I was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia
when I was 23, i'm 29 now. When I was
diagnosed I was experincing paranoid
feelings that my family was out to get me.
At the time I was using marijuana heavily
and I was not leaving my apartment. since
then I haven't had any paranoid thoughts
but I've also been on meds since then so
that could be why.
The reason why I'm posting is that I feel
the meds are ruining my life. I feel like
I'm operating at 50% all the time. I'm on
abilify, 15mg, once a day which is the
lowest dosage you can take. Is it possible
for me to stop taking meds or did I ever
need them in the first place. Please help,
since my diagnosis my lifes a living hell.
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gematria
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 21
Posted: 03-29-08 11:34am
Did your doctors know how much marijuana
you were smoking when they decided your
diagnosis?
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r21g
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 03-29-08 19:29pm
They knew I was smoking marijuana, I don't
think theyt knew how much.
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 803 Location: IL
Thanks: 34
Thanked:12
Posted: 03-31-08 09:45am
Do not abruptly halt your meds.
Psychiatrist often see patients that use
drugs. It is known as self medicating.
Your meds are helping with the paranoid
delsusions and possibly other symptoms of
the disorder. Talk to the doctor and tell
him about the cognitive side effects of
the medication. Perhaps a dose change is
in order. Your medication is helping more
than you know. You are functioning,
enjoying life free of paranoia, and sound
stable. Going off your medication is going
to cause your illness to spiral out of
control and your life will go with it. Go
back to your doctor and discuss your
options.
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gematria
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 21
Posted: 03-31-08 15:06pm
Do you smoke a lot less marijuana now?
Since marijuana is known to cause
paranoia, I'm just wondering if this
contributed to your feelings over paranoia
when you were 23.
As the other poster suggested, discuss all
of this with your doctor. Maybe smoking
less marijuana also helped get your
symptoms under control, and maybe he could
change your medication to something less
debilitating.
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This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
