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From One Schizophrenic to Another
Aripiprazole & Risperidone
Citation:   Shadowboxer7777. "From One Schizophrenic to Another: An Experience with Aripiprazole & Risperidone (exp84695)". Erowid.org. Oct 11, 2020. erowid.org/exp/84695

 
DOSE:
25 mg oral Pharms - Paroxetine (pill / tablet)
  2,5 mg oral Pharms - Olanzapine (pill / tablet)
    oral Pharms - Quetiapine (pill / tablet)
    oral Pharms - Risperidone (pill / tablet)
  20 mg oral Pharms - Aripiprazole (daily)
BODY WEIGHT: 210 lb
After graduating from college I decided to conduct an experiment on myself. The purpose of the experiment was to see whether or not the cause for my need for prescribed medications was exogenous (caused by external factors in my life) or endogenous (caused by internal chemical factors). Prior to beginning the experiment I had been taking 25 mg Paxil and 2.5 mg Zyprexa in order to deal with what was thought to be a severe clinical depression. In order to conduct this experiment I decided to get my own place, decided to stop taking my medications and made written observations of all unusual experiences. I stopped taking my medications the day I signed my one year lease.

By the end of the one year lease I was convinced that I was being tracked via a remote monitoring system that utilized ELF (extremely low frequency) radiation and a satellite surveillance system was involved. Further, I believed I was a part neural network that allowed me to interact with others who had neural implants. I paid a private investigator $700 to look at my computer because I thought he would find hacking files within the computer. I also paid a lawyer $500 as a legal retainer fee in case I would need to go to court because I felt I was being electronically harassed.

Electronic harassment appears to be a legal term that has been created by paranoid schizophrenics in order to explain symptoms of schizophrenia in court. I did not think that what I was experiencing might be proven in court until I read some information online about a man named James Walbert who supposedly proved he was being electronically bombarded with noxious electronic signals that caused him tumors. The details of what actually happened to him I have yet to be uncover. Also, there is a website you can visit that sells electronic devices to protect oneself from electronic attacks called www.lonestartek.net. A lot of money is being made off of fears. I believe a lot of people with schizophrenia are being ripped off by sites like www.lonestartek.net.

It was not until after I checked myself in to the mental hospital that I realized that I needed help. I checked myself in to prove that I was sane. But what I found was that I was just ill. It took me about 20 days in the hospital to begin to snap out of it. After trying Seroquel for a couple of days they prescribed me Risperdal. Seroquel just made me really tired. Risperdal helped but I felt as though it made me emotionally flat. Also, I felt like my limbs were very heavy on Risperdal. I remained on Risperdal for about 6 months until switching to Abilify which I currently take. Abilify has made a big difference for me. I notice it has somewhat of a stimulant effect. I actually feel like working out on Abilify. The hallucinations have been wiped out with Abilify. There appears to be less weight gain with Abilify than with Risperdal.

Now, I have an accurate diagnosis to go by. What was once thought to be a severe clinical depression has manifested itself into a clear cut case of paranoid schizophrenia. I am glad that I feel I have an accurate diagnosis to live with, but the s word (schizophrenia) can be overwhelming at first. Medications do help, but if you don’t have an accurate diagnosis to go by you can’t take the right kinds of medications or take them in amounts where they are most effective. Abilify has helped me.

Exp Year: 2008ExpID: 84695
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: 29
Published: Oct 11, 2020Views: 1,610
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Pharms - Aripiprazole (422), Pharms - Risperidone (253) : Not Applicable (38), Therapeutic Intent or Outcome (49), Depression (15), Medical Use (47), Retrospective / Summary (11)

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