Lurasidone

Pinto
Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener
in Mental health and wellbeing

Hi I had a misdiagnosis and my psychiatrist wants me off this tablet. I've been on it approx 18months and on antipsychotics for 4 years. I tried to stop another antipsychotic a few years ago without telling my mental health team and went too fast and got akesthesia. I was on 37mg in Jan this year and am now splitting a 18.5mg tablet every other day. This is all with the psychiatrist support. So at what point do I just stop. I'm very nervous

Comments

  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Community Member Posts: 1,423 Championing

    Please don't just stop it suddenly. It needs gradual tapering. I was on Quetapine for a few years until I didn't think it was helping me. I stopped it myself. My lord the withdrawals were horrendous

    I still remember the telling off from the Psychiatrist. I should have weaned off by 10% every fortnight.

    Please don't take advice off the internet, speak to your Psychiatrist and they'll make a plan for safe weaning off

  • Pinto
    Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener

    Hi the psychiatrist wanted me off in two weeks. I said no and want to do it slower, so I kind of feel a bit lost with it

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing
    edited May 4

    Hi @Pinto

    Like @WelshBlue says and like you've said, stopping it quickly isn't safe. And you say you're doing this with your psychiatrist. So I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you asking for other experiences?

    There's a recent thread in which we talked about antipsychotic withdrawal that you might find useful....

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/145639/tardive-dyskinesia-from-anti-psychotics
  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing

    We were writing at the same time. Now I understand.

  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Community Member Posts: 1,423 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1123324#Comment_1123324

    I'm no psychiatrist or chemist, but if I were you I'd stick your guns.

    Tapering off is essential to avoid withdrawal and other relapses. Not to mention the shock on the nervous system

    As I said tho' … advice on forums …

    Can you talk to the Psych' about your concerns and for them to assure you it's safe ?

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing

    Hi @Pinto

    How are you holding up?

  • Pinto
    Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener

    Hi just wanted to say after very slow weaning I'm off . Thank you for your support

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,887 Online Community Team

    That's great news @Pinto, thank you for updating us. How are you feeling?

  • Pinto
    Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener

    Hi so I'm a week off of it and feel good, but I was on the tiniest dose . My main concern is withdrawal TD, so I'm being aware , but not dwelling , just living life x

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,887 Online Community Team

    That's a good idea to just be aware that you might experience withdrawal symptoms but not dwelling on it. I hope you continue to feel positive 😊

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing

    Hi Pinto. That's great news to be sober! 😊 It's good to see you were allowed two months rather than two weeks to wean. I too need a super slow wean off psych meds not because of TD, but because I get mentally unwell if it's too fast.

    Have you noticed a difference now that you're sober? I can't believe the difference in my thinking and emotional processing off psych meds. I was on psych meds for 40 years - with the minimum of a daily antipsychotic. Now I'm only on emergency meds (AKA rescue meds or breakthrough meds). Do you have anything like that now?

  • Pinto
    Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener

    Hi 10 weeks off and feeling good. I hope everyone going through similar has a positive journey

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 5,741 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    That's brilliant @Pinto, thank you for the update. I hope you continue to feel good!

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing

    Congratulations, @Pinto 🥳 Your comment begs the question, So what is positive about your journey?

  • Pinto
    Pinto Community Member Posts: 24 Listener

    Hi, for me brighter, clearer mind and as an added bonus weight loss and cholesterol lowered by 20 percent. Remember this was with my psychiatrist, things drastically changed in my life and I was told the drug wasn't needed

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 1,891 Championing

    Oh wow @Pinto ! That's such wonderful news!! Already a 20% drop in cholesterol? Yay! Isn't it incredible how drastically the mind works with vs without these drugs? I'm so happy for you. Welcome to the sober world. In June I celebrated three years since stopping daily psych meds. Like you, this was (and is) done under the supervision of my psychiatrist. I hope you stay well and that you stick around the forum. 😊

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