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Suggest Treatment For Auditory Hallucinations In A Person
Question: As per advise of Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX (HCM) regarding the problems my wife is facing like hearing some words or sentenances which did not occur I took her to a psychiatrist. He prescribed Oleaz 2.5 mg, Nexito 20 mg and Zolfresh 10mg. Are these tablets need to taken on a long time basis and what are all the side effects? The doctor here did not tell me the exact disease.
Brief Answer:
probably depression with psychotic symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
Kindly allow me to give you some details so that we can reach to a proper conclusion.
Hearing words or sentences which have never happened or which others cannot hear are auditory hallucinations.
These are a psychotic symptom. These symptoms can commonly occur in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and also co-morbidly with depression.
The proper diagnosis depends on the other symptoms as well.
If you can revert back with more details, I can help you to reach to a appropriate diagnosis.
1. How has the mood, energy levels, sleep and appetite of your wife been in last 1-2 months?
2. Since when she is hearing such voices?
3. Is there a history of some mental illness in her family? I mean parents, siblings?
4. Any kind of aggression, suspiciousness, overactivity?
The details will help in deciding proper treatment.
Anyhow, Your wife has been prescribed psychotropic drugs namely Oleanz, Nexito and Zolfresh.
Oleanz contains olanzapine which is an antipsychotic. It has common side effects of sedation, weight gain, hypotension, constipation.
Nexito contains escitalopram which is antidepressant. The common side effects are insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, gastritis, dizziness.
Zolfresh contains zolpidem which is a sedative drug. It is used to treat insomnia. The side effects are drowsiness, decreased concentration and memory.
These psychotropics are usually prescribed for long durations, usually 6-9 months. However, the duration may vary from person to person depending on illness severity.
This prescription of your local psychiatrist suggest that his diagnosis for your wife should be 'Depression with Psychotic Symptoms'.
Hope you find these details helpful.
Kindly revert back with replies to above questions. Or you can discuss the above issues with your psychiatrist.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
probably depression with psychotic symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
Kindly allow me to give you some details so that we can reach to a proper conclusion.
Hearing words or sentences which have never happened or which others cannot hear are auditory hallucinations.
These are a psychotic symptom. These symptoms can commonly occur in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and also co-morbidly with depression.
The proper diagnosis depends on the other symptoms as well.
If you can revert back with more details, I can help you to reach to a appropriate diagnosis.
1. How has the mood, energy levels, sleep and appetite of your wife been in last 1-2 months?
2. Since when she is hearing such voices?
3. Is there a history of some mental illness in her family? I mean parents, siblings?
4. Any kind of aggression, suspiciousness, overactivity?
The details will help in deciding proper treatment.
Anyhow, Your wife has been prescribed psychotropic drugs namely Oleanz, Nexito and Zolfresh.
Oleanz contains olanzapine which is an antipsychotic. It has common side effects of sedation, weight gain, hypotension, constipation.
Nexito contains escitalopram which is antidepressant. The common side effects are insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, gastritis, dizziness.
Zolfresh contains zolpidem which is a sedative drug. It is used to treat insomnia. The side effects are drowsiness, decreased concentration and memory.
These psychotropics are usually prescribed for long durations, usually 6-9 months. However, the duration may vary from person to person depending on illness severity.
This prescription of your local psychiatrist suggest that his diagnosis for your wife should be 'Depression with Psychotic Symptoms'.
Hope you find these details helpful.
Kindly revert back with replies to above questions. Or you can discuss the above issues with your psychiatrist.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1. How has the mood, energy levels, sleep and appetite of your wife been in last 1-2 months?
- Mood - there has been a regular mood swing from past few months. Some doctors mentioned this may be due to menopause related.
- Energy Level - she is normally quite energitic. does all house related work herself (normally 6-8 hrs of work regularly). Visits facebook, reads books, does some meditation, talks to people, watches TV (very selected programs).
- Sleep - gets sleep after 11:30 or 12 in the night. Afternoon sleeps XXXXXXX of 10 minutes while sitting on a sofa chair. Not a sound sleeper.
- Appetite - regular.
2. Since when she is hearing such voices? - Started complaining about someone talking against her from 10 days. It could have been there earlier also but not noticeable. This came to light only when she asked that person who denied talking anything like that. I and my daughter also did not hear any such words/sentences.
3. Is there a history of some mental illness in her family? I mean parents, siblings?
- One of her cousina do not seem to be ok with regard to his behaviour. Though it is not noticeable to outsiders, the family members feel the same.
4. Any kind of aggression, suspiciousness, overactivity? No aggression, suspiciousness - a little, overactivity - not much.
- Mood - there has been a regular mood swing from past few months. Some doctors mentioned this may be due to menopause related.
- Energy Level - she is normally quite energitic. does all house related work herself (normally 6-8 hrs of work regularly). Visits facebook, reads books, does some meditation, talks to people, watches TV (very selected programs).
- Sleep - gets sleep after 11:30 or 12 in the night. Afternoon sleeps XXXXXXX of 10 minutes while sitting on a sofa chair. Not a sound sleeper.
- Appetite - regular.
2. Since when she is hearing such voices? - Started complaining about someone talking against her from 10 days. It could have been there earlier also but not noticeable. This came to light only when she asked that person who denied talking anything like that. I and my daughter also did not hear any such words/sentences.
3. Is there a history of some mental illness in her family? I mean parents, siblings?
- One of her cousina do not seem to be ok with regard to his behaviour. Though it is not noticeable to outsiders, the family members feel the same.
4. Any kind of aggression, suspiciousness, overactivity? No aggression, suspiciousness - a little, overactivity - not much.
Brief Answer:
prodromal psychosis; only oleanz needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up details.
Keeping these details in mind, I think she is most probably in the prodromal phase of psychosis. The reason for this is that she is having voices talking against her (that is persecutory auditory hallucinations).
In my opinion, only oleanz 2.5-5mg would have been sufficient. I say so because oleanz has multiple actions like controlling psychosis, mood regulation, improving sleep and reducing anxiety.
The dose can be regulated depending on the response.
In addition, zolfresh 5mg on SOS basis for sleep problem would have been sufficient.
I donot think there is any need of such high dose of nexito or any need of nexito at all.
I follow the principle of treating my patients on minimum possible drugs. Most of the standard treatment guidelines recommend this.
You should discuss this with your psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
You can also ask a direct query at your convenience.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
prodromal psychosis; only oleanz needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up details.
Keeping these details in mind, I think she is most probably in the prodromal phase of psychosis. The reason for this is that she is having voices talking against her (that is persecutory auditory hallucinations).
In my opinion, only oleanz 2.5-5mg would have been sufficient. I say so because oleanz has multiple actions like controlling psychosis, mood regulation, improving sleep and reducing anxiety.
The dose can be regulated depending on the response.
In addition, zolfresh 5mg on SOS basis for sleep problem would have been sufficient.
I donot think there is any need of such high dose of nexito or any need of nexito at all.
I follow the principle of treating my patients on minimum possible drugs. Most of the standard treatment guidelines recommend this.
You should discuss this with your psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
You can also ask a direct query at your convenience.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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