I really didn't want to make a new thread about this, but, oh well.
Anyway, so here's the deal,
I went and saw my new psychiatrist yesterday and he wants to take me off my current medicine, Risperdal and put me on a new one (Abilify). Because it's making my cholesterol high. So I had my mom do some research on Abilify for me today and she found that one of the side effects is death. I think any other side effect would be fine, but she's not too pleased that death is one of the side effects. So, I'm a little iffy about taking the medication for that reason.
And here's the real question, I have wanted to come off my medications for a while. I've been warned that long term use of antipsychotics can cause brain shrinkage among other things and I definitely don't want that to happen. But my psychiatrist said that I have to be more than a year without any suicide attempts, without any cutting, without any hospitalizations and then he will consider taking me off my meds. Well, it's almost been a year since my last hospitalization and I feel like DBT has helped me a lot and I think I'm ready to go without meds. But he's saying he wouldn't recommend it for me right now. Hence, why he wants to switch me to Abilify. BUUUT, I've been recovering and I'm doing really well, I'm graduating from DBT in a month and I haven't harmed myself in four months, almost five! I haven't heard any voices in a while and I think I'm much more stable now than I was a year ago. I also have new skills I can use to help me cope.
So, I'm just wondering, is it wise for me to go against my psych's recommendation and just go off my current medication and see how I do? Or should I just try a different antipsychotic until he tells me that it's okay to come off?
I really want to come off the medication, but I do worry about coming off too soon and relapsing and ending up back in the hospital.
Well at the end of the day the decision is always yours, but I would feel wary about going against your psychiatrist's advice.
I would probably ask for a second opinion from another psychiatrist. You are totally within your rights to ask for this, and maybe another treatment option will be discussed that you prefer.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I'm supposed to see another psychiatrist next month. I'm thinking of staying on my current medication until I can see the new psychiatrist instead of going on the new medication right away.
Hopefully they will be able to come up with a new option that I like better.
Hi!
I think staying on your current medication doesn't hurt.
I know death is a very serious side effect, but I would be interested in the percentage of people who are taking abilify and who died. Sometimes they have to put side effects in the leaflets that happened to less that 1 percent of the people who are taking a medication.
You survived the abuse.
You're gonna survive the recovery.
Death is a side-effect of a lot more medicines than you realise if you take into consideration every single person that has ever taken the drug. Death in aripiprazole (Abilify) is extremely rare.
PM me if you want a PDF copy of the ICD-10or the Mental Health Act 1983/2007. I ALSO HAVE THE DSM-V BOOK and am a pharmacology student.
I have a visual impairment / neurological problems so I need people to type in clear text and no funny fonts. Also excuse any typos, my vision blocks things out.
I have autism and have problems communicating, PMs included.
Just becasue I type well doesn't mean I speak well. I am only part time verbal.
Could you change your diet to reduce your coleterol? Not sure if it works like that it just a thought.
I've been doing the best I could to manage my cholesterol with my diet. But at this dose of medication that I'm on it seems like no matter what I do my cholesterol just keeps rising.
I'm thinking of asking my psychiatrist if I could have my medication dosage decreased.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura2.0
Hi!
I think staying on your current medication doesn't hurt.
I know death is a very serious side effect, but I would be interested in the percentage of people who are taking abilify and who died. Sometimes they have to put side effects in the leaflets that happened to less that 1 percent of the people who are taking a medication.
I have been trying to look for some decent sources that tell what percent of people died while using Abilify. Turns out, the only cases of death were in individuals with physical illnesses before starting the medication. So I probably have nothing to worry about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel Maiden
Death is a side-effect of a lot more medicines than you realise if you take into consideration every single person that has ever taken the drug. Death in aripiprazole (Abilify) is extremely rare.
My research has agreed with you. I probably have nothing to worry about, but it still irks me a little. I think I would feel much better if I just took a different antipsychotic. But I'll see about that when I meet with my new psychiatrist.
