Suggest Treatment For Schizophrenia

Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015

Question: My brother had schizophrenia and was also bi-polar before he died at 32 (30 years ago). I am 52 and recently became depressed and anxious since my beloved dog XXXXXXX passed away from cancer a month ago. My biggest fear is that I will develop what my brother had. I see a psychiatrist who assures me I am neither and also a psychologist for therapy who assures me I don't have either. But my anxiety makes me feel like I am going crazy. I am on Seroquel (25 mg) for sleep and was just taken off Effexor because it was causing insomnia. Can you offer any reassurance that I will be ok someday and don't have what my brother had? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
There are no chance of you becoming psychotic

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.

I have read your query and understood your concerns.

Schizophrenia is genetically linked but it does not mean that if your brother had schizophrenia, so you should have it also.

Among the parents, if one is having schizophrenia then there are 10% chances that the child will have schizophrenia. If both the parents have schizophrenia then there are 40% chances of schizophrenia in children.

The usual age for onset of schizophrenia for female is 15-25 years and 35-45 years. You are now 52 and you didn't have psychotic episode in past. So, don't worry, there are no chance of you, having schizophrenia at present or in future.

You are just worried and more anxious so you feel that you might go crazy. If your anxiety is very severe then you need to take drugs to control that. Options for effexor are lexapro, paxil or celexa. You can discuss about these drugs with your doctor. Treatment of anxiety is antidepressant along with anxiolytics initially, later on anxiolytics would be withdrawn.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further clarifications then I shall be happy to help.
Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (2 hours later)

Thank you for your answer. Could this anxiety and depression be grief related. My dog was my best furry friend and I spent almost all of my free time with him. I am lonely at our house now when my husband is at work at night and weekends. I will talk to my doctor this week. This has been only going on for a month. I had insomnia before XXXXXXX passed after we got his cancer diagnosis because I would worry about him and what was to come all night. Now since he is gone, it is both insomnia, anxiety and depression. Thank you again.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yeah, it is related to grief

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

If you were very much emotionally attached to your dog then it is possible that these symptoms are because of grief. As such grief reactions resolves on its own but if you are experiencing severe anxiety symptoms then you need to take drugs.

Management of anxiety and insomnia would benefit you in fighting this grief.

Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further clarifications then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta