost non existent, so long as its not close to my next injection time. very greatful.
I was put on multiple atypical antipsychotics over the years and all of them! gave me unbearable tachycardia and weird „I can feel my blood running“ sensation. Had to get off of them, always. They'd also make me sleepy but panicky at the same time, so I couldn't sleep and I'd be groggy all the time. I have weird responses to meds in general (possibly due to my ASD), so I'm not assuming this would be a common experience though
Excuse the ramble, I am high and a bit manic rn. Anyway, I wanted to say, as a middle aged bipolar 2, it is important to remember that humans don’t just change drastically during puberty, they change again between age 30-40 and so on and so on ( most people gain wait, get some wrinkles and start to see grey hair). What also changes, is your reaction to meditation… both dosage effects, and in side effects. Case in point, I took risperdal from age 23-29 without issue (aside from stiffness and a lack of emotion). At 43 I was given the same dosage again, and I ended up in the medical ward with heart problems and my first instance of hypomania. So always approach a new prescription with the awareness that you may experience side effects, even if you have taken it previously as a teen, or a twenty something
I'm on haloperidol (haldol). None of the newer anti-psychotics did anything for me beside make me sleepy. I only experience slight muscle spasms now and I blink with my eyes a lot but other than that, no side effects.
When I go up on my olanzapine I realize that I have more side effects (I'm very sleepy and lose my focus on cognitive tasks and lose my libido) but it also helps me dealing with psychosis and maybe also with mania.
I was on the spirit down when I was really young 4 mild autism and the weight gain it caused was so horrific I got off the stuff because it was negatively affecting my self-esteem then a bit after that they tried to put me on antidepressants and that didn't really help things either nowadays they've got me on Klonopin twice a day for my anxieties and medical cannabis as a mood stabilizer which seems to be working alright for me I've been taking that combination for nearly 10 years and it's working out great
I use to believe I had schizophrenia or psychosis. I only experience psychosis in symptoms during stress and rarely ill get an episode. Last episode I had was maybe 2 years ago..
I'm very interested to know how you maintain a healthy weight on zyprexa? It's rare but some don't gain weight on it. Myself I pile on the lbs quickly on zyprexa and I find it impossible to lose weight on it. I stopped taling zyprexa a few years ago and with dieting I lost all the weight I had gained. I had to go back on zyprexa due to a manic episode and quickly I gained all the weight back. Love your video's and information your helping so many people. Good health to you.
You're really good at explaining important aspects of this disorder. A question--from the inside, does the bipolar disorder seem separate from the schizo affect disorder or are they just aspects of the same thing?
At age 54 I've reached a point where I don't need a lot of medicine. Mostly I suffer from depression now but I can't go up on my lexapro because it makes my mania go up.
I've been hearing voices at night and wondering if the authorities would not be good. I have a severe loneliness problem from an unforgivable non touching event from the past. I've been hearing voices and considered being away from touch or help.
I am taking antipsychotic last 2 years side effects are horrible I can’t even walk so many problems come with antipsychotic if you want to be good you should take antipsychotics
Not crazy at all, it’s hard adjusting to a new normal. When i was first medicated for my bipolar it took me ages to adjust to not having the mania. I even missed the depression sometimes which is a little cuckoo! At least with the depression i knew i was down and had to force myself to do something. Now it’s just like a blah kind of mood it seems somehow harder to motivate myself.
I don’t hear voices but i get what you’re saying. When i first got my bipolar under control with meds it really bothered me how steady my mood was, like it was boring waking up every day just normal with no huge swings up or down. Intellectually i knew it was a good thing and I’m used to it now but it took a lot of adjustment to the new normal.
I take Olanzapine and it makes me sleepy and hungry. In the beginning I had jerks but that disappeared after a while. The worst thing was gaining 20 lbs in just a few months but maybe fat people are happier😂! Also take Sertraline/Zoloft but that works really well! 😊 Hope the medication make you feel better and with no sideeffects! Getting a cat has made a big difference for me! Sometimes I think that I am beset by a demon but that is probably a part of the disorder. I have seen pictures of girls with schizofrenia and they were all very beautiful. Maybe the witches in medival times had schizofrenia? Maybe that was why priests hated them?
i used to do all sorts of drug even ended up in the hospital once i just take it as something to better other ppl now but man i was just thinking i was in my prime ha mania man
Are thoughts themselves "voices in the head" what is the difference other then loudness of the thoughts arising in consciousness. I guess it's a matter of volume levels nobody wants to hear the 1000 thoughts per second going on in there head literally as voices. they want it condensed down and quiet.
Less dopamine in the striatum equals less desires less chasing after and wanting thing's which can become detrimental in some case's because of reduced motivation and willpower to do thing's that's why people shouldn't stay on large doses for long periods of time.
Mania shopper ❤ my son did that I love him on his medicine 💊💊💊💊💊 son sleeps a lot , I was poisoned while pregnant with him,by my own blood family members!!!!!! Fact 😢😢
First of all, she's still ill, even on meds. Second, hearing voices your whole life and then suddenly not can be very stressful and hard to wrap your head around. They've been with her for a really long time and based on what she shared, they've been mostly nice and supportive. It's an adjustment.
Maybe you should try the prayers instead ; you'd get rid of the voices (the demons) and you wouldn't need those horrible meds anymore. Psalm 91:15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. Bible
So glad i go to a church that recognizes that human illness requires treatment from human doctors. I would never go to a church that preached nonsense about illness being caused by demons. Prayer is a great tool in coping with my illness, i can pray that God helps me with my residual symptoms and i can give thanks for the doctors and drugs that help me.
I have the same condition. Since I was 18 in 2001. Anyway, I took zyperxia, and gained a lot of weight. I got off it and lost the weight. Among the 50+ other anti-psychotic I've taken including suplemental medicene that were for ountering side effects. Long story shout, I take lybalvi now. Lybalvi is Zyperxia + Sandimorphin. Sandimorphin is to help with wight gain. Well guess what? It also elminitaed my eps (akistesia, or extra parimedial symptoms.) Good luck on your jourmy. Here's what I currently take after 25+ years of suffering that has slowly gone away. Lybalvi 5/10mgs, Welburine 100mgs 2x morning with 200mg modaphinil. Remelton for sleep at night. I also take an indian supplement from hymilians called shila-jit and helps with energy. If you make changes to you medication with your doctor, do it one medication at a time, do it slowly, and wait several weeks if not several months (years for anti-depressiants) before decideding it's not for you.
I used to joke that I was exercising and building muscle, while lying in bed. Because if you can't laugh, you cry.
I was wondering how things would go on the doubled dose of your medication after you mentioned it in a previous video, so it was great to get this update! I'm glad the body jerks were only a temporary issue that happened shortly after your dose increase. The lack of urges to spend money is really interesting and not something I would have expected (yay for that being one of the good side effects!). And it's awesome that you're able to read and write on the higher dose this time around! So really, it sounds like the focus issue is the one lingering side effect that isn't so great... I hope that improves over time and doesn't continue to disrupt your usual workflow for this channel. Big props for still putting out great videos like this one, even when you have to take more breaks in the creation process. Thank you again for this update! :)
I've tried cariprazine, aripiprazole, paliperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine. With the side effects you never know what's going to hit you. I was on lurasidone first, made me anxious and sleepy at the same time and hungry as hell, two years later tried it again and no side effects so far, it has been 3 weeks. More power to you Kit and to all of us dealing with psychosis 🎉
Those first three sound like Italian dishes.
I am here going to subscribe. Thank you for sharing your journey in this Chaotic life. Helps people going through things not to feel so lonely and extremely different. Life is very hard to many of us.
Also- there are people with psychotic depression, like me, who are also helped by anti-psychotics. I know you know, Kit, just restating for others just in case.
Forsho, it’s really important to bring up Psychotic Depression. MDD w Psychotic Features is an often overlooked Dx within the DSM-5-TR.
I have MDD with psychosis as well. I recently quit my meds due to side affects, but I think the psychosis is finally subsiding...to much LSD years ago...not a good idea.
@@damnablethief Fair. I am psychosis free since Feb of this year do to proper medication. Abilify worked for me. Good luck to you
@@horizonblack hey same to you. Glad to hear it. Best wishes.
Recently diagnosed and getting it treated. Just added another med. What I noticed the most is how quiet things are in my head and with delusions. The second medication seems to be treating the hypomania and depression a bit better. Taking Abilify and lamotrigine.
I love your videos, you describe things very clearly and I've learned so much from you. Also hope some of these side effects get better with time. Yay for being able to read or write! You deserve to feel better, keep strong! ❤
I’ve been on abilify 30mg (max dose) had to stop cause I was still psychotic and this caused a hospitalization for me. I also gained 80 pounds from being on abilify.
So at the hospital they switched me to risperidone, which quieted my brain and pulled me back to reality quickly. Over time the risperidone eventually creeped up to 3mg and I gained 87 pounds from that.
Now I’m on Latuda and I’ve lost 32 pounds of all the weight I gained! I just went from 40mg of Latuda to 60mg and it was good for a week but now my symptoms are flairing up again so I called my provider and I hope to see her next week to discuss options. Latuda has been the best antipsychotic I’ve been on cause I’m not constantly hungry and it certainly helps my condition. I also take Lithium for my bipolar and clonazepam for my anxiety.
I have what you have Kit, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Taking things one step at a time, sending love from Texas
I guess I’m just very susceptible to weight gain from medication 😅
@@AndyDrew5001 im super suscebtible to weight gain from medication i guess too. i was on olanzapine and gained soo much weight! i was on 120 mg of Latuda and it made me very sleepy yet unable to get a fulls night rest every night. id feel drowsy and would pass out an hour after taking it then wake up in 5 hours and not be able to sleep anymore. i couldnt handle that side effect so i went on riseperadone 4mg but that gave me headaches and dizziness and i still heard voices then i tried the injection and ive been having dizziness, headaches and rashes but im not really hearing voices. i really dont know what to do im going to keep trying medications with my psych and i hope something eventually works well for me. hope it all works out for you too!
You are always interesting. You are such a genuine woman love your channel you are always very informative
This lady must have a lot of support to be able to have this UA-cam channel. Schizo-affective disorder, which I'm pretty sure is now called 'bipolar type 2' is debilitating. My dad had it. Thankfully he had an amazing family support system.
Bipolar is half of schizoaffective disorder , the other half being schizophrenia. Bipolar is diagnosed as bipolar 1 if the patient has full blown mania and bipolar 2 if the patient has hypomanic episodes which are less severe.
@@andrewoats it's just that a psychologist told me they don't call it schizo-affective disorder anymore. That's an old term apparently. She said it's just either schizophrenia, bipolar type 1 or bipolar type 2.
Being sober is great. I used to use cocaine and go up into hypomania from time to time. Now I'm mostly even with my mood and symptoms are much much better. I feel much better being sober. Thank you for your weekly videos.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences. Hope it is going well with your new doc!
I have danced up and down with Seroquel for decades. Mostly i hate the hangover. When going up in dose, I can take them at 8pm and still feel less than sober at 10am. Obviously weight, sweating, muscle spasms, a huge reduction in self trust, and completely ignoring my hobbies. Also the loss of nice hallucinations (stars would sing, trees would dance, believing in deity as something I'd seen)
Pro: I could drive without seeing people jumping in front of my car. I could parent so much better and it showed in my children's behaviour towards me.
I can't wait for my kids to gain independence, so I might be able to lower some of my medication because I won't need to be as constantly aware.
I don’t want to frighten you, but I would reconsider the possibility of lowering (or even stopping) your medication when your children gain independence. My friend from high school had a schizophrenic father who did exactly that. Unfortunately it caused a huge rift in their relationship as my friend became an adult. It was so bad that my friend moved quite a distance away from his father (while I maintained a close relationship with his father) and it took me a great amount of effort to encourage my friend to come see his father before he unfortunately passed away. Myself and one other friend of mine were all this man had in the world for the last 5 years or so of his life. It was really sad and hard for him.
I’m not suggesting that this will definitely happen to you but that you should try and ensure a life long relationship with your children. The possibility of creating a rift in your relationship can be more damaging to you in the long run than you might anticipate now. Also, given the trouble you seem to have with what you’re taking now, have you considered alternatives medications or even alternatives in general? I am sure that you do all you can but I hate to hear when anyone sounds to be having a rough go of things.
I too am a parent and I know unsolicited advice from strangers doesn’t always make us feel great, so I really hope my story didn’t offend you in anyway and I wish you all the luck in the world💕
@@HeatherWP I do understand. I'm probably going to wait until they are in their mid to late 30s. I have a plan in place for a death with dignity (Switzerland) and want time off the worst side effects before then.
We have, as a family, experience with people who chose their ends, and we all agree that it's a good thing to have as an option. My kids are already just about legally adults, but it's still a while away. It would be with my psychiatrist, so I hope that with medical supervision it can be done in a way that causes others the least trauma. But I also want to experience the least trauma, and the medication side effects are traumatic. I'd like to go having been myself again.
its fully up to you either way; one thing that often gets emphasized less in medication choice is patient autonomy, ultimately i feel we know our lives and our selves best and i place trust in that and my fellow humans. if you do go off them at some point i wish you the best in your journey with your self ❤️ and in the meantime, you got this :)
I went up on my antipsychotic, risperadon or whatever don’t remember the exact spelling-but yeah I upped the dose for pm meds and it really improved my overall mood. I don’t have serious schizophrenia experience for the same schizoaffective disorder, except the one time walking home from work and heard “I’ve got your back” or “I’ll get you back” while listening to loud music
Thank you for your videos,Kitzo,
very interesting!
Well I'm on a relatively low maintenance dose of 7.5 mg of zyprexa and to be honest I keep wondering if I'm over-medicated since I live like a vegetable compared to normal people. About a year ago I had a mood bump so I sounded an alarm to my doctor, and she upped it to 10 mg even though she did say there was no need (I guess I was overly cautious), and very soon after that I was an even bigger vegetable than my usual. Zyprexa has that powerful effect on me. However, aside from huge weight gain and hypersomnia I have no other side effects, even my blood sugar is ok-ish.
Having said all that I must note that I decided to try to lose weight recently, so I've been walking for 6 days straight now, like really decent long walks and I guess I'll see how that goes. I think walks are amazing, especially for overweight people like me (I'd probably destroy my knees and put huge strain on my heart by running of lifting weights). I guess wish me luck and may my determination persist :). Good video as usual Kit, love the lighting and make up :)
Another amazing video!!! I thought it was just me that couldnt read, comprehend, or retain information that I read….. this side effect of antipsychotics are the worst with it making college a struggle:(
Sorry to hear about the side effects. What are you taking to combat the twitching? Curiously enough, I used to have "full body jerks" once a night or every other night so I know how that feels. (Usually only one a night, but it jerked me awake.) I never attributed it to any meds, it just happened. It only stopped (for the most part) when I told myself to stop having them, so I have a very silly mantra that I repeat to myself every night after laying down. Thank you for posting; celebrate your successes!
I'm so glad your EPS has calmed down. Hope your sleeping better.
Have you made any videos about your drinking days/ problems with alcohol? if not I would be very interested in hearing about that! I know mental illness and substance abuse/ addiction goes hand in hand. This is coming from someone with bipolar and in recovery from heroin.
