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Hi I Am 25 Years Old Male, And I Was
Question: Hi I am 25 years old male, and I was first diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 18. I was almost perfectly recovered on 2 occasions only to fall back into relapse 2 times, both of them due to methampentamine abuse (now I have commitment never to do any kind of drugs, forever) Anyway, I have been taking invega (highest dose), abilify (highest dose) and benztropine 1mg since the latest relapse and I have grossly disorganized behavior, avolition, thought broadcasting, post psychotic depression, and even social anxiety that developed in response to thought broadcasting. All of those above symptoms are relatively minor and are getting better. I go to college and yes I am capable of it when I take only minimum course work and just avoid evrything from time to time when I know I don't feel right. I did a bit of research on schizophrenia since my quality of life moved from extremes of life and hell in accordance with recovery and relpase and I think I know my symptoms on a logical level but I can't help living a broken life. On top of those symptoms I recently found out I have catatonia and I am scared as hell that this might get worse and worse. I pace when nobody is around somtimes for hours I feel tensed when I am forced to sit down. but I can sit down if I must I grimace as if I have tardive dyskenisia (I thought I have tardive dyskinisia but I don't) I sometimes put extreme effort to maintain a mask like face because I know I look weird and I would eventually avoid everyone like I have social anxiety or whatever I sometimes walk in a exaggerated motion out in the streets and it looks funny or wierd to others. When I become self conscious I feel like avoiding everybody. but sometimes I have no problems with walking naturally especially when I am not self conscious sometimes my friends say why I sit in a manner that seems uncomfortable My doctor can't give more than 3 minutes for one patient cause there are so many patient for her to see and it is not a therapy session so she is unavailable for talking. Do I have catatonic schizophrenia? Will it get worse? do I have to take more meds from now on? Is there a possibility that catatonia will go away without adding more meds?
Hi I am 25 years old male, and I was first diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 18. I was almost perfectly recovered on 2 occasions only to fall back into relapse 2 times, both of them due to methampentamine abuse (now I have commitment never to do any kind of drugs, forever) Anyway, I have been taking invega (highest dose), abilify (highest dose) and benztropine 1mg since the latest relapse and I have grossly disorganized behavior, avolition, thought broadcasting, post psychotic depression, and even social anxiety that developed in response to thought broadcasting. All of those above symptoms are relatively minor and are getting better. I go to college and yes I am capable of it when I take only minimum course work and just avoid evrything from time to time when I know I don't feel right. I did a bit of research on schizophrenia since my quality of life moved from extremes of life and hell in accordance with recovery and relpase and I think I know my symptoms on a logical level but I can't help living a broken life. On top of those symptoms I recently found out I have catatonia and I am scared as hell that this might get worse and worse. I pace when nobody is around somtimes for hours I feel tensed when I am forced to sit down. but I can sit down if I must I grimace as if I have tardive dyskenisia (I thought I have tardive dyskinisia but I don't) I sometimes put extreme effort to maintain a mask like face because I know I look weird and I would eventually avoid everyone like I have social anxiety or whatever I sometimes walk in a exaggerated motion out in the streets and it looks funny or wierd to others. When I become self conscious I feel like avoiding everybody. but sometimes I have no problems with walking naturally especially when I am not self conscious sometimes my friends say why I sit in a manner that seems uncomfortable My doctor can't give more than 3 minutes for one patient cause there are so many patient for her to see and it is not a therapy session so she is unavailable for talking. Do I have catatonic schizophrenia? Will it get worse? do I have to take more meds from now on? Is there a possibility that catatonia will go away without adding more meds?
Brief Answer:
Catatonia is often indicative of good prognosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns about the catatonia and associated problems.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no proven method to know the future course of schizophrenia and complications in any individual case. However the future course is determined by certain factors. One of the such factor is catatonia and often indicates better prognosis for most subjects. I understand that there are certain other factors such as young age of onset, disorganised behaviour which often indicates poor prognosis.
