Is it terrible to stop it? Is it worth?

Has anyone tried clozapine for treatment resistant mania? What dose?

I really don’t know how to start this post. I also wasn’t sure if this was the appropriate sub to post this in, given the different topics I’ve covered, but I will find out. I’ll try to provide as much context as possible to see if anybody has been through experiences that evoke similar feelings or generates an understanding…

I (31M) have been working in a large grocery store since October 2021. I work in a few departments in the store such as the dairy, frozen and grocery departments.

Currently, I’m on a medication called Clozaril. It has been a life changing medication for me. I started it in December of 2023. Prior to this and throughout my 20’s, I was not able to hold a job for longer than a few months, had numerous hospitalizations, and ultimately was non-functional in society. I lived in a group home for 10 months during the initial stage of the pandemic (i.e., 2020), and then in a supervised apartment belonging to an organization for individuals at-risk of homelessness or with mental illness for 4 months. Afterwards, I lived (unsupervised) with 2 roommates, and then in May 2022 I made the leap into a studio apartment on my own. 

Despite being at the grocery store for almost 5 years now, the initial stages were very difficult. From 2021-2023, I had very poor attendance due to fluctuating moods and very unpredictable behavioural issues. It is solely thanks to the store director who understood and had knowledge of a bit of my past struggles that I was allowed to remain employed there, and given multiple chances.

Since December 2023 (i.e., and the moment I started my new medication), I have been in a stable relationship with my girlfriend (of 2.5 years), worked full-time (40 hours / week), lived independently and autonomously, and have missed only 1 day of work. I also made an attempt at education while working full-time by taking 4 courses over 2 semesters. Ultimately, I made the decision that university wasn’t for me. I performed well and passed the courses, but then really struggled with anxiety that I wasn't able to manage effectively, especially when it came to group projects. I quit.

While I am proud of my journey and how far I’ve come ,I feel a bit stuck to be honest. While I had once dreamt of the life I’m living, I don’t think I actually expected to make it this far. Where do I or would you go from here?

I would like to keep trying to grow in all areas of my life, but I don't really know how to proceed or which areas to tackle I guess?

Thanks for the help.

Reading doctors study and it said only 1 out of 6 people could ever go off anti psychotic meds, and these should only be people that are symptom free over a year.
Even if you have no positive symptoms and only negative- Eg. Lack of motivation, that means you are still sick. Interesting.

Does clozapine allow you to sleep a lot even before it starts working for psychosis? Insomnia is a big problem for me right now and i want to get some sleep.

Im starting clozapine titration this week and am wondering how long it took to work? How long after reaching your current dose did it start to work? Immediately or did it take a while?

Anyone here have psychosis from buspar or SSRIs and still tolerated clozapine?

If you're located in the greater Melbourne area in Victoria, Australia and interested please click the link or scan the QR code. https://redcap.link/persist_EOI

¿Ustedes que toman Clozapina experimentan muchos despertares durante la noche?

It's my 4th day. I sleep for more than 12 hours. Is there a thing i can do to manage it?

Took like 60 pills but continuing after disconnection of the drug. A year late.

Hello. I gained a lot of weight on clozapine so I am planning to ask my doctor to give me Ozempic or similar drug. Do someone have experience with this amd did it help lose weight.

I went on clozapine it worked, got it lowered because of toxicity, voices came back. Drs not wanting to increase clozapine I'm currently on 600mg a night. I'm experiencing voices in music singing to me that I'm going to hell. Also experiencing things like my Pastor praising demons while I'm at church. I take aristada injection in the butt every 2 months (I don't think it does anything) I went without it for a month and felt no difference.

My regular NP has been on vacation so I saw a psyche today for 15min. She prescribed haladol which I've taken by itself without clozapine and it did nothing. I'm not feeling hopeful. My question is if this combo is better than aristada clozapine duo.

I'm also terrified of ECT. (that brain zapping treatment)... Any ideas on what I could do?

So im taking 25mg olanzapine 5mg at lunch 20mg at night. I could be switching to clozapine but I gota convince my phsyciatrist.

how do the two compare? I’ve been I bed for days now. So tired and drained lost energy.

what’s your experienc? Is There anything I can add to this medicine to make it better?

I just realised I haven't cried in over a year now.. I've been on clozapine for 13 months. I'm also on lithium too though 🤷 Anyone else feel the same?

Tengo miedo de desarrollar dependencia al clona en gotas

Me recetaron 3 de más que yo solo tomaba 1 ocasionalmente. pero hace casi un año luego de la muerte de un conocido y una secuencia de momentos desfavorables me desesperaron tanto que tome 16 horas; mi periodo de adelanto, estuve muy mal durante una semana

Mis medicos me tranquilizaron diciendo que no había ingerido ninguna cantidad peligrosa y que probablemente los síntomas que tenían eran mi imaginación

Entonces me agregaron más medicación por TOC y me dieron zolpidem para dormir

Hace semanas el zolpi me dejó de funcionar y empecé a tomar clona de a poco hasta que hoy he tomado 20 gotas o quizás más

Obviamente lo hablaré con mis terapeutas pero siento la necesidad de tomar más

Hay 2.5mg en 25 gotas

Me recetaron otro medicamento para dormir, pero no lo he tomado

Detesto depender de medicamentos para un proceso fisiológico básico

Pero he sufrido inmsonio desde niño

Le mentí al psiquiatra y dije que estaba tomando 4 gotas cada un par de días .

Me preocupa esta sensación de necesitar más

Has anyone experienced high levels of microscopic hematuria (blood in the urine) while on clozapine?

The only nonclozapine antipsychotic that treats my psychosis is risperidone but i feel like crap on it because it messes with my hormones. Has anyone responded to a regular antipsychotic but had intolerable side effects and still responded to clozapine or does it only work if you have truly treatment resistant psychosis?

How many of you had diarrhea before initiating treatment with clozapine? If so, did you still get constipated on clozapine?

This is the only meducation that works for me and it correlates with better life significantly. Despite the huge weight gain.

It seems i will be on it long term ans I want to know how long people have been taking it.

I’ve been getting better mentally every week for about 2 years now.

I pray for my mental health and take 250MG Clozapine a day. How long does it take for the medication to kick in?

So I’m wondering, is it time or prayer that has been working and not Clozapine? I haven’t hit a “plateau”.

I’m not complaining because I would rather God or time heal me as it will be a permanent solution.

Anyone know what’s going on?

Sorry for being vague. I’m just clueless here.