What are your experiences like with antipsychotics, how do they make you feel and do they work?

[ihateinvega]

My name says it all. I feel tired all the time, I usually sleep the perfect 8 hours a day but now I sleep up to 14 hours a day and my sleeping pattern always messes up when I get the injection. I don't feel like doing anything, if I am lying in bed I will have strong urge to not want to do anything else and just lay there. I don't feel like doing the things I use to enjoy like gaming and exercise and working towards goals. However it does seem to help with the schizophrenia part, I haven't had a psychotic episode since I started taking these meds and I became awake to reality when I realized that I was hearing voice all along and the world wasn't watching my every move...etc

I have also asked around on reddit about the long terms effects of being on antipsychotics and even google has mixed studies to show and views. Some guy on reddit gave a lot of links to sources about the negative effects antipsychotics has on a person and seems to be correct as they come up on official websites that list common and rare side effects whilst other information is questionable like whether it decreases your lifespan by 10 to 15 years.

I don't know what to believe but all I know is Invega/antipsychotics suck for me (the side effects) but I guess the positive is that I am more awake to reality and don't have schizophrenia anymore.

 

[Rubesrubio]

I was diagnosed since 2011, at the time of the illness I was convinced I didn't need medicine. I still sometimes think that I don't need them lol. But I have seen the bad relapses when I'm not taking meds.
I'm on Invega sustena monthly injectable. For me its not to bad. Different meds have different side effects so get with your psychiatrist to find one that's best for YOU. I started taking oral pills but I would stop taking them or forget them and I would have relapse. SO the injectable gives me peace of mind that I at least have medicine in system for a month.
By no means IM saying that I like taking medicine. I wish I didn't have to rely on medicine or risk relapsing and getting seriously injured or dying. I also don't want to give my family a hard time. But sometimes I wish The Lord would take this away from me.
I also believe that these medicines might not get good for us in the long term. Might be damaging our bodies and brains

 

[BrAndreyu]

I've been trying different things since 2011 when I was first diagnosed. Zyprexa worked but it made me sleepy and I gained a lot of weight, so we stopped that. Then I tried Latuda and that was not without some unpleasant side effects. Now I am on Abilify and I've gained weight again, but it's not as severe and seems to be working pretty well although I have periods where I just feel completely blank.

 

[Unqualified]

I took prolixin for 30 years and no long term bad effects. Then resperidone for 20, not completely effective. But when I decided to obey the Lord a had a relationship with him that is when I started coming alive and doing better. I still deal with voices and depression and stress, but I’ve grown.