I also like to communicate that presence of catatonia is something which can be easily treated with either use Lorazepam (benzodiazepines) or ECT. Despite having the worst experience of life I like to assure you that catatonia is amenable to treatment and there is little to worry.
I also like to assure you that except during acute presentation catatonia does not need more medications. A simple treatment protocol used for treatment of schizophrenia is sufficient for most individuals.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Catatonia is often indicative of good prognosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns about the catatonia and associated problems.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no proven method to know the future course of schizophrenia and complications in any individual case. However the future course is determined by certain factors. One of the such factor is catatonia and often indicates better prognosis for most subjects. I understand that there are certain other factors such as young age of onset, disorganised behaviour which often indicates poor prognosis.
I also like to communicate that presence of catatonia is something which can be easily treated with either use Lorazepam (benzodiazepines) or ECT. Despite having the worst experience of life I like to assure you that catatonia is amenable to treatment and there is little to worry.
I also like to assure you that except during acute presentation catatonia does not need more medications. A simple treatment protocol used for treatment of schizophrenia is sufficient for most individuals.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Catatonia is often indicative of good prognosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns about the catatonia and associated problems.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no proven method to know the future course of schizophrenia and complications in any individual case. However the future course is determined by certain factors. One of the such factor is catatonia and often indicates better prognosis for most subjects. I understand that there are certain other factors such as young age of onset, disorganised behaviour which often indicates poor prognosis.
I also like to communicate that presence of catatonia is something which can be easily treated with either use Lorazepam (benzodiazepines) or ECT. Despite having the worst experience of life I like to assure you that catatonia is amenable to treatment and there is little to worry.
I also like to assure you that except during acute presentation catatonia does not need more medications. A simple treatment protocol used for treatment of schizophrenia is sufficient for most individuals.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Catatonia is often indicative of good prognosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns about the catatonia and associated problems.
First of all I like to inform you that there is no proven method to know the future course of schizophrenia and complications in any individual case. However the future course is determined by certain factors. One of the such factor is catatonia and often indicates better prognosis for most subjects. I understand that there are certain other factors such as young age of onset, disorganised behaviour which often indicates poor prognosis.
I also like to communicate that presence of catatonia is something which can be easily treated with either use Lorazepam (benzodiazepines) or ECT. Despite having the worst experience of life I like to assure you that catatonia is amenable to treatment and there is little to worry.
I also like to assure you that except during acute presentation catatonia does not need more medications. A simple treatment protocol used for treatment of schizophrenia is sufficient for most individuals.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
You mentioned that disoranaized schziophrenia may have a bad prognosis. How long does disorganized schzophrenia takes to recover, if it does recover? I am asking this because I recently realized some changes in behavior compared to months ago like not spending time doing nothing on some ramdom places and successfully quitting smoking for 2 months. Anyway, thank you for your reply. It's an relief to hear that catatonia have good treatments available. I somehow feel the need to clarify my state of illness since my doctor never mentioned catatonia to me. Do you think it is indicitive of cantatonia by just looking at a) constant pacing (may be stereotypy) and b) grimacing? What are some definite tell tale signs of catatonic schizophrenia?
You mentioned that disoranaized schziophrenia may have a bad prognosis. How long does disorganized schzophrenia takes to recover, if it does recover? I am asking this because I recently realized some changes in behavior compared to months ago like not spending time doing nothing on some ramdom places and successfully quitting smoking for 2 months. Anyway, thank you for your reply. It's an relief to hear that catatonia have good treatments available. I somehow feel the need to clarify my state of illness since my doctor never mentioned catatonia to me. Do you think it is indicitive of cantatonia by just looking at a) constant pacing (may be stereotypy) and b) grimacing? What are some definite tell tale signs of catatonic schizophrenia?
Brief Answer:
Motor disturbance is often indicative of catatonia
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and feedback.