I have beem on zyprexa for many yrs. I have a problem with med compliance so they put me on the zyprexa relprevv injection. I really enjoy your videos . Very informative
Hey! I just discovered your channel! I can't say how much it means to have a voice like yours to help make sense of things. I'm wondering if you have any sense for what difference there may be in what you experience and drug-induced psychosis?
I really appreciate you sharing your story and creating a space where these conversations can happen. Your voice is so important in helping others understand these complex experiences. Thank you for being brave enough to put yourself out there - it truly makes a difference.
I'd like to share a personal experience, if you're open to it. However, please don't read further if other people's hallucinations are a trigger for you. The short version is: I had an intense experience with paranoia and hallucinations. Even now, looking back, I can't easily distinguish the false details from reality. It's only through time and understanding my behavior that I know I was hallucinating. It took years to process this, and I still occasionally catch myself in thought patterns that give me pause. My main coping strategy has been metacognition - constantly asking myself, "What is veqv doing right now, and why?
----
I used to be homeless and very self-destructive this happened during a time where I was smoking, snorting and generally ingesting any stimulant that came near me without question. (sober 7 years now!). One of the most confusing experiences I have ever had involved a sense that "everyone" had some kind of unknown intent against me. Not necessarily that the intent was bad or that they were out to hurt me - but that they were watching me closely. I ended up walking through Seattle for a very long time, walking so long and in such distress that my feet got bloody, I was honestly seeking help but so out of sorts that I didn't feel I could trust anyone. A kind woman gave me money for a cab to get to the hospital and I ended up walking after getting too scared of the cabbies radio. Later, in the ward - my mind was telling me that I recognized all the doctors as people I saw on my worried walk. When I think about it these days I'm stricken by how very real it still feels. How my mind can still go "nah, you saw this doctor on this path, it was around noon the other day, you recognize him because of his hair reminded you of your father's from that one photo of your parents at their wedding...." but obviously none of that was real. Now, I'm a logical person - used to study math, currently do programming - and it was as if the entire machine of my mind was on fire mulling over the puzzle of what my senses were telling me, unable out of worry or anxiety or fear to detach enough to recognize that the rest of my perceptions were just straight up lies, and that my reasoning was all bonk.
As I said, it's been seven years since then, and I still have to employ a kind of meta-cognition in times of high stress to be sure that I'm not spiraling - if someone talks about me to someone else in front of me I have to ignore it or my brain just makes up delusions.
Anyway, if you made it this far - thank you for reading! I hope everyone with similar or disparate experiences can get something from this kind of thing. Being a human is wild.
I'm bi polar, and several years ago I went through a series of medication changes and dose experiments (long story). At one point I was given an anti-psychotic. I can't remember off the top of my head which one it was. The thing I do remember was the insanely itchy, full body rash which developed about a day later. Turns out, I am allergic. It was horrible. I've had extensive cases of poison oak rash...no comparison. I wanted to claw my skin off. It lasted for about three days. Three...horrible...miserable...days.
The quieter nature of your headspace ❤.
It’s very peaceful
Zyprexa was awful for me. It ruined my life and body due to some of the side affects you’re mentioning. I am so glad I tapered myself off. I’m doing much better now and in the process of getting off my vyvanse and then reducing my cannabis.
Finally working on myself and following suggestions of doctors and people trying to help. I wish it didn’t take so long I almost ended up on the streets
Increased olanzapine made me so lethargic and sleepy, couldn’t get anything done! And the insatiable hunger, put on 4 stones. It also made me drool a lot at night. Am in the process of switching to lurasidone. Hoping it works just as well to combat the psychosis without the hunger.
When I went up on the antipsychotic I got more tired. When I went up on the mood stabalizer for the bipolar I wouldn't realize I was irritable until after I got upset.
