How long do you have to be on medication for schizophrenia?

I suffer from schizophrenia psychosis and have been prescribed medication. I don't really want to keep taking medication for the rest of my life but I've been taking it for four years and I heard that pills can strip away the lining of your stomach and I've been having problems there as well. Lots of coffing, constipation, and sometimes I can't even tell if I need to go to the toilet until I stand up or think really hard that I have to go.

It is always good to talk to your doctor about the any possible new symptoms. They may or may not be related to your medication. Coughing, constipation and the like can have a whole list of causes. There is not a medication out there, whether prescription drugs, herbal remedies or over the counter drugs that do not have possible side effects. Do not take it upon yourself to discontinue your medication if it has helped you so far. Talk to your doctor. If the drugs you are being prescribed have helped you so far, that is great. They can often be adjusted by your doctor as your body adjusts to them.

Hi,
I am currently working with people who suffer from schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia and psychosis.... they like you require medication on a daily basis and are required to take this medication for the rest of their lives.
One of the people which i am working with also suffers from side effects of the medication like the ones that you have mentioned.
Clorapromazine causes side effects as does the depot injection. not everyone who takes it suffers from these side effects.
I would advise you to talk to your doctor and see if he can prescribe anything that could counteract the side effects.
It is crucial to take the medication though as it maintains the stability of your mental health.
Really sorry i couldn't be more help.
Good luck

My husband has had schizophrenia for over 10 years and has been on at least 5 different meds over that period of time. His doctor changed meds because of unpleasant side affects. He is now on an older medication called haldol and for him, it is great. Talk to your doctor about the side affects you are experiencing because there are lots and lots of drugs out there that your doctor can prescribe to you. One thing though is good for you to be sticking with it. That is the best thing you are doing for yourself.

Go and talk to your doctor about this.
One possibility is you could have the medication as a "depot injection". This is where the drug is injected into muscle tissue once a month, and it slowly leaks out into the bloodstream.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injection_(...

It is used with Risperdal, one of the antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia:

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/3000386...

If the problem is making you depressed, then perhaps you should try taking antidepressants as well - they really work in my experience.

I have schizophrenia and I am on medication for life.
Try all the antipsychotics that you think will work best for you and pick the one which works best and has the least side effects.
I have tried 9 different ones.

Generally, you have to take it your whole life. There are shots you can take at home instead of pills. The spot you use to give them to yourself will get sore, though. But all of your symptoms will stop. Good luck.

You have to take it for life because Schitzophrenia will never go away and Im very sorry you have it and I hope it doesnt affect your living life too much

Call your doctor.

The worst thing a schizophrenic can do is to go OFF his/her meds.

Please address these issues with your doctor.

till you are all alone again!

I'm on meds too, it sucks dude