How many of you have Schitzophrenia?

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I'd have to disagree, Amanda - if a doctor has a good history, especially from a family member, there's no reason why he/she shouldn't diagnose it on the spot, using the standard DSM criteria. Brain scans don't help much with schizophrenia, nor do other tests.On the other hand, going on an anti-psychotic for only a month seems odd to me. Trying it out for a month and then having the medication and dosage reviewed would however be normal.What's the name of the medication on the pill bottle or pack, Sephiroth?

If you look and do some research online, almost everything says that it's not an easy thing to diagnose and that mostly only psychiatrists can diagnose it...not a family doctor, and that's after several visits and tests. It's often confused with mild forms of depression. I'm sorry but I fail to believe one visit can diagnose it. Plus most doctors have a hard time following the DSM diagnosis test. It often can be misleading and confusing.

Sorry, it doesn't begin with an "e", an "r". They're so close to the keyboard, and by the time I realized, the edit time expired. It's called Risperdal or Riperdsal, I forgot, I'm at my grandma's house now, I'll et ya know for sure tonight, Inelligible.

sure you don't mean Risperidon? if so what dosage? I would have said Tegretol or Haloperidol would have been better.

Well, 1mg, but I'm no good with medications, so what's the difference b/w the one I'm taking and those two?

Haloperidol is for hallucinative schizophrenia (although this is usually a Pro Re Nata).Tegretol controls the moods adjusted by schizophrenia.

A Pro Re Nata?

more comonly known as "PRN" latin for "as the occasion arises"lol and people think I'm stupid lol better not say too much more before I start getting more work lol

Risperdal is the trade name for risperidone - see http://www.risperdal.com. It's one of the newer "atypical" anti-psychotics, marketed for both schizophrenia and bipolar mania. A typical dose is 4 mg per day, so 1 mg a day would be a low dose.From http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Medications&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7400:"Risperdal (risperidone), released in 1994, is one of the atypical antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. The drug helps manage schizophrenia's positive symptoms (e.g., visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbances) and may also help treat the illness' negative symptoms (e.g., social withdrawal, apathy, lack of motivation, and inability to experience pleasure). It may also be useful in treating acute mania and severe depression in combination with antidepressant medications. Risperdal's side effects are usually relatively minor, and blood monitoring is not necessary."

Maybe it's just me, but I've felt awfully tired lately, but I really don't think that's side effect, what are some of them?

I really dont know what I have,I have something though,I find comfort in i guess what could be called mental exercises,i write alot and i think its something pivitol but sometimes i look at my writing and its just mush,I also do what my writing tells me, and I believe in myself,litereally,I have a freind I call my spirit and he looks just like me and i talk to him,I also smoke so mch,i heard this might be self medication but its killing me,and i have no problem being able to what I call morph,i can morph into any personality or proffession,but its all seems to be mush, in my mind im a rockstar,lawyer,doctor,poet,great thinker,philosopher,but i guess in reality im nothing,just a temp for hire .i think if i talk about his issue to people i can get help.although,there seem to be enledd mental breakthoughs in my mind that seem to help me get to a better place in life,but i think people are all out to get me and so i never can keep a job,mostly out of anxiety,i mean i know theres competition in the work force, but sometimes it scares me so much it debilitating, i feel like every one want me dead,even though im starting to learn they dont care,ii feel like its getting worse and worse,dunno if i have schitophrenia

what do you smoke?

I used to be schitzophrenic, but we're ok now.

Fatigue is a possible side-effect, but of course it could be for other reasons.Anonymous, that does sound like schizophrenia.

or depression

I would like to correct both of you. My son was diagnosed with schitzophrenia at age of 5 yo. 1. schitzophrenia affects 1 in every 100 adults stats on children are not yet availible. 2. you do not have to have MPD (multiple personality disorder) to have schitzophrenia However, you can have both illnesses at same time. my son does not have MPD. But now to real reason I came to this site is to find support from those who really have it... you have to be diagnosed to know you really have it, otherwise its just a feeling not a reality.

I am the user that made the reply 8/12/04 under anonymous so i dont stay anonymous

My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was hell. He was a great guy until he was about 16, then he started to get really antisocial. My room was next to his and late at night i could hear him talking to someone. Not stuff like 'Burn them burn them all' but like he was talking to a friend or at least someone he knew. I told my mom and at about 17 and a half he went to see a doctor about it. They put him on some sort of medication and from then on he hasnt been the same. Hes been depressed nearly all the time, and he doesnt seem to have any motivation. His academic work deteriorated and he got declined from college. He living with a friend at the moment. Schizophrenia is no joke. It ruined his life. I just wanted you to know that.

Sorry for not posting in some time, thanks for that, Anonymous. Some people seem to think it's some big joke, but in all truth, it's just as serious as any other medical problem, maybe less deadly, but just as serious.

talking to yourself is a sign of schizophrenia?