Schizophrenia Forum - won't take meds


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crayola110

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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
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won't take meds Posted: 04-29-08 00:56am


My mom just got diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia so she's very adverse to taking meds or receiving treatment. She thinks that everything is a conspiracy against her, people are trying to kill her, have sex with her and take her money. She gets into fights with people all the time and has had the cops called on her for going into neighbors yards to water their plants (she's obsessed with water) I convinced her to finally receive treatment by just saying it will be good for her to go in and talk. Eventually the Psychiatrist convinced her to take meds even though she's very scared of meds. So for the first 3 wks she has been taking ABILIFY. She only took 10 mg and I didn't notice much of a difference. After seeing the Doctor again he recommended 30 mg. That night my mom refused to take her pills. She started calling me a "pusher" and saying I'm trying to kill her like they did to Elvis Presely. She also said that the medication hasn't been tested and that she will become dependent. She doesn't know exactly why she's taking them except that they will stabilize her anxiety. (so she doesn't even acknowledge that she has Schizophrenia, but just thinks she has an "overactive mind" and lots of stress caused by Others and not her diseas...) I told her that everyone wants her to take them even her sisters and her daughter. She then accussed me of trying to get the family against her and started cussing at me and insulting me in any way she could. She said the doctor is related to my uncle who is trying to take her house...etc Now she's really upset. The past 6 days since the doctor recommended more medicine she has stopped taking her pills. She has become agitated and resents me. I just tried to get her to take just 20 mg and she yelled at me again saying I'm trying to take her "Money". So what would you all recommend for me to do to convince her to start taking her meds? How can I go about getting her further help? She's only seen a psychiatrist, but no therapy or psychologists etc... is there someone who can further convince her of her problem? She doesn't think she has schizophrenia and I don't know if I should outright tell her? Last edited by crayola110 on 04-29-08 15:40pm; edited 1 time in total

antigone

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Posted: 04-29-08 15:19pm


Oh boy! Attempting to get an adult who is in denial to take medication for a mental disorder is really tough. Approach your mom when she is calm. Try to appeal to her sense of reason and tell her she was a bit less anxious on the 10 mg. of abilify. Let her know this is a very low dose and in order to alleviate all the anxiety she needs a bit more. Assure her this medication is not habit forming and no dependance will result from taking it. You can talk to her doctor. Let him know that she is refusing her medication. He may have some suggestions for you. Telling her she is schizophrenic is perhaps the right thing to do but is likely to alienate her more. I would hold off on that. She is agitated about the medication and in denial. If she starts taking her abilify again you may have a more stable personality. That is when you will be able to have a more direct conversation with her about her illness. Unfortunately, unless your mom becomes a danger to herself or others she is free to choose whether or not she wants treatment. She can refuse her medication. If she should become violent she can be forced into treatment. I wish I had more to offer you. I have been trying to convince my brother to receive treatment for bipolar disorder for awhile. He is still refusing. It is heartbreaking to watch someone you love deny that they need medical attention. Let us know how you are doing. We are here if you need advice and at least be a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. Hugs.

catrus

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Joined: 08 May 2008
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Posted: 05-08-08 19:45pm


Her fear of meds may not just be the schizophrenia talking. Have you seen the side effects, like increases in blood sugar leading to diabetes, the inability to regulate body temperature (can't even excersize...) and the horrific irreversible DTs, which make them look crazy even if they are on meds? Please have her see a psychologist, preferably one who specialize in cognitive behavior therapy. My dear husband (onset after we met) is going to one, and is much better now, and doesn't take meds. He ignores the voices for most part, and knows the paranoia is a construct of his mind not working properly (he used to accuse me of poisoning his food... to the point where he would vomit it out, claiming I wanted his "Money" as well, before the diagnosis). It also helps that he can call me on the cell when anything gets too overwhelming for him, where I can convince him that men/police/monsters are out to get him, or would have got him by now if so. However, the way you put it, it seems your mom is too out of touch to trust you completely. I agree that reminding her she is schizophrenic doesn't help either, it probably makes her suspect you more. Societally, it is essentially calling her "crazy," and while all of us know they have sane thoughts, they can be out of control at times. Perhaps you can go to a therapist together?

Georgia59

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Posted: 05-08-08 19:53pm


Wow! I realize that medication has many negative side effects- this is true, and really unfortunate. Even more unfortunately, some people aren't able to even function without medication. I commend you and your husband for trying to work through the illness with only therapy- not many can do that!

crayola110

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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
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Posted: 05-12-08 14:16pm


Thanks for the replies. Antigone: Thanks for your advice. I realize I can't just force her to take them. I just want what's best for her and it's hard to appeal to any logic. She is in her own world where everyone is "out to get her". catru: thanks for the suggestions. I realize that there are side effects, but I feel that they are willing to risk considering how bad she is. I for one would rather live a life more clear and apart from fear/paranoia with any side effects from the drugs than the reverse. I do think CBT would be good for her. I've only taken her to a counselor a few times and then this psychiatrist who perscribed the Abilify. She actually got into a fight with the counselor and he asked that she not come back... I will probably look for another psychologist who can deal with CBT for her paranoia while she takes her meds. ---- She definitely needs medication, because being 55 she's already set in her paranoid views so much that it will take more than just CBT to relieve her problems. It's been getting progressively worse and I just want to keep her from becomming really bad.

Co-Guardian

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won't take meds Posted: 05-30-08 21:40pm


Having read Crayola's comments, let me say that we have been dealing with a seriously paranoid schizophrenic son for going on nine years. The side effects are treatable in most cases, and play second fiddle to the delusional thoughts of a truly schizophrenic person who might otherwise be living on the street. If you are so lucky to be able to talk to them and get them to listen, the illness is far from severe as is the case with our son. Rationalizing with an insane person is generally NOT what a psychologist cares to do, but once in a while you can find one that will be helpful in convincing them that they need to talk to a psychiatrist for medication. Having tried virtually all medications, there are some that work well but have serious side effects with long term use. But, I'd still rather have him with a well mind and sick body, if it means he can have some semblance of a life. Abilify didn't begin to touch my son's mental illness. It's a better mood stabilizer, but if you have luck with it, more power too you. A new atypical med that is out is called Invega. My son refuses all medication right now, and I may have to go down to the court house with my guardianship papers yet again, for about the tenth time, and ask for a court order to have him picked up. Once the judge signs it, I take it to the sheriffs office and they then bring him to the hospital where real professionals medicate him, generally on a 200mg shot of Haloperidol, which shuts down the delusional thoughts immediately. It takes him about two days to stop napping all day, but when he wakes up out of it his mind is as clear as a bell, and he is in a great place to make his own future medication decisions, that is until he decides to stop taking them again. He ran away once and I found him in a county shelter in Long Beach. Generally until they get medicated, they believe that the psychologist is part of the system that's pitted against them, and that we're all passing messages back and forth telepathically. It's far better to get them on meds so they can think clearly, at which point only then can a professional really offer any objective help. Forget about the idea of talking to your mom if she's that psychotic. Get a court order and get her into the hospital, where they can treat her if you want to see her better. Best of luck, from one who has lived it for a while.