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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
My 15 year old son, who until last week was a calm, good-natured, level-headed kid, had a psychotic episode last week, and is still hospitalized with severe, and dangerous delusions. The only warning was a sense that he was becoming depressed over the last couple of months. He is being given Risperdal, and while he now says "He can't feel any emotions," his delusions are just as severe as ever, a week after beginning the medication. He's still hospitalized. Has anyone out there not responded to Risperdal? Is there another medication that might work better for him? Any advice will help.
Posted by jboud24 on October 21, 2004, at 0:02:02
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
Stick with the atypical anti-psychotics: Zyprexa would most likely work well. Other options would be abiliy or geodon, which are the third generation anti-psychotics. If your son has psychotic depression though, I'd ask for a combonation of zoloft or celexa, both SSRI anti-depressants, along with zyprexa. You still have alot of treatment options, so tell your son to hang in there and you do the same.
Best wishes,
Justin
Posted by TomG on October 21, 2004, at 0:15:34
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
If the antipsychotics fail check this article out. http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/psychotic_ru486.asp#cortisol
I take Geodon myself. It works great in dealing with my psychoses.
Tom
Posted by DanielJ on October 21, 2004, at 7:28:34
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
My son was 15 last year when he had a similar episode. He was first diagnosed major depression etc. later w/ schizo etc.. He was first given Abilify & lexapro but after a month the side effects made him "cheat" on his meds and he ended up in a crisis center. He is now on 15mg Zyprexa and 15 mg Zoloft. He is back in high school now making straight A's where he was below average student before this happened. It was at least a 6 month recovery from these episodes but we kept him home and put up with his various moods and delusions etc. till they gradually disappeared.
Here's a tip don't be afraid to cut up pills and experiment with dosages till you get it right Good Luck and God Bless!
Posted by King Vultan on October 21, 2004, at 7:46:26
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
> My 15 year old son, who until last week was a calm, good-natured, level-headed kid, had a psychotic episode last week, and is still hospitalized with severe, and dangerous delusions. The only warning was a sense that he was becoming depressed over the last couple of months. He is being given Risperdal, and while he now says "He can't feel any emotions," his delusions are just as severe as ever, a week after beginning the medication. He's still hospitalized. Has anyone out there not responded to Risperdal? Is there another medication that might work better for him? Any advice will help.
I have no direct experience with antipsychotic meds myself, but Geodon/ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic with a pharmacological profile that suggests that it may have antidepressant properties, according to "Essential Psychopharmacology". Whether it is actually superior to other antipsychotic meds for psychotic depression in particular I do not know.
Todd
Posted by Neal S on October 21, 2004, at 11:30:34
In reply to Re: Psychotic Depression, posted by DanielJ on October 21, 2004, at 7:28:34
Daniel: Your son's situation sounds so similar to ours, I was hoping we could keep in touch with you, so we could use you as a sounding board and reality check through this situation. Your son has been through this, and has come out on the other side. Ours is still there in the darkness. If it's okay with you, please send me your e-mail so we can keep in touch. my e-mail is nstoryman@aol.com. Thanks!
Posted by Bill LL on October 21, 2004, at 13:43:13
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
I saw that you got helpful responses concerning medication. I'm sometimes an alarmist so don't be scared by my comments. But I think that every conceivable possibility should be investigated.
I would ask the doctor if it could possibly be a brain tumor. I have never heard of anyone getting a brain tumor leading to your son's symptoms, but I just like to check all possibilities.
Also, do you think it's possible that your son started taking recreational drugs last month?
> My 15 year old son, who until last week was a calm, good-natured, level-headed kid, had a psychotic episode last week, and is still hospitalized with severe, and dangerous delusions. The only warning was a sense that he was becoming depressed over the last couple of months. He is being given Risperdal, and while he now says "He can't feel any emotions," his delusions are just as severe as ever, a week after beginning the medication. He's still hospitalized. Has anyone out there not responded to Risperdal? Is there another medication that might work better for him? Any advice will help.
Posted by Sebastian on October 21, 2004, at 16:30:39
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
Risperdal did not work for me. Zyprexa did, instantly. But this was over a year from my first hospitalization, when they did not have zyprexa in canada. It may just take a lot of time. Like a year or a couple of months. I was in the hospital for 4 months the first time when I was in nothing but dilusional thought, dimentia and dream like states. They gave me a lot of ECT, befor the meds even worked. Then I was out of the hospital for a few months and I stoped taking my meds, soon I was in the hospital again, with severe dilusional thoughts, but not dibilitated this time. 3 months more, with 30 ECT's, till I lost my memory. Then out of the hospital, took meds off and on, drugs (illegal) in between when off the meds. Eventualy I started to take the meds every day, this worked only when I took the meds, if I stoped I went into psychosis. When I took the meds up untill this very day, the problems were/are gone. I have to take meds for the rest of my life..
Posted by Stressee on October 21, 2004, at 16:51:48
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
I am so sorry to read about your son. I know it's tought to just get through the day when things like this happen to our children. I have been posting on here for about one month and have read quite a bit of old and new messages. That may be a good idea for you when you have the time. There are many people with similair experiences and have good advice. I myself have a daughter that in the past year has gone from mostly A's to making C's. She is really depressed and has a binge eating disorder. Our daughter that we knew before is now gone. She can't assume repsonsibility anymore and says she feels frozen. I'm a total wreck worrying about her and wonder if she can pull herself out of the downward spiral. She is seeing a Phy. and an MD. Keep us posted, we are here for you. -L
Posted by Stressee on October 22, 2004, at 10:54:18
In reply to Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 20, 2004, at 22:30:34
I have been thinking about you since I last posted. Please post back and let us know how things are going, (when you have the time, of course) I am very concerned. -L
Posted by Neal S on October 22, 2004, at 12:57:33
In reply to Re: Psychotic Depression, posted by Stressee on October 22, 2004, at 10:54:18
> I have been thinking about you since I last posted. Please post back and let us know how things are going, (when you have the time, of course) I am very concerned. -L
Thank you all for your help! I can't tell you how much it has meant to us! My son has finally started to show signs of progress. He's having more lucid periods, and they're getting longer. The doctor had been giving him Haldol on top of the Risperdal when he was getting overly anxious, and the Haldol seemed to actually be increasing his delusions, even as it sedated him. Since they substituted valium for Haldol, to calm him down, he's been much better. Thank you all again! Neal S
Posted by Stressee on October 22, 2004, at 20:51:55
In reply to Re: Psychotic Depression, posted by Neal S on October 22, 2004, at 12:57:33
Neal, Please continue to keep up informed of your son. -L
This is the end of the thread.
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