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Hearing Tormenting Voices, Feeling Of Someone Breaking Up The House, Talking Back To Invisible People. No Help From Risperdone. Disabled. Help
My husband is hearing voices. They are tormenting him. He swears I just cant hear them. He believes they are using technology/radio frequencies that only he can hear. He says they are trying to take our home, break us up, make him appear crazy. He was taking risperdone but he said it didnt help. He says its not in his head because he hears them w/his ears. He is a very smart man but not very logical about this. He is disabled and on pain meds. He has been hospitalized before. With the voices constantly tormenting him, he gets no peace. I will catch him talking back to them, threatening to kill them and their families when he finds them. Should I worry for my own safety? I dont want to put him in hospital. I dont want to leave him alone. Im afraid he might do something terrible. I do not know how to deal with this. Im already depressed and his ranting and inability to even listen to me because he cant hear me over the voices. He is getting to point he cant function. What do I do?
Mon, 2 Sep 2013
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us,
The symptoms you report in your husband of hearing voices, fear of being persecuted by means of radio-frequencies etc are most likely symptoms and signs of Schizophrenia. This disorder can take various courses of continuing for years or subsiding after a short while only to return again. The patients usually believe so deeply about what they hear or think and is unshakable even with reasoning and logic argument. They hence become unpredictable. They may cause harm to their loved ones or themselves. If risperidone is not effective in him, it warrants a trial of another antipsychotic medication. You have to take him to a psychiatrist/hospital at the earliest. Even if he is admitted it will not be for more than a month or two. It would be better if he returns back in a better functioning state in a month than not getting him treated right now.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for writing to us,
The symptoms you report in your husband of hearing voices, fear of being persecuted by means of radio-frequencies etc are most likely symptoms and signs of Schizophrenia. This disorder can take various courses of continuing for years or subsiding after a short while only to return again. The patients usually believe so deeply about what they hear or think and is unshakable even with reasoning and logic argument. They hence become unpredictable. They may cause harm to their loved ones or themselves. If risperidone is not effective in him, it warrants a trial of another antipsychotic medication. You have to take him to a psychiatrist/hospital at the earliest. Even if he is admitted it will not be for more than a month or two. It would be better if he returns back in a better functioning state in a month than not getting him treated right now.
Hope this helps.
I find this answer helpful
Hi,
Many times patients with such symptoms resist taking medicines and make a lot of excuses for not taking them. Since, in my experience, risperidone works very well, I would suggest that you make him take the medicine in the dose prescribed by his doctor in your presence, so that he gets no opportunity to spit it out. I am sure you will see a difference within a few days. If he is totally unwilling to take it, you can request his doctor to prescribe another antipsychotic, but you must ensure that he takes the new medicine. Since he is in such a bad state, not doing anything is no longer an option.
You should seek help not only for him but also for yourself, so that you can cope better and your depression improves.
Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Many times patients with such symptoms resist taking medicines and make a lot of excuses for not taking them. Since, in my experience, risperidone works very well, I would suggest that you make him take the medicine in the dose prescribed by his doctor in your presence, so that he gets no opportunity to spit it out. I am sure you will see a difference within a few days. If he is totally unwilling to take it, you can request his doctor to prescribe another antipsychotic, but you must ensure that he takes the new medicine. Since he is in such a bad state, not doing anything is no longer an option.
You should seek help not only for him but also for yourself, so that you can cope better and your depression improves.
Hope this helps. Best wishes.
I find this answer helpful
Hello........
Thanks for your query. The symptoms you are reporting of: hearing voices, persecutory ideas are characteristic of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. I would suggest an urgent evaluation and if required in patient hospitalisation to address the symptoms. Considering the level of disability, this appears the latter appears the most logical step. I would also like to point out a variety of anti-psychotics are available other than risperidone that are likely to offer benefit. Wish him speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Sundar
Psychiatrist
Thanks for your query. The symptoms you are reporting of: hearing voices, persecutory ideas are characteristic of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. I would suggest an urgent evaluation and if required in patient hospitalisation to address the symptoms. Considering the level of disability, this appears the latter appears the most logical step. I would also like to point out a variety of anti-psychotics are available other than risperidone that are likely to offer benefit. Wish him speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Sundar
Psychiatrist
I find this answer helpful
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