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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 20, 2008, at 7:04:39
My son has suffered from schizophrenia for 10 years. He is taking Zyprexa and Ability currently, and he has no positive symptoms, and his negative symptoms are there, but not a big problem. It concerns me that there is no plan for his improvement. We see the doctor, get refills, go back to the doctor, get refills, with no plan for improving. I asked the Dr. about this and he said stability is improvement. I can accept that, but for how long? Do we take these meds forever with no hope of coming off of them, or finding a new one that works better?
Posted by Justherself54 on August 30, 2008, at 12:16:38
In reply to Same old medication, same old results, posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 20, 2008, at 7:04:39
Hello and welcome to Babble. I think you'll get more responses and advice if you reposted your question on the medication board. It has a lot of poster traffic. I hope you find some answers to help your son. Take care.
Posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 30, 2008, at 13:09:08
In reply to Re: Same old medication, same old results, posted by Justherself54 on August 30, 2008, at 12:16:38
Thanks! I will give that a try.
Posted by Sigismund on September 18, 2008, at 17:03:43
In reply to Re: Same old medication, same old results, posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 30, 2008, at 13:09:08
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080706/msgs/851780.html
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 21, 2009, at 17:59:52
In reply to Same old medication, same old results, posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 20, 2008, at 7:04:39
Hi NHF,
Your doctor is being a responsible psychiatrist by keeping your son on meds: the more the psychotic episodes a person has while off meds, the more difficult it is to recover when back on meds. In fact, some people get a sort of intractable form of schizophrenia because they have had so many psychotic episodes, such that the meds don't eliminate the positive symptoms. I have read study after study about the irrevocable effects of multiple psychotic episodes. And I have seen this in my own life: even on Haldol, my sister continues to have positive symptoms. Why? Too many years in which the psychosis took hold. She was misdiagnosed as manic-depressive in the early nineties, given the wrong medication, and paranoia was able to take hold. She did not believe that she was sick. A brush with the law and a commitment to take her meds, plus my mother's unending attempts to help her, finally landed her on medication long-term. But still, symptoms remain.
I know the meds are harsh. But I would say that your son is very, very lucky in comparison to have relief from positive symptoms. Keep him on those meds, please.
Take good care of yourself. You are lovely to be taking care of your son. So many families ditch their loved ones when something as severe as schizophrenia reveals itself.
Good wishes,
Amelia
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 21, 2009, at 18:02:07
In reply to Re: Same old medication, same old results, posted by Nurse Hot Flash on August 30, 2008, at 13:09:08
Posted by NurseHotFlash on April 22, 2009, at 8:17:44
In reply to Re: Same old medication, same old results, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 21, 2009, at 17:59:52
Funny, I didn't realize how long ago I posted that message. When dealing with the mentally ill, it is easier to think of progress over years rather than months or days. My son is still on the same meds. My question is how will I know if there are better/more effective ones for him if the doctor keeps writing the same Rx over and over. We can't changed doctors because there is no one else that will take Medicaide. I just can seem to be happy with "leaving well enough alone".
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 22, 2009, at 13:06:46
In reply to Re: Same old medication, same old results » Amelia_in_StPaul, posted by NurseHotFlash on April 22, 2009, at 8:17:44
Ah, well I'm depressed and anxious and etc. so I'm mentally ill. :) Your original post said that your son has no positive symptoms, while the negative symptoms are still there but not a big deal. So I guess my question is, what are you looking for? It sounds as though you are looking for total remission? Unfortunately, for many people with schizophrenia, that won't happen. It's a matter of adjusting to who one has become rather than looking back to who one was. If you can't leave well enough alone (in your words), I would propose that you want to see something that isn't going to happen--reversal, total remission, your old son back.
Hallelujah that the positive symptoms are gone!! Negative symptoms--those can be tough, but the doctor has your son on something that helps--Abilify. Usually an antidepressant is added for negative symptoms and Abilify is used as an AD.
Your doctor, as you said, wants your son to remain stable. Screwing with his meds, putting him on something else just to try it, is the fastest way to potentially destabilize him. That means more psychosis and a big risk that when he is finally stabilized, those positive symptoms that WERE gone? Back. And worse than ever. And not in remission, even back on the old medication.
Does your son exercise? Have hobbies? Have you tried supplements? Lao Tzu, I think, recently posted about studies about ginko biloba as an adjunct to meds. I wouldn't try supplements without talking to your doctor, but I think its at least worth a shot.
Good luck NHF. Schizophrenia can be a devastating disease, so I know its hard, but think honestly about risks vs. benefits. My sister has had schizophrenia for 20 years. She is on Haldol, as I think I said. And her positive symptoms are not gone. But to try something else would be to risk the modicum of stability she has achieved--it could tilt her back into full psychosis, and she could run away again, only this time, end up dead. It is tough to see, tougher for her to endure, but the risks aren't worth it.
New medications and treatments are being explored, so by virtue of changes in psychiatry itself, no, your son may not have to be on the same meds forever. But for now, for these years, he should be. It's what's keeping him stable.
This is the end of the thread.
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