I have that muscle jerking side effect from multiple antipsychotic drugs too
Just an FYI about Zyprexa aka Olanzapine for me in the UK it gave me diabetes it's one of the possible side effects but honestly does my head in going to the doctors all the time when i have agoraphobia
Great video!...I recently had my Geodon bumped up to quell the not so great effects of coming off Abilify, which gave me akathisia, like really bad if you've watched my videos, I was super twitchy. Now after stopping Abilify I'm significantly more depressed??...so idk ...I see my new psych on Thursday
Thanks for sharing!
Great and informative video! Thanks! Hey have you read into psychedelic therapy? It was scientificaly studied deaply and in many cases it had life changing results without the negative side effects of ssri or antipsychotic meds. There's also a great 4 episode documentary about it "how to change your mind". Highly recommend reading more into it specially psilocybin, tell me if more info would help
I have a had a range of symptoms depending on the antipsychotic that was being increased. Involuntary moments in my hands and neck were the most noticeable, but I’ve seen sedative affects from some, and just over all feeling more lethargic. Overall they calm the other positive symptoms I experience, but decrease motivation and desire to achieve things each day.
I'm on Olanzapine 10mg for the past two years and at first, there was a numbness to my feelings. I wasn't feeling things much. That could also be attributed to my post psychosis phase that I was going through but I definitely think the antipsychotics played a major role. Also gained a ton of weight on Olanzapine. Trying to shed it off now
Thank you for your channel
By far the most annoying side effects for me is that they a) leave me basically nonfunctional in the morning, and b) it feel like there is maybe a 0.5 second delay in comprehending things / finding the right words when talking.
The first one is pretty straightforward. It just sucks as I hate having to constantly explain to people that, no, I can’t do an 8:30 meeting as I will probably still be a drooling mess and will not be able to comprehend anything they say 🤣
The second one (the delay in comprehension) really, really annoys me though as I used to be pretty quick like that ☹️ It feels like my meds dumb down those parts of my brain which I really, really hate. I mean, I feel like some people now think I’m stupid because I feel like I am staring at them blankly for a fraction of a second while I process what they said, and then I sometimes trip over my words or can’t find the correct word when I speak.
That last one rings so true with me! I call it processing time. It’s not exactly like what you describe but when I get info in a meeting at work I need five minutes of it just… sitting in my brain for me to grasp it. I used to be quicker too and it sucks. Thanks for sharing this!
@@SchizoKitzoDid you have any processing speed issues before meds or psychosis.?
Also, what are your experiences with Aripiprazole for side effects and understanding of its dangers short term and long-term?
And, have you explored the benefits of a proper therapeutic ketogenic dietary protocol?
God bless and protect you,
Mike
Oddly, I had to discontinue an antipsychotic due to my kidneys and developed facial tics and head jerking. Over the course of a year it has all but stopped, but It was a major issue for a while.
I take zyprexa 20 mg. Magnesium works wonders for extrapyramidal side effects and dystonia.
Hello! I have a question. I have watched quite a few of your videos and am impressed on how well adjusted you are even on bad days. My ex was diagnosed bipolar and was not good with keeping up with her med and then did a deep dive into drugs and alcohol. We divorced and I ended up raising the kids by myself. I know in a past video you did not want to have kids and I get that but you haven't talked about a significant other unless I missed that video. Do you have someone that you have in your life? Just from seeing things from the other side of it, it is both painful and incredibly stressful but it can also help the person suffering if they have someone that is willing to help. I hope you do. Also, don't be 100% against children. Both my kids with my ex turned out ok and are fully aware of possible mental health issues of their own.
I started taking an invega sustaina injectible 3 months ago. its pretty great, except towards the end of the month i start to get paranoia a little bit. also i consider that maybe as i stay on it for a longer period, (6 months to a year) then maybe it will work better overall...i hope.
i was taking lithium and zyprexa for 5 years just about. but now im on lithium and invega. my paranoia and anxiety is almost non existent, so long as its not close to my next injection time. very greatful.
