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Does Variations In Drug Help To Recover Form Schizophrenia?
Question: My 31 year old son is currently in a Jail restoration to competency program. He has been in two other RTC programs and they were state hospitals where he was restored in 3 mos on only one medication (olanzapine). We are concerned because he is not recovering very well even after 5mos in this program and is on so many meds he has never taken before.
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia/Disorganized Type at age 21 and has continued with the same diagnosis. His current diagnosis in the RTC program is:
Axis I Schizoaffective Disorder
[295.70]
Axis II Diagnosis Deferred
[V71.09]
His current Regime of Medications is:
zyprexa, 5mg, morning dosing
Zyprexa, 20 mg, evening dosing
Prolixin,1.5mg.twice per day dosing (was just increased but not sure of new dosage)
Depakote, 500mg, twice per day dosing
Cogentin,1.5 mg, twice per day dosing
concerta, 36 mg, morning dosing (just increased but not sure of new dosage)
Ativan, 1mg. twice per day dosing
Are so many medications appropriate when his medical records show a full restoration with only one?
Thanks, XXXX
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia/Disorganized Type at age 21 and has continued with the same diagnosis. His current diagnosis in the RTC program is:
Axis I Schizoaffective Disorder
[295.70]
Axis II Diagnosis Deferred
[V71.09]
His current Regime of Medications is:
zyprexa, 5mg, morning dosing
Zyprexa, 20 mg, evening dosing
Prolixin,1.5mg.twice per day dosing (was just increased but not sure of new dosage)
Depakote, 500mg, twice per day dosing
Cogentin,1.5 mg, twice per day dosing
concerta, 36 mg, morning dosing (just increased but not sure of new dosage)
Ativan, 1mg. twice per day dosing
Are so many medications appropriate when his medical records show a full restoration with only one?
Thanks, XXXX
Brief Answer:
Increase severity of symptoms increase dose of medicine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
In case of schizophrenia, dose of medications depend upon symptoms. As you have told that your son has had schizophrenia for last 10 years, so in his case, due to tolerance, increase in dose of medication is obvious. Currently he is on Zyprexa (olanzapine) 25mg per day. Even before he was on same drug. May be this time, due to tolerance, he needed other medicines too like prolixin (fluphenazine) and depakote (valproate). Congentin (benzotropine) helps to control any side effect due to olanzapine or fluphenazine, so nothing harm in it. It is difficult to understand why he is on concerta (methyphenidate) as this drug is for ADHD. Ativan is sedative, so let him take this to get sound sleep. That means, he is only three major medicines- zyprexa, prolixin and depakote.
Just wait for few more days. Hope he would recover with time. As you can discuss with treating psychiatrist. In case, you need further help, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Increase severity of symptoms increase dose of medicine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
In case of schizophrenia, dose of medications depend upon symptoms. As you have told that your son has had schizophrenia for last 10 years, so in his case, due to tolerance, increase in dose of medication is obvious. Currently he is on Zyprexa (olanzapine) 25mg per day. Even before he was on same drug. May be this time, due to tolerance, he needed other medicines too like prolixin (fluphenazine) and depakote (valproate). Congentin (benzotropine) helps to control any side effect due to olanzapine or fluphenazine, so nothing harm in it. It is difficult to understand why he is on concerta (methyphenidate) as this drug is for ADHD. Ativan is sedative, so let him take this to get sound sleep. That means, he is only three major medicines- zyprexa, prolixin and depakote.
Just wait for few more days. Hope he would recover with time. As you can discuss with treating psychiatrist. In case, you need further help, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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