A few questions - please help!! :(

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Sunday, March 23, 2008
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My brother has schizophrenia and it happened 6 years ago... when he was in university.. he's only 25 now. He graduated (but took him longer than usual) and he's working now. I guess he's got a mild sz. The last 3 days I've been trying to research non-stop about schizophrenia, I want s...

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Questions
Christina Bruni
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:31 AM

Hello _S_,

At this time there is no cure. I urge you to read (and re-read) my SharePosts and those written by Robin Cunningham. There is no cure; however, there is hope. It is definitely not advisable to institute a drug holiday or stop taking the medications that allow a person to have a full, productive life even with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Going off the meds is a no-win situation, could lead to homelessness and not the kind of life your brother could expect to want.

Seems to me he is definitely headed for another psychotic break if he decides to stop taking the medication, and he may already be on his way there. Why exactly did he taper down on the Risperdal? Did his psychiatrist sanction this?

There is no "normal," even for people without schizophrenia. That is a lie: the perfect life. A cure for this disabling disease could happen in the future; however, your brother and you and your family have to mourn whatever kind of life he had in the past, and embrace the possibility for a better future that will most likely include taking medication(s).

The NAMI Peer Support guidelines include this mantra: "We expect a better future in a realistic way." Read my expert's blog entry that will post either today or tomorrow, about this topic. Because there is hope. I urge you to read my blog entry archives, and also Robin Cunningham's. Read my post, "Making Peace With Your Diagnosis."

There is hope, yet you must be realistic. Are you in the UK? Tell us where you're living and I will try to research options for treatment.

Best wishes,
Chris

re: Questions
_S_
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 05:01 AM

Hello Christina,
Yes the psychiatrist said to decrease the dose gradually... to see if he'd be okay if a lesser dose, but he's getting slower at responding, not concentrating and moody. And just yesterday, they sent a letter from work asking him to leave by the end of the month... I'm so sad :(
No I'm not in the UK. I'm in the middle east. But I'm sure my parents wont mind going anywhere for his treatment. Do you know of really good doctors specializing in schizophrenia that he could see?

Referral
Christina Bruni
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 05:39 AM

Hello _S_,

Will check around and see about a referral.

First, may I ask why the current pdoc won't increase the meds again to their prior level to see if his symptoms abate? Was he doing well on the Risperdal?

Regards,
Chris

re: Referral
_S_
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 03:10 AM

Hi Chris,
Oh no, my brother has increased his dose... so we'll see how that goes.
Define doing well? I guess he was funcitioning okay, but I'm wondering if there are better meds for him, I mean he's very anti-social, cant make conversation and stuff. He was on seroquel before but it made him sleep all day!

NAMI
Christina Bruni
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 02:02 PM

_S_,

NAMI is the National Association on Mental Illness in the U.S. and also some other areas of the world. It is an advocacy organization for people who have mental illnesses, and their families and friends.

NAMI offers family education classes, family support meetings, peer support meetings for people who have mental illnesses, and it lobbies for changes in laws in the U.S. to better address the needs of people with mental illnesses.

Perhaps where you live there is a similar agency.

Regards,
Chris

re: Questions
Prophetess
Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Lets talk medication a little. Medication, no one wants to be on for a life time. So what's left? Probably locked away somewhere. A life wasted. Satan has wasted yet another life. A life which God created. Satan hates anything or any creative being that God creates. Humans are God's creative beings. I tell the truth.

Stay close and informed
Ma
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 05:24 PM
I encourage family members to stay informed, stay close to the individual suffering this devastating illness. They need us present, but not always asking a lot of questions. The individual needs medications to start to help heal his brain injury, so they can start to think more clearly. Unfortunately, sometimes they think we (family) are against them and they are paranoid of us at times. My short phrase to reinforce safety is, " I am here to help you, I love you, just take your meds, and rest now"........it is a long road, but HOPE, Love will make it better. Try to find a local NAMI group and increase the medications. My family member is on multiple anti-psychotics and doing well. MA

re: Stay close and informed
_S_
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 05:55 AM

Thanks for the reply, Ma
Whats NAMI?

Satan is in your mind.
Prophetess
Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 08:39 PM

Most of mind problems are related to your weaknesses. Genetic I will agree with you on that. However, God is not into lables. Satan can play on ones weaknesses, that is the bottom line. No one wants to admit that Satan is the problem.