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Post by Admin on Dec 15, 2018 19:21:26 GMT
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2018 11:39:35 GMT
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2018 11:40:27 GMT
Welcome to the RADAR study Research into Antipsychotic Discontinuation and Reduction (RADAR) is a research study led by Dr Joanna Moncrieff that will evaluate a structured antipsychotic medication reduction and discontinuation programme for people with long-term schizophrenia and similar problems. The study will be the first with this group of people that uses a gradual and flexible method of medication reduction, and that follows people up over the long-term. RADAR aims to evaluate if reducing and possibly stopping antipsychotic medication helps people to live more independently. Follow us on twitter: @radarprogramme www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/antipsychotic-discontinuation-and-reduction
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2018 13:37:25 GMT
i stopped all medication 5 times - the first 2 times for around 4 years each time. The last 3 times with disastrous results.
i have increased the medication twice over recent years. i am now on 400mg Amisulpride.
This issue / area of medication seems to be very individual, in depth & complex & involving many variables.
For all the criticism of psychiatric medication it does help me in ways.
i don't agree with this denial of mental illness, & extreme anti psychiatry / anti medication positions. Some people need & are helped with a comprehensive psychiatry & wise use of medication.
& of course all the general treatment & support needs to be better for people.
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2018 13:57:52 GMT
Certainly my own experience is that if i don't take the medication i end up in very severe illness. It is impossible to know what is the underlying condition / illness & what are medication withdrawal effects, but it is impossible to really know & separate.
The position that i have also found myself in, is thinking that there are far better treatment, care, help & support understandings & approaches, but Not being able to access it all. This has certainly been one of the catch 22 / double binds over the past 14 years - that there hasn't been what i feel is more in the way of appropriate help & support to try & reduce / come off the medication & i am Not going to put myself through another severe episode of psychosis trying to come of the medication. There also wasn't what i would consider a more appropriate response to the original presentation of the illness. Maybe a different response to it all initially would have helped more? Too late now to do anything about the past.
i don't want to be on the medication, but also what real choice have i had & do i have with it all? & maybe even with the 'ideals' i would have still needed a medication?
i think that this society / system needs to be different in it's understandings & treatments of people within all these areas, & i don't have any control or choice over all of that.
It has to come down to an acceptance of it all.
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2018 15:02:33 GMT
17 years of a highly dedicated, disciplined path of self responsibility, sobreity & healing has Not cured / resolved the condition.
i see all these areas as more complimentary now than alternative.
i have felt quite a lot better since the recent increase in medication. i have a friend who has a small cleaning business, & i have paid her to clean my flat - it has really helped - in ways she has been more practical help & benefit to me, with just being kind & accepting & doing something on a practical basis to help than 17 years of working with alternative healers, & all the endless suggestions & advice from people. i think that says something quite profound, & it is an important lesson.
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2018 15:05:50 GMT
i have a friend who has a small cleaning business, & i have paid her to clean my flat - it has really helped - in ways she has been more practical help & benefit to me, with just being kind & accepting & doing something on a practical basis to help than 17 years of working with alternative healers, & all the endless suggestions & advice from people. i think that says something quite profound, & it is an important lesson. She has been of more practical help & benefit than the NHS over the past 20 years as well.
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Post by snowstorm on Dec 21, 2018 17:58:35 GMT
Yes, and ended up having an episode. However, it's a mixed picture for me because I have also had psychosis when just taking drugs as usual. What is the answer then? I think the truth is that a really broad range of help is needed for a chance to get better and the meds are a little part of the picture. I wish for myself that they weren't at all, but if you get forced into taking them initially where does that leave the sufferer? Sometimes I think special mental health care homes for acute cases could be an answer, where people are practically looked after, as an alternative to hospitals. I also just do not understand why many psychiatrists are quite happy to leave patients on the same dosage for years without even trying to reduce it. These drugs have side effect lists as long as your arm, a lot more consideration should be given to the physical health of the individual.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 19:43:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 19:51:23 GMT
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Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2018 8:24:30 GMT
Thank you both for your replies - yes it's a very complex issue / area with these types of medication, & these conditions / experiences.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 8:58:28 GMT
Will probably fill in survey later.
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Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2018 9:50:08 GMT
Sometimes I think special mental health care homes for acute cases could be an answer, where people are practically looked after, as an alternative to hospitals. Yes i think that there is a place for places of genuine care & asylum for a percentage of people.
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Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2018 9:52:23 GMT
Will probably fill in survey later. i filled it all in. i thought that that survey had a very anti psychiatry / anti medication / denial of mental illness bias & didn't allow for me to discuss bad experiences of medication withdrawal & good experiences of medication. i tried to discuss all this with Will Hall - he asked me to e-mail him & i replied to him on a facebook page about all this & he ignored all of it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 12:14:52 GMT
Is the Manchester survey not a different one?
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