Catatonia diagnosis often requires two set of symptoms from the range of either decreased or increased motor activity. There are almost twenty symptoms which indicate catatonia and presence of any of two from two clusters is sufficient to make a diagnosis of catatonia. I do not think mentioning all of them have any value as both stereotypy and grimacing are included in the cluster of symptoms indicating catatonia. However both fall in the same category (increased motor activity) and are not sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Disorganized schizophrenia is often difficult to treat and may take three months or more to show complete/near complete remission. Few of cases do not respond to medications from this category and may need different set of treatment such as ECT.
I hope this assists you further.
Thanks and regards.
Motor disturbance is often indicative of catatonia
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and feedback.
Catatonia diagnosis often requires two set of symptoms from the range of either decreased or increased motor activity. There are almost twenty symptoms which indicate catatonia and presence of any of two from two clusters is sufficient to make a diagnosis of catatonia. I do not think mentioning all of them have any value as both stereotypy and grimacing are included in the cluster of symptoms indicating catatonia. However both fall in the same category (increased motor activity) and are not sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Disorganized schizophrenia is often difficult to treat and may take three months or more to show complete/near complete remission. Few of cases do not respond to medications from this category and may need different set of treatment such as ECT.
I hope this assists you further.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Motor disturbance is often indicative of catatonia
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and feedback.
Catatonia diagnosis often requires two set of symptoms from the range of either decreased or increased motor activity. There are almost twenty symptoms which indicate catatonia and presence of any of two from two clusters is sufficient to make a diagnosis of catatonia. I do not think mentioning all of them have any value as both stereotypy and grimacing are included in the cluster of symptoms indicating catatonia. However both fall in the same category (increased motor activity) and are not sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Disorganized schizophrenia is often difficult to treat and may take three months or more to show complete/near complete remission. Few of cases do not respond to medications from this category and may need different set of treatment such as ECT.
I hope this assists you further.
Thanks and regards.
Motor disturbance is often indicative of catatonia
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and feedback.
Catatonia diagnosis often requires two set of symptoms from the range of either decreased or increased motor activity. There are almost twenty symptoms which indicate catatonia and presence of any of two from two clusters is sufficient to make a diagnosis of catatonia. I do not think mentioning all of them have any value as both stereotypy and grimacing are included in the cluster of symptoms indicating catatonia. However both fall in the same category (increased motor activity) and are not sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Disorganized schizophrenia is often difficult to treat and may take three months or more to show complete/near complete remission. Few of cases do not respond to medications from this category and may need different set of treatment such as ECT.
I hope this assists you further.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So you do think that I need to talk to my psychiatrist right? Will benzodiazepins cause serious side effects, like, erectile dysfunction?
So you do think that I need to talk to my psychiatrist right? Will benzodiazepins cause serious side effects, like, erectile dysfunction?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Benzodiazepines does not have direct connection with erectile dysfunction. BZDs cause different set of side effects and among them addiction and dependence is most problematic. The others include cognitive impairment, falls and fractures, sedation, difficulty in executing high precision tasks among others.
In case there is limited response with medication ECT can be considered and you need to talk to your psychiatrist in this regard, if required.
I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Benzodiazepines does not have direct connection with erectile dysfunction. BZDs cause different set of side effects and among them addiction and dependence is most problematic. The others include cognitive impairment, falls and fractures, sedation, difficulty in executing high precision tasks among others.
In case there is limited response with medication ECT can be considered and you need to talk to your psychiatrist in this regard, if required.
I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Benzodiazepines does not have direct connection with erectile dysfunction. BZDs cause different set of side effects and among them addiction and dependence is most problematic. The others include cognitive impairment, falls and fractures, sedation, difficulty in executing high precision tasks among others.
In case there is limited response with medication ECT can be considered and you need to talk to your psychiatrist in this regard, if required.
I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Benzodiazepines does not have direct connection with erectile dysfunction. BZDs cause different set of side effects and among them addiction and dependence is most problematic. The others include cognitive impairment, falls and fractures, sedation, difficulty in executing high precision tasks among others.
In case there is limited response with medication ECT can be considered and you need to talk to your psychiatrist in this regard, if required.
I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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