I was put on multiple atypical antipsychotics over the years and all of them! gave me unbearable tachycardia and weird „I can feel my blood running“ sensation. Had to get off of them, always. They'd also make me sleepy but panicky at the same time, so I couldn't sleep and I'd be groggy all the time.
I have weird responses to meds in general (possibly due to my ASD), so I'm not assuming this would be a common experience though
Excuse the ramble, I am high and a bit manic rn. Anyway, I wanted to say, as a middle aged bipolar 2, it is important to remember that humans don’t just change drastically during puberty, they change again between age 30-40 and so on and so on ( most people gain wait, get some wrinkles and start to see grey hair). What also changes, is your reaction to meditation… both dosage effects, and in side effects.
Case in point, I took risperdal from age 23-29 without issue (aside from stiffness and a lack of emotion). At 43 I was given the same dosage again, and I ended up in the medical ward with heart problems and my first instance of hypomania. So always approach a new prescription with the awareness that you may experience side effects, even if you have taken it previously as a teen, or a twenty something
I'm on haloperidol (haldol). None of the newer anti-psychotics did anything for me beside make me sleepy. I only experience slight muscle spasms now and I blink with my eyes a lot but other than that, no side effects.
When I go up on my olanzapine I realize that I have more side effects (I'm very sleepy and lose my focus on cognitive tasks and lose my libido) but it also helps me dealing with psychosis and maybe also with mania.
I am currently on Lexotanil, Nitrest and Lithosun.
I feel more calm than usual, sometimes even sleepy or drowsy
I was on the spirit down when I was really young 4 mild autism and the weight gain it caused was so horrific I got off the stuff because it was negatively affecting my self-esteem then a bit after that they tried to put me on antidepressants and that didn't really help things either nowadays they've got me on Klonopin twice a day for my anxieties and medical cannabis as a mood stabilizer which seems to be working alright for me I've been taking that combination for nearly 10 years and it's working out great
I use to believe I had schizophrenia or psychosis. I only experience psychosis in symptoms during stress and rarely ill get an episode. Last episode I had was maybe 2 years ago..
I'm very interested to know how you maintain a healthy weight on zyprexa? It's rare but some don't gain weight on it. Myself I pile on the lbs quickly on zyprexa and I find it impossible to lose weight on it. I stopped taling zyprexa a few years ago and with dieting I lost all the weight I had gained. I had to go back on zyprexa due to a manic episode and quickly I gained all the weight back. Love your video's and information your helping so many people. Good health to you.
You're really good at explaining important aspects of this disorder. A question--from the inside, does the bipolar disorder seem separate from the schizo affect disorder or are they just aspects of the same thing?
At age 54 I've reached a point where I don't need a lot of medicine. Mostly I suffer from depression now but I can't go up on my lexapro because it makes my mania go up.
I've been hearing voices at night and wondering if the authorities would not be good. I have a severe loneliness problem from an unforgivable non touching event from the past. I've been hearing voices and considered being away from touch or help.
I understand jerky movements I have Tourette’s. Lithium, Prozac, and provigal have a lot of nasty side effects. I have mood, adhd, ptsdc. ❤
How old are you Kitzo?.
I am taking antipsychotic last 2 years side effects are horrible I can’t even walk so many problems come with antipsychotic if you want to be good you should take antipsychotics
Ok I’m crazy because when I went up in my meds I felt it was very quiet but I felt sad and alone with out voices. So I went back down in my dose.
Not crazy at all, it’s hard adjusting to a new normal. When i was first medicated for my bipolar it took me ages to adjust to not having the mania. I even missed the depression sometimes which is a little cuckoo! At least with the depression i knew i was down and had to force myself to do something. Now it’s just like a blah kind of mood it seems somehow harder to motivate myself.
Reminds me of RLS showers would help.Couldnt sleep
Ugh I hate when my head is so quiet. I am comfortable with my voices ❤
I don’t hear voices but i get what you’re saying. When i first got my bipolar under control with meds it really bothered me how steady my mood was, like it was boring waking up every day just normal with no huge swings up or down. Intellectually i knew it was a good thing and I’m used to it now but it took a lot of adjustment to the new normal.
My dose increase is only a day old, so too early to say I guess, but will try to share later. 😊
I take Olanzapine and it makes me sleepy and hungry. In the beginning I had jerks but that disappeared after a while. The worst thing was gaining 20 lbs in just a few months but maybe fat people are happier😂! Also take Sertraline/Zoloft but that works really well! 😊 Hope the medication make you feel better and with no sideeffects! Getting a cat has made a big difference for me! Sometimes I think that I am beset by a demon but that is probably a part of the disorder. I have seen pictures of girls with schizofrenia and they were all very beautiful. Maybe the witches in medival times had schizofrenia? Maybe that was why priests hated them?
When I was on an antipsychotic it made me soooooo groggy.
My dear ❤ I wish you meet with my older son,he is in the need to KNOW ❤
i used to do all sorts of drug even ended up in the hospital once i just take it as something to better other ppl now but man i was just thinking i was in my prime ha mania man
Are thoughts themselves "voices in the head" what is the difference other then loudness of the thoughts arising in consciousness. I guess it's a matter of volume levels nobody wants to hear the 1000 thoughts per second going on in there head literally as voices. they want it condensed down and quiet.
Maybe a sauna blanket, before bed would help
Less dopamine in the striatum equals less desires less chasing after and wanting thing's which can become detrimental in some case's because of reduced motivation and willpower to do thing's that's why people shouldn't stay on large doses for long periods of time.
Mania shopper ❤ my son did that I love him on his medicine 💊💊💊💊💊 son sleeps a lot , I was poisoned while pregnant with him,by my own blood family members!!!!!! Fact 😢😢
I am glad that your extrapyramidal side effects are getting better. 😊
Is there anyway that you cannot have that doll in the background? I know it’s a rude request but its eyes are creepy.
💓🫀💓
a war started when i was 29 lol "called it" hahah but seriously i have same illness
O🎉
I sent you an email on my story 📖 🧐
Learn to cope with not being ill?
First of all, she's still ill, even on meds.
Second, hearing voices your whole life and then suddenly not can be very stressful and hard to wrap your head around. They've been with her for a really long time and based on what she shared, they've been mostly nice and supportive. It's an adjustment.
Yeah, psych meds suck. But, they don't suck as much as the hospital beds.
This
Call me crazy (like literally) but i really enjoyed my time in the psych ward. It was the vacation from real life that I needed.
less voices
Maybe you should try the prayers instead ; you'd get rid of the voices (the demons) and you wouldn't need those horrible meds anymore.
Psalm 91:15
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
Bible
So glad i go to a church that recognizes that human illness requires treatment from human doctors. I would never go to a church that preached nonsense about illness being caused by demons. Prayer is a great tool in coping with my illness, i can pray that God helps me with my residual symptoms and i can give thanks for the doctors and drugs that help me.
I have the same condition. Since I was 18 in 2001. Anyway, I took zyperxia, and gained a lot of weight. I got off it and lost the weight. Among the 50+ other anti-psychotic I've taken including suplemental medicene that were for ountering side effects. Long story shout, I take lybalvi now. Lybalvi is Zyperxia + Sandimorphin. Sandimorphin is to help with wight gain. Well guess what? It also elminitaed my eps (akistesia, or extra parimedial symptoms.) Good luck on your jourmy. Here's what I currently take after 25+ years of suffering that has slowly gone away. Lybalvi 5/10mgs, Welburine 100mgs 2x morning with 200mg modaphinil. Remelton for sleep at night. I also take an indian supplement from hymilians called shila-jit and helps with energy. If you make changes to you medication with your doctor, do it one medication at a time, do it slowly, and wait several weeks if not several months (years for anti-depressiants) before decideding it's not for you.