What to Do When Your Schizophrenia Medication Stops Working
I've been in recovery for over 15 years and learned a few approaches to managing these situations. I communicate with my loved ones, therapist, and doctor regularly. I meet with my doctor once every couple of months or sooner to control symptoms. I engage in my therapy twice monthly. In addition to my treatment plan, I practice a wide range of coping skills.
Still, I experienced incidents where my medicine seemed to have weakened in effectiveness. Like you this created concerns. Yet, my treatment team and I found strategies to press forward. I have 3 tips to overcome the pitfalls of treatment that will help you maintain wellness.
Continue taking your medication. Stay focused on your health plan. Keep an open dialogue with your doctor.
Tip 1: Don't stop taking your schizophrenia medication
Don't play doctor and stop your treatment. Taking antipsychotics and other prescriptions for brain conditions demands professional oversight. I've heard the terrible outcomes of stopping treatment. After stopping treatment, utilizing the same medication and dosage might require changes to get positive results.
Never give up. Yes, this is difficult to carry out. However, the situation is a hiccup. Continue your medication regimen. Don't make any changes. Don't increase or decrease the dosage on your own without your doctor's knowledge.
Tip 2: Stay focused on your health plan and coping skills
Stay focused on your health plan. If you exercise and engage in outdoor activities or practice any sort of hobbies, hold on to your routine, and don't isolate yourself. Stick to your self-care program, whatever that looks like. These coping tools are essential to riding out the storms.
My self-care routine looks like taking a moment to reflect through journaling and meditation. I journal about twice a week. I talk to my higher power and share my stresses, plans, and events. Participating in therapy, going on short walks, and spending time with my family. Sometimes, I increase the frequency of my therapy sessions when I feel like I'm on a downward spiral. Then my therapist and I determine which coping strategies to recycle until I speak with my doctor. Whenever I feel immune to the medication, I reach out to my doctor.
Tip 3: Keep an open dialogue with your doctor about medication
Talk to your doctor. Tell them everything about your signs and symptoms. Provide information to your doctor as to why you feel the medication isn't working. Remember to discuss any changes in your sleeping patterns, motivation, eating habits, moods, or whatever changes you noticed. Also, your caregiver could provide further insight about you to your doctor.
If you can't get an appointment with your doctor in a speedy manner, talk to your therapist or nurse in order to get access to them sooner.
This or That
Which is harder to manage when you're busy?
When it feels like your schizophrenia medication isn't working, don't give up
In conclusion, whenever it seems like your medicine is losing its effectiveness consider my tips:
- Continue taking your medication
- Stay focused on your health plan
- Keep an open dialogue with your doctor
Living with a diagnosis is challenging but playing doctor and stopping or changing medication is not the path to take. Determine changes to your medication with your doctor. Stay on your self-care routine. Keep hope alive that you and your doctor will find better treatment options. Never give up, living with mental illness is manageable and having a quality life in recovery is possible.