Posted by Christ_empowered on August 6, 2011, at 13:10:26
In reply to Discontinuing Antipsychotics - What to expect etc?, posted by uncouth on August 6, 2011, at 12:07:18
I have been diagnosed with Bipolar I w/ Psychotic Features, so my problems are different from yours.
When I went off an antipsychotic (Abilify), I felt great for a while, then crashed into a hyperkinetic, mildly psychotic, agitated depression. I had to go back on a Abilify at a higher dose to make the symptoms go away.
For Bipolar II with no psychosis, I don't think you'll be having those problems. Long-term use of high doses of antipsychotics, at least the older ones, can worsen a psychotic condition or even create a psychotic condition in patients who hadn't before experienced psychosis. I think this tardive psychosis is fairly rare, though.
Just try to take it slow. In "Mad in America", the author writes about how some data seems to indicate that rapid withdrawal of a neuroleptic can lead to a deterioration, which will lead to more neuroleptic use. More gradual withdrawal gives your brain time to adjust the absence of the tranquilizer. If you're taking a sedating neuroleptic, you might want to consider a benzo or something for sleep. Even non-sedating, high-potency neuroleptics can cause withdrawal problems, so I would think that a day time anti-anxiety medication might be a good idea to keep agitation at bay while you taper.
Good luck to you.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:992971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110728/msgs/992980.html