Not best pleased! (also, depixol? )
 

I kinda need some opinions here if I can, I don't know whether I'm overreacting.
I had a relapse of my schizophrenia a couple of years back and was eventually put on a depot called piportil which got me out of a big mess and I've been stable ish since.
Now today I received a call from my cpn saying my consultant (who I've had for two years and NEVER MET! ) has changed my depot to depixol. Starting Friday!
After some hunting on the net it looks like they're discontinuing the piportil. Fair enough. But why didn't they ask which alternative I'd like to try? My cpn didn't even know if I'd been on it before (I haven't)
Also, I think they've got the dose wrong. I'm currently on the max dose of my depot. They're putting me on 40mg of depixol. The max is 400mg. Is it me or is that low?
Anyway, does anyone have experiences of this med?
Oh I forgot to mention, my psych who I've never met is also leaving this week :-P
Deary me!

It's a shame that the current depot is being discontinued. But yes, I'd be annoyed too if I was just told what was being prescribed next without any consultation first.

Regarding the dosage, I wonder if there was a mistake? 400mg could have been written down as 40mg. Though I wonder if the two drugs don't have exact comparable dosages (for example 40mg of depixol might be roughly the same as the dose of piportil you were on). Though I would question it.

Can you ring your care co-ordinator back and say that you'd like to discuss this with someone before it's given to you?

40mg of Flupentixol decanoate (Depixol) given every 2 weeks is the same as 50mg Pipotiazine palmitate (Piportil) given every 4 weeks according to this chart https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/formular...pot-injections

Usually depots start with a small test dose to ensure there aren't any nasty reactions. Maybe 40mg is a test dose and they will titrate you up from there?

I would not be happy at all if something as big as this was decided without a proper chat. You should be an active participant in your treatment. I think it would be important to ask your CPN for a meeting with whoever your new psychiatrist will be so you can express your preferences and concerns.

Good luck.

I have schizoaffective disorder and I'm on depixol 300mg fortnightly.
The max dose is 400mg weekly.
I've found it reduced my symptoms, I used to be severely unstable but being on the depot has improved my mental health. (Even though at times I refused to take it fearing it was poison) they upped the dose when I experienced that.

It sucks the way things came about. I wouldn't be too pleased if I didn't have a consultation first. But I hope it helps.

Thanks so much for everyone's help!
I'll reply properly when I'm a bit more with it (just had a panic attack! )
But just to clarify, I'm currently on 150mg of piportil every three weeks, and I'm having a test dose of 20mg of depixol, then moving onto 40mg every 2 weeks. X

I was given flupenthixol when I was IP last year. It gave me permanent pins and needles which I hated. I was supposed to continue taking it after discharge but I never did. I have now put on my advance directive that I don't want it.

I am on clopixol depot which I get no side effects except for a lump and bruising on the injection site.

You should have been consulted, It's not ethical for a dr you've not met even once to radically change such an important med , Please try and meet your new dr asap...

Thanks so much all.
My cpn had a word with the psych and told her I wasn't very happy with how it's been done
Apparently she was meant to ring me. She hasn't.
Anyway I had the test dose yesterday and haven't reacted to it so looks like I'm not allergic or anything.
My other half is really concerned about the dose I've been put on tho because she thinks it may trigger a relapse. Guess we'll have to just see, but I am under a lot of stress at the moment so it's not come at the best time really.
Sorry for waffling.

Now I'm on a medical ward. What a fantastic week I've had!

Oh dear, from the depot or another reason? Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you so much that's nice of you :-) it's something unrelated, just everything seems to come at once doesn't it?

Oh deary me Bear :(

Maybe you'll get some responsible treatment in there though. Get well soon!!

I hope, given the stress you're under, appropriate supports can be arranged while you change medications. And that you and your partner can keep an eye out for your first "warning signs" and act if they appear to get you more support - not wait for things to develop.

But mostly get well soon :)

Oh thank you so much hun :-)
I had the 40mg injection, unfortunately when my cpn left I noticed a big patch of oil on my top so it looks like I didn't actually get much of the medication.
I rang my team and the nurse who answered just told me to wipe it and put a clean plaster on! Luckily my cpn rang later to make another appointment and I remembered to tell her, I'm having the low volume type next time.
I'm not sure if I'm starting to slip. Colours are looking brighter. I'm seeing more energy. I'm getting obsessed with the safe people again.
There's a few celebrities who make me feel safe. I just... I need a message.
My hearts been playing up I have a heart condition called POTS. It's really really bad right now and I don't if it's the depot or because I've been ill.
I see my new psych on the 28th. I don't know if I already said that.
If I get really ill again mentally I'll die. I can't keep going through this cycle. I'm hurting people.

Sorry.

I'm a bit stressed out. I had to turn the telly off because it was telling me to hide weapons in the wardrobe.
I haven't slept because Stephen Fry was in the heating telling me that I have bipolar. I just don't need another diagnosis right now.
The mad people were talking to me through the voices which I don't mind too much but they said that Nelson Mandela is in hell which really upset me.
I told some things to my sister and she was lovely about it.
I'm not depressed though which is great.

Can you tell your CPN about these experiences?

Last week you said that you were scared of becoming unwell on this new depot because you thought it was a low dose. Now you've had the fist dose you do seem to be talking about things that could be interpreted as psychosis. So perhaps it is very possible this new depot is not helping you yet and needs to be reviewed by your team.

Oh gosh I'm sorry I didn't mean to give that impression...
I don't think I'm any more unwell than I usually am.
I do usually experience things like this, although they may have been slightly worse due to the stress I've been under x

Sorry I misinterpreted! It might still be good to check in with your team so they can see how you're doing. But it's good if you are feeling more or less the same as usual!

I think I might have a chat with my team tomorrow anyway.
(Please don't apologise, people who don't know me usually worry!)
But yeah, I just need to keep tabs on it so I don't end up in hospital again. I couldn't handle that!