schizophrenia recovery: without medication: 28.09.08

about my blog

I have suspected since the 1980's that medications for psychiatric illnesses were harmful. In 1996, at the age of 30, I was diagnosed schizophrenic and prescribed to take those medications involuntarily. I learned that there are others who consider neuroleptics dangerous and even unnecessary.

I have tried to go off the medications in the past. I will recount these "learning experiences" in future posts. Now, armed with new knowledge and information, I am ready and prepared to leave the medications (and the diagnosis) behind.

I started these in spring of 2007 at 15 mg Aripiprazole (Abilify) and 5 mg Fleuphenazine (Prolixin) a day. I was also on injections of Fleuphenazine until February of 2008. On June 5, 2008, I decreased the medications to 10 mg Aripiprazole. The plan was to take 10 mg for 3-4 months, then switch to 5 mg, then get off of this completely.

I plan each week (on a Sunday or a Saturday) to detail the progress of the week previous.

I am writing this blog to help me detail what I go through in decreasing the medications gradually and, finally, leaving them behind. The blog is also intended to help others who have suffered as I have.

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Down to 5 (five) milligrams Aripiprazole , I was fine (each day) for quite awhile (as recounted below...)

I had to return to the United States. I was put on a lot more pills.

I was put on a "cocktail" of 3 (three) pills while in the United States: Aripiprazole -- 30-40 milligrams, Temazapam (for about 2-3 (two-three) weeks) -- 30 milligrams, and, then, Prolixin (Fleuphenezine), 10 milligrams. (This was an increase from 5-10 milligrams Aripiprazole.)

The Temezapam, a benzodiazapine , a "benzo", was discontinued shortly before I left for Eastern Europa.

Due to side effects (head, face twitches), I was put on Cogentin(benztropine mesilate) -- 2 milligrams.

I sincerely apologise for some confusing posts that I've taken out to review and analyse. I will, perhaps, re-post, then explain those confusing posts, or not...

Thanks to those who responded to my writings.

I apologize to one writer who offered a suggestion in a comment that was deleted by accident. I am sorry that a person's comment was lost when I moved a post.

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I am, at this point, facing the same dilemma...how, eventually, to gradually reduce...those chemicals (pills)...

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Sunday, September 28, 2008