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SteelMaiden
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27 Jun 2012, 7:20 am

I have schizophrenia and AS. I was recently prescribed Amisulpride on top of the Olanzapine I was already on.

Is it possible that Amisulpride has made me more social? Because I find it much easier to talk to people, make humour and show emotions. My anxiety has also reduced. Olanzapine never did this to me.

Your opinions?


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Joe90
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27 Jun 2012, 7:23 am

I never heard of the drug but I want to take that too just so I can become more social without having to drink alcohol. I would love that so much, to be able to talk a bit more in a group.


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McAnulty
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27 Jun 2012, 7:31 am

Reducing your anxiety might have helped you to be more social since now you can focus on other things without being as nervous.



SteelMaiden
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27 Jun 2012, 7:34 am

It's an antipsychotic and it's made me put on weight and my prolactin levels are three times the normal limit. Not worth it I think sometimes.

But I socialise much better at my dad's office where I do voluntary research work. I also have been able to talk to people I don't know, well a little bit.

But I still struggle a LOT with socialising at uni and I won't talk to the other students, only the teaching stuff / disability people / my full-time support worker.

However my social skills with people I know or trust have improved a lot. I can even socialise with staff I don't know well, and my dad's secretary (my friend) has noticed that I am a lot more open.

My psychotic symptoms have improved too, obviously, but I still get paranoid and hear voices, yet they are easier to cope with.

However I still struggle with using public transport and I get a lot of anxiety over it. Also I am still hypersensitive and cannot cope with physical contact. Also my OCD still exists.


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SteelMaiden
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27 Jun 2012, 7:35 am

McAnulty wrote:
Reducing your anxiety might have helped you to be more social since now you can focus on other things without being as nervous.


Sorry only just saw your post. That is true, I think that is why I am "better".


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OddDuckNash99
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27 Jun 2012, 7:35 am

Very likely that the medication is just working on decreasing the typical negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Sounds likely, considering that you said it's easier to show emotions now.


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SteelMaiden
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27 Jun 2012, 7:36 am

OddDuckNash99 wrote:
Very likely that the medication is just working on decreasing the typical negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Sounds likely, considering that you said it's easier to show emotions now.


That is a good point.


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azzazinator
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27 Jun 2012, 10:53 am

I've tried amisulpride together with my SSRI (Sertraline).

Did notice some side-effects in the beginning, and maybe a very small decrease in anxitey level. After about 6 weeks, I decided to stop using it.

Sertraline (200 mg) does reduce my anxiety level a bit, and makes me more talkative. It doesn't improve my social skills, and actually gives me some kind of feedback-anxiety, because, when talking more, I do make more social mistakes, which makes me anxious.

What about you guys?
Have you successfully used any other anxiety medication?


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YellowBanana
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27 Jun 2012, 12:28 pm

I've been on lamotrigine for a few months and about a month ago amisulpride was added. The difference in my anxiety since taking it is huge - I am now functioning better than I have in years, and that includes socialising being easier. That's not to say everything is magically all better because its not but the improvement is nice. I do have some side effects, I have gained a bit of weight, my breasts have increased in size and my normally regular as clockwork period is now 2 weeks late (no there is no chance I could be pregnant). Frankly if it stops my periods I'll be celebrating. But to me, right now, the side effects are worth it ... I have hardly self harmed and my suicidal ideation has been much less over the few weeks.

Good to see someone else mention this drug as I have mentioned it in a few posts but never seen anyone else mention it...


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SteelMaiden
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27 Jun 2012, 3:31 pm

My prolactin has gone up to 2728 (normal prolactin is 1000 and below) on Amisulpride, and my periods/breast size have been affected too. But my psychiatrist said that I can still carry on with Amisulpride.

I am on 200mg Amisulpride and 20mg Olanzapine now. I know from my studies that Amisulpride at doses of 50 to 300mg are good for negative symptoms. 20mg Olanzapine is the highest BNF dose in the UK. So I'm figuring that the Olanzapine is helping me with my positive symptoms more, and the Amisulpride more on my negative symptoms. But I think the Olanzapine also helps a bit with my negative symptoms too.

At least now my brain works better. I can still remember the 54 train stops from London Waterloo to Weymouth despite not having looked at them for a month and not practicing them, and my ability to retain information has improved. My photographic memory has also come back in its totality as I have memorised large chunks of the London Underground map just by looking at it (and not formally learning the stations one by one, if you see what I mean).

I just have to get rid of the sedation now.....


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I am a partially verbal classic autistic. I am a pharmacology student with full time support.