are antipsychotics addictive

Question

i am not really well. six months of hypomania. i wanted to ask the forum whether what is going on is natural because usually my manias are aborted quickly by AP's. 

1. 1st i don't know whether i am cycloth... or BP2 or BP1 but sure i had psychotic symptoms so may be BP1. But again my 1st mania occurred only under AD's as well as all the other 3 manias. But the latter weren't true mania just hypomanias for a few days but still due to AD's which I rushed in time to kill. Now this time my 2nd full blown mania stayed for 7 months now which is nonsense and my AP's are greater in dose than before. Can a mania stay that long or perhaps i changed from cycloth... to BP2 then BP1. ??

2. Am i to expect depression for sure eventually or could it be that I shall stay fixed higher than before. it's good in a way if i don't go into depression but my stupid pdoc says who said that i must go into depression eventually.

3. are the antipsychotics addictive like the benzo's i.e. do you build tolerance and with time i shall need more and more etc... because starbunny takes 500 of seroquel and am on 150. i used to sleep well on 25 now i barely sleep on 150 !!
thx

starbunny · Accepted Answer

As you know, I can really relate to your post as my last one shared similar concens  about prolonged hypomania and tolerance to AP's. In my case the AP was pushed to 500 in order to treat prominent psychotic symptoms, because in the lower doses (under 300mg) it acts as sedative only (which can be just what some people need to avert mania, which would then automatically reduce mild psychotic symptoms anyway).

I understand your worry as in our experience a tolerance may have been built after a period of time - you describe needing 150mg to do what was previously accomplished on 25mg. Any time I have tried lowering the dose for various reasons I have felt unimaginably bad and couldn't sleep AT ALL! So it feels better every time I go up - but then there is no 'going back' which feels a bit scary and uncomfortable

We are also similar in ways that we were treated for depression first which probably set off my first manic episode as well, but now the cycle is set, it also feels as if there's 'no going back'. I queried my diagnosis to the mental health team 'which bipolar' - BP1- 2 3? etc but I was told not to get involved with labels and that I should just get on with treating symptoms. I can see their point, but like you adel I would still like to know. 

As to hypomania leading to depression eventually - for a lot of people it does. My CPN told me that it does not always go down and that cycles can slow down stop at being stable for a while and go back up or down there is no way of telling - so there's more uncertainty!

My personal feeling is that I am going to avoid adding any more meds to the cocktail any more and try some holistic alternatives first - like adding valerian to my night time dose of AP to see if I sleep better or going for reiki treatments and stuff, anyone with any suggestions of holistic 'tools' I can add please write me :-D

And adel... if you discover anything new be sure to let me know friend and I'll do the same!!

paranoid_cataclysm · Answer

Yeah I know, they say they're nonaddictive but yet you go through withdrawals from them

cowgirlnerd · Answer

I am tapering off of Geodon and having withdrawals....that would make me think they are addictive.  Right?

adel_ezz · Answer

starbunny: yur reply is typical me. I live on the hope that one day they may resolve it hopefully in our lifetime. the problem which torments me is whether the AD's which revealed my symptoms or that they could have occurred anyway. About insomnia, Buldozer used zopiclon instead of adding more AP's. as you said any news forward them to me.
p_c: i know when you relapse you will need a higher dose. Again since you are unstable by definition chances that one relapses increases

paranoid_cataclysm · Answer

1. It is possible they misdiagnosed you.  I don't know if cyclothymia can turn into bipolar disorder however because it IS a mild form of it and mild forms of mental illnesses can always get worse but not always.  I just am not clear on whether all mild forms of bipolar disorder are considered cyclothymia.

2. Chances are you will become depressed again, this is the nature of bipolar disorder.

3. They say antipsychotics are not addictive.  However your body adjusts to them where you go through withdrawal anyway if you stop them suddenly and some people build up a tolerance or in my case relapse and then need a higher dose or a change in medication for it to have the same effect.

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