Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Smoking Marijuana Advisable While Having Schizoaffective Disorder?
Question: Hello doctor,
My son is 23 years old.he is malnourished and severely underweight.he faced some stressful situations before that.he has undiagnosed attention deficit disorder from young age.he did well in studies till 12 th.he is struggling to complete graduation from last six years.he is in final year.malnutritiom during pregnancy also might caused this.four years back he started behaving aggressive, suspecting someone is following,anti social,he used to be jovial and talkative ,not enjoying things which h he used to before like movies etc,he started smoking marijuana from last four years.family circumstances also were not good.doctor diagnosed it as schizo affected psychosis.he is not ready to accept he has problem.he is being given oleanz 10 mg night and oxcarb 150 mg in morning.he is not aggressive like before.but lost spontaneity in talking.he has to think before he talks new people and friends also.he doesn't take bath until we remind him.he became very forgetful and careless.he can't focus and listen to others.though he still smokes marijuana he doesn't get high anymore.he tells he can't work and can't study anymore.my elder son 25 years and myself are going through lot of stress because of him and my husband doesn't support at all.is there any better treatment for his smoking and psychiatric problem? Can we make him join graphics and vfx courses which he is interested but we are not sure that he can do it?I want to know whether he is on right treatment.he has also been given nodict but we stopped because he is. still smoking.kindly advice us because we are having hell with all relations at stake.
My son is 23 years old.he is malnourished and severely underweight.he faced some stressful situations before that.he has undiagnosed attention deficit disorder from young age.he did well in studies till 12 th.he is struggling to complete graduation from last six years.he is in final year.malnutritiom during pregnancy also might caused this.four years back he started behaving aggressive, suspecting someone is following,anti social,he used to be jovial and talkative ,not enjoying things which h he used to before like movies etc,he started smoking marijuana from last four years.family circumstances also were not good.doctor diagnosed it as schizo affected psychosis.he is not ready to accept he has problem.he is being given oleanz 10 mg night and oxcarb 150 mg in morning.he is not aggressive like before.but lost spontaneity in talking.he has to think before he talks new people and friends also.he doesn't take bath until we remind him.he became very forgetful and careless.he can't focus and listen to others.though he still smokes marijuana he doesn't get high anymore.he tells he can't work and can't study anymore.my elder son 25 years and myself are going through lot of stress because of him and my husband doesn't support at all.is there any better treatment for his smoking and psychiatric problem? Can we make him join graphics and vfx courses which he is interested but we are not sure that he can do it?I want to know whether he is on right treatment.he has also been given nodict but we stopped because he is. still smoking.kindly advice us because we are having hell with all relations at stake.
Brief Answer:
I think depot preparation should be considered
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I am sorry to know that there is ongoing serious psychiatric illness in family and there is little recovery till date.
I have reviewed the provided details and endorse the diagnosis of Schizo affective disorder. Considering his progress and dominance of negative symptoms till date I feel we are far away from recovery and available option need to be explored.
The first thing which comes to my mind is depot preparation of olanzapine. This helps in ensuring compliance as on most occasions the patient refuses to take medicine saying he do not have any problem.
The second thing which finds relevance here is add on amisulpiride in low doses (50-100 mg). The purpose of this medication is to improve the apathy, disinterest and forgetfulness.
Thirdly I think he should be engaged in some sort of activity. Although I do not feel he should be enrolled in full time course of his choice but a crash course kind of thing should be explored as per his career choice. In my view once there is recovery from disease he can do all which we often do not expect from the person.
So yo conclude there is need to explore additional medications in particular for increasing compliance and management of negative symptoms.
I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards.
I think depot preparation should be considered
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I am sorry to know that there is ongoing serious psychiatric illness in family and there is little recovery till date.
I have reviewed the provided details and endorse the diagnosis of Schizo affective disorder. Considering his progress and dominance of negative symptoms till date I feel we are far away from recovery and available option need to be explored.
The first thing which comes to my mind is depot preparation of olanzapine. This helps in ensuring compliance as on most occasions the patient refuses to take medicine saying he do not have any problem.
The second thing which finds relevance here is add on amisulpiride in low doses (50-100 mg). The purpose of this medication is to improve the apathy, disinterest and forgetfulness.
Thirdly I think he should be engaged in some sort of activity. Although I do not feel he should be enrolled in full time course of his choice but a crash course kind of thing should be explored as per his career choice. In my view once there is recovery from disease he can do all which we often do not expect from the person.
So yo conclude there is need to explore additional medications in particular for increasing compliance and management of negative symptoms.
I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
