is it possible to be on too many anti-psychotics?

Hello kskiual,

Yes, it is possible to be on too many meds, either because the doctor prescribes them and the drug routine is necessary, or because, as I suspect, a "cross-titer" is instituted and the doctor never takes the patient off the old drug when the new one is in effect.

Polypharmacy, the practice of prescribing more than one drug to treat a condition, can be effective.  You need to keep in dialogue with your husband's doctor and talk with your husband often, to determine at what point [if not immediately] he can come off the Risperdal and Abilify.  There are questions you can ask your husband's doctor so that the psychiatrist doesn't feel he's breaking confidentiality.

I don't treat or diagnose medical conditions, however, I feel that, myself, I would want to be on the best effective dose that halted my symptoms.

And I do know people who take two kinds of anti-psychotics at the same time, for various reasons in their individual situations.

Please consider whether your husband will benefit in the long-term from a short-term treatment via polypharmacy.

If in discussion with your husband after a reasonable time, you feel he's not getting any benefit from the polypharmacy, and if he genuinely feels it's harming him, by all means speak out.

The question to ask yourself now is, "How long has he been on all three drugs?  How long does the doctor feel he needs to remain on all three drugs?  When does the doctor expect his situation to turn around?  What are the side effects of the drugs, taken together?  When will he be taken off the other two drugs, or taken off the Zyprexa and returned to either the Risperdal or Abilify?"

Ask, and ask again.  And if you get no satisfaction, get a second opinion from another qualified doctor.

Best wishes,

cb