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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NDS on April 14, 2005, at 3:10:12
My teenage son has been recovering from a psychotic episode that took place in October. he still complains that he never got his creativity back (he's an extremely creative kid, and has been very frustrated by his inability to write, or to other creative things. It seemed much worse when he was on the anti-psychotics. Currently he's just on prozac, and still complains, but not as much. I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a negative effect on their creativity. Thanks! Neal
Posted by DanielJ on April 14, 2005, at 8:34:06
In reply to anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by NDS on April 14, 2005, at 3:10:12
Prozac is an older medication which may suppress personality traits. You should check into Zyprexa which has few side effects. My son recovered in about 6 months using it and Zoloft as an anti anxiety drug.
Posted by B2chica on April 14, 2005, at 10:38:15
In reply to Re: anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by DanielJ on April 14, 2005, at 8:34:06
have been on several meds and on zyprexa now. what i notice most is that the intensity/drive has minimalized while on this med. the creativity is there, it's just that it's like i have to lure the creativity or ideas out. when i'm not on it it comes like tidal waves, however that's not necessarily good. i quickly turn to dysphoric mania and though i spurt out tons of ideas i don't accomplish completion on any of them and infact have destroyed a few 'good ones' because they seemed way to low level or that "no one will get it cuz they're all too stupid".
So let your son know that he may be used to his creativity just spewing out of him, and on his medication he has to guide it, move With it instead of it moving him.
if he is truly creative, it is always in him. he may need to learn a new way of connecting/retrieving it though.
Trust me, when i say it's much better to be on meds that work than not.
it Won't wash away his creativity.
Best wishes
b2c.
Posted by lydia on April 14, 2005, at 23:28:08
In reply to anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by NDS on April 14, 2005, at 3:10:12
Both antipsychotics and SSRIs like Prozac tend to "calm the brain down"- which will make you less reactive and spontaneous, make associations not-so loose. ...make you less creative.
Thats what they do to me. Those things are frusterating and will make a person really ambivilant about being medicated. but for me, it's better than the alternative.
I really sympathize with your son's situation. He has a lot to cope with, there must be alot of conflicting emotions.
It's really tough.Was this his first psychotic episode? How old is he?
So he is no longer on antipsychotics? Can I ask what his diagnosis was?
Posted by nds on April 15, 2005, at 9:52:14
In reply to Re: anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by lydia on April 14, 2005, at 23:28:08
> Was this his first psychotic episode? How old is he?
> So he is no longer on antipsychotics? Can I ask what his diagnosis was?
>
His first Episode was in October, and he pulled out of it by January, but it looks like he might be heading for another. He's 16, and the diagnosis was Major Depression with Psychotic Features, although they feel that there is a bipolar aspect to it as well (which is odd to me, because he never acts manic).
Posted by banga on April 15, 2005, at 10:03:26
In reply to Re: anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by nds on April 15, 2005, at 9:52:14
Not to dramatize the situation, but just a thought...in terms of the creativity, was he ultra productive in that sense before?
Not knowing the situation, mind you, but you might keep in mind that people who have hypomania and even mania are ultra creative; and Ive heard them saying the meds take this away from them and they miss it. So it just may be that the meds take him off of what used to be a slightly hypomanic way of doing things-- a nice but actually not-normal high..Again, you see what is happening and that may not be the case at all. Just something to keep in mind if they suspected bipolar...
Posted by scatterbrained on April 16, 2005, at 1:26:09
In reply to Re: anti-psychotics and creativity, posted by banga on April 15, 2005, at 10:03:26
You might want to think about Geodon, it's an atypical antipsychotic which at low doses acts more like a very potent antidepressant. I've noticed that Geodon can actually increase creativity. Antidepressant wise, Lamictal might be a good idea because it doesn't seem to have that same flat numb feeling that some of the ssri's have. It's also used in bipolar depression so it's a good drug to be on if they suspect any bipolarism. Also, there are ways to counter act the numbness(lack of creativity) associated with ssri's, one is to add Wellbutrin. There is this unfortunate belief among patients as well as doctors that somehow you have to sacrifice your creativity in order to get well, which is just not true.
This is the end of the thread.
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