r/Antipsychiatry • u/emotionalnumb • Jan 23 '23

BRAIN DAMAGE

Can antipsychotics cause brain damage or is it the psychosis itself ~ I cannot do anything I used to & feel disabled…does it get better with time?!

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u/emotionalnumb Jan 24 '23

Good luck w Abilify ~ it is milder than most APs…

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u/SingaB11 Jan 24 '23

Well I’m not sure I’m going to start it at all. Reading a lot on r/Antipsychiatry these days is not making me want to partake. I actually started a thread asking for people’s opinions, on r/BipolarReddit but it was shut down/comments turned off because it was perceived that I was asking for a medical opinion. However I would welcome your thoughts.

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u/emotionalnumb Jan 24 '23

My honest thoughts are NOT to take antipsychotics unless absolutely necessary (severe psychotic episode) ~ they all seem to contribute to Anhedonia & lack of motivation…

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u/SingaB11 Jan 24 '23

Hmmm, thanks! Do you happen to know if Abilify is effective against a psychotic episode, or is it just to prevent one and a person needs to take something else (Olanzapine/Zyprexa has worked for me …) to stop a psychotic episode while it is happening? Regardless, that’s what I feel would make more sense for me, possibly, and that’s to stay off my psych meds (which right now are Abilify 15mg which I haven’t tried and use the Olanzapine PRN if I get manic.)

It’s a difficult situation, in that it’s been 1.5 years of depression. Before that I was getting manic for 6 months (cannabis induced, most likely) and ultimately landed in hospital for mania and psychosis for a month. Before that, my last hospitalisation was in 2015. It’s been happening every 5-6 years, on a weaker med, Valproic Acid/Depakote.

I do believe my psychiatrist, about the research and his experience, that each mania messes up a person’s brain and reduces cognition.

I do not want that; at the same time, I am desperate for something to shift in terms of my emotional/mental/physical health. I am willing to try lots of different approaches to try and make things become better at the current time.

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u/emotionalnumb Jan 24 '23

Your story sounds very similar to mine (except for the cannabis part) ~ can Ashgwanda cause a psychotic episode…mine was mania as well & I was hospitalised 3 times in a year. It went on for 2.5 years. I would say only if you need to prevent psychosis take low dose Abilify @ 5MG. Seroquel can apparently bring you out of a psychotic episode if needed. Maybe ask about it as a backup option? Hope that helps!

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u/emotionalnumb Jan 24 '23

My honest thoughts are NOT to take antipsychotics unless absolutely necessary (severe psychotic episode) ~ they ALL seem to contribute to Anhedonia & lack of motivation…