hello and welcome to HCM!
I have read your question carefully and see that the patient is on
chemotherapy, developed some psychotic symptoms on and off, and having one episode right now.
The point that he had it previously, which went away after one week, points to a possibility of delirium- caused due to some
electrolyte imbalance ( may be related to chemotherapy ). So, you need to get his electrolytes measured - serum sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, and
kidney function test, blood sugar also.
If these are disturbed, correcting them will certainly help and he will be fine .
When ever we have such a patients, who is on some to the other drug for some porblem & develops a short psychotic episode, I find
Haloperidol 0.25-05 mg very effective. I would like to assess such patient twice daily, and then adjust daily
dosing .
Almost always, this drug helps to manage even a serious episode.
I can understand your problem, it is very scary to see your near and dear one behaving like this. But I would ask you to please donot feel helpless, it can be managed.
Do not try to give too much of any sleeping pill to him, it might not be good for him.
### Many times these episodes increase as evening and night comes, this points again in favour of delirium.
Hope the reply is useful
Feel free to ask more questions
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry.