Will delusions caused due to magical mushroom lead to schizophrenia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I tried magic mushrooms, and the last time I took it, sounds from the TV in the next room felt like they were entering me. Afterward, I started ringing bells of unknown homes and simply run around everywhere. I also had delusions. I was given a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and was treated with ECT and Risperidone 4 mg. I returned to being normal without any delusions.

Then after a while, I stopped taking my medicines and in a week I was having delusions again. My intellectual capacity was lessened and I was in the hospital again, and I was treated with ECT and Risperidone. Again I went back to normal. Before I took magic mushrooms, I was socially not that talkative but I still I had friends in my class but beyond that, I did not have many connections apart from my three school friends and one other friend. I had failing marks. No one ever said I talked weirdly or has delusions or is abnormal. I still avoid socially but I have friends in my current class. My academics are better and I do not get failing marks. But that is because I got better in managing my computer addiction and to study in my spare time. I am currently taking Risperidone 3 mg.

My question is do I have schizophrenia? And I want to discontinue my medications because its side effects are unbearable, can you please help me to do so?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. You consumed magic mushrooms and the symptoms started after that. There was a clear cut relationship between the use of the drug with psychosis as per your history. This was four years back. You responded well to treatment and are doing good in academics, and social domain.

Well, if we consider whether the medicines should be continued or not then that depends upon the treating doctor. You developed two episodes of psychosis within a year gap and on stopping the medicines it is positive that you are doing good. So in my opinion, a gradual dose reduction of medicines can be done.

You are currently on Risperidone and its doses can be reduced gradually over the next three months and there should be no problem. You have one episode of acute psychosis precipitated after magic mushroom use. But the second episode is pointing towards schizophrenia. The worsening of symptoms post stopping the medicines cannot be explained by acute psychosis.

So yes, you might have schizophrenia or psychosis NOS in my opinion. You are yourself seeking treatment and are clear about history which is not very common in schizophrenia. So you can try to reduce the doses gradually and this should help you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You are welcome. Keep in touch for further doubts.