I’ve been on clozapine for nearly 20 years and never had an issue with bloodwork.
and I have to go to test my blood every month, still
it is annoying. I get meds for one month only and my prescription is refilled every month, after I go to blood tests and they are checked by nurses and doctors.
I know it is how things work but it is annoying, I have never had problems why do I need to go bloodtests every month. wouldn’t like once 3 months be better? I was just complaining to my pdoc about this and he agrees, and there might be a change in things soon.
right now I have problems with renewing my abilify prescription, I have had to call them and ask please can you refill my prescription. digital refill doesn’t work. phew.
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Absolutely no. I think if you need the meds, you likely need the monitoring. Besides, some of the meds come with serious side effects that you should regularly be checked for. And finally, when I’m at my worst, medicine that makes me tired is medicine that I like a little too much. I think the guidance of a good pdoc is critical.
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Monthly makes way more sense than weekly after so long. Your dr is being ridiculous in my opinion @nimeton
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oh no what was I thinking, I wrote week instead of month!
so no I don’t need to do bloodtests every week thankfully! only once a month
my mistake 
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Oh ok. Yeah, I’m sure monthly is frustrating too though but clozapine can have serious side effects and your dr is likely trying to avoid a lawsuit
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The dr’s tried to get me on clozapine in 2010 but luckily my gf at the time acted on my behalf and told them not to (I couldn’t bare getting bloods done every Month) I think my arm would be like a pin cushion 
Seriously though, I heard Finland were really good with using meds on an as needed basis, none of the 'stay on it forever and shut up) thinking.
I’m sorry I sound a bit anti psychiatry but I just don’t think its healthy being on meds long term unless absolutely essential (and I think my MI has been restored now) I also heard a lot of people with sz that the sz burns itself out around the 40’s (on average).
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I have to respectfully disagree, @Daydreamer. I’m 42. I am not well, though I bet the average person has no clue. I can act social, smile, etc like a normie and probably even better. But I need my medication. Even when I’ve taken myself off meds in the past, I inevitably end up needing them again, and it usually involves something crazy and a hospital stay to convince me of that fact. Bogers et al. (2023) found that reduction or disconinuation of meds caused approximately a 2.3x greater likelihood for relapse.
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I know what you mean, But In my case I have been on this med for so long that idk if I can get off of it, I have tried in the past and relapsed (I don’t think my withdrawal was handled well enough though), I still hope I can live med free one day again.
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I think we all want that to some extent. It’d be so great if we could be med free and well. I personally hate taking pills. Literally, the physical act of swallowing pills makes me want to yark. I could do without that.
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I can’t help thinking that my illness has changed a lot over the years, its a lot milder to the point where I am symptom free, during withdrawals my illness was not the same as when I was first hospitalised, thats why I think it changes over time in some cases.
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I don’t disagree with that assessment. I think I was “wilder” when I was younger, more unpredictable. I’ve settled a lot, but I know it would be bad if I tried to stay off meds. Also, I read somewhere that with each subsequent relapse, you become more likely to relapse. Not sure if that’s accurate, but I think I read that.
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yeah, some people will get worse after relapse, that was always a massive risk, idk if I’ll be more likely to relapse but my health is affected and I blame it on my meds, I think my meds are causing or is one of the causes of my cfs/me
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@Daydreamer What do you mean by cfs/me? My meds stuck me with TD, and that’s a headache and a half. I can’t imagine some of the other awful stuff they can cause. It’s very depressing to think about, and that’s without even getting into the weight fluctuations.
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It would be more convenient if I could get endless refills but right now I don’t have any problems with my doctor calling in my refills every couple of months when I run out, it’s no trouble. My three prescriptions are good for two or three refills each and my pharmacy will just call my doctor for him to approve refills when I run out. it’s no big deal.
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I obviously agree about basic freedoms and there should never be abuse in or out of the hospital. But szs aren’t the only population in the US anyway, who dont get infinite refills,and it’s not bc they are children or that anyone is being disrespectful. My wife does not have Sz but she has lupus. She has to have an appt and a new prescription every three months.
On the other hand I was intaking into the hospital in South Carolina and they said I had to agree to be involuntary. I was not that far gone yet and I told them no and they needed to let me go and I’d find a proper hospital. I also said I was an attorney and not to f with me. They would not let me go. Then the actual psychiatrist came in and I lied my ass off to her and they let me out before putting me in any inpatient zone or area etc. I ended up going somewhere else that same night. BS. So I get it but the medication thing in general does not guarantee Anyone I know of of getting infinite refills. I’m not sure that’s even a thing.
I do agree that clinics and urgent care ctrs should be able to give out at least a few days emergency APs to people with diagnosed psychotic disorders.
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I think unlimited refills kinds of make the request seem unreasonable. I just want to be prescribed something and have access to it. Just as easily as a dr can refill they can cancel the prescription
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Psychiatrist has to justify their existence by analyzing your every move, making you visit. $
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I’m in the netherlands, my meds are now prescribed by my gp doc, they’re automatically renewed but they call me each 6 months to check. The meds are delivered to my house and dropped in the mailbox. Also they come in a role so no need to pop pills out of the strips. Very happy with how it’s going so far.
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my dose in clozapine is very very low these days. I also take Abilify, and that has a bigger dose. but yeah, I am also concerned about what AP’s do to a person after you take them for decades. here people are not overmedicated, or at least my pdoc isn’t such a doc to over medicate his patients.
funny is that Finland is one of the countries that prescribe clozapine the most. here docs seem to love clozapine. in my ward nearly every patient had clozapine, or had at least tired it. (I was on psychosis ward)
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