[ANON POST] Long-Term Antipsychotic Use
Alright, so my setting is in the not-too-distant future, in a secluded part of the northern United States. The basic premise is that a large community of people are kept isolated at what sort of a cross between a boarding school and a hospital. To prevent them from escaping or resisting, they are continuously dosed with a drug that keeps them docile.
I'd like to base the drug on atypical antipsychotics. What I'm looking for is the emotional/intellectual dampening effect that would make people act "zombie-like" and compliant.
I've read a lot about side effects of antipsychotics, especially the physical ones. But when it comes to the emotional and cognitive effects I can only find vague stuff like "reduced pensive thought" and "less creativity and joy" as well as clinical descriptions of anhedonia, etc. I have a few questions about how individuals on this drug would function day-to-day.
1. How would a person raised on antipsychotics function socially? Would they be able to make friends? Form close attachments? Would there be a sense of emotional attachment?
2. How would they do in a school environment? Would they learn at a normal pace or would the drug set them back? Would they have the motivation to pursue hobbies in their spare time, and would they enjoy them less/differently?
3. A plot point involves several people with a genetic quirk that causes them to temporarily "snap out" of the drug's effects. What symptoms might they encounter? (similar to sudden withdrawal symptoms, perhaps).
I've used search terms like "antipsychotics social life" and "living on antipsychotics" but I'm having trouble finding anything personal. I'd really appreciate and insight, and if anyone knows of personal accounts I could read that would be awesome too. Thanks so much!
I'd like to base the drug on atypical antipsychotics. What I'm looking for is the emotional/intellectual dampening effect that would make people act "zombie-like" and compliant.
I've read a lot about side effects of antipsychotics, especially the physical ones. But when it comes to the emotional and cognitive effects I can only find vague stuff like "reduced pensive thought" and "less creativity and joy" as well as clinical descriptions of anhedonia, etc. I have a few questions about how individuals on this drug would function day-to-day.
1. How would a person raised on antipsychotics function socially? Would they be able to make friends? Form close attachments? Would there be a sense of emotional attachment?
2. How would they do in a school environment? Would they learn at a normal pace or would the drug set them back? Would they have the motivation to pursue hobbies in their spare time, and would they enjoy them less/differently?
3. A plot point involves several people with a genetic quirk that causes them to temporarily "snap out" of the drug's effects. What symptoms might they encounter? (similar to sudden withdrawal symptoms, perhaps).
I've used search terms like "antipsychotics social life" and "living on antipsychotics" but I'm having trouble finding anything personal. I'd really appreciate and insight, and if anyone knows of personal accounts I could read that would be awesome too. Thanks so much!