Update on me and my son

Family
21

Hi Barbie, I’ve been out of pocket for a few days and just read your post. My heart goes out to you. Same stuff I’ve been going through with son. The drug use is the most frustrating part. Year after year I’ve been on son for his marijuana use and was actually feeling pretty hopeless about him ever stopping. I knew it was doing him in, as it is your son.

It does sound like your son is at the crisis level, as was mine when we committed him in May. I also felt like I was dancing around him month after month waiting for the crash. It totally sucks.

As I’ve mentioned, son was put on Invega Sustenna long acting injection. We have come to find out the 117mg monthly maintenance was not strong enough. Although he stopped being mean and moody, he was psychotic acting in his mannerisms and dress, so week before last, his shot was upped to 156 mg and he also is taking Invega Paliperidone 3mg each day. Pdoc said it may take a full month for him to feel the full effects of the upped dosage.

And miracle of miracles, son has stopped smoking pot. I don’t know what finally clicked with him, but I am so thankful words cannot express. This, along with med dosage increase and diligently taking the Vayarin for ADHD, has resulted in a marked improvement. He has been very level-headed the past week and a half, sweet to me and his Dad, dressing normally, etc. So I think all of these things combined, but mainly not smoking pot.

Your son is about 5 years younger than my son (I think), everyone is different of course, but seems like they have to hit rock bottom (in their minds) to start the climb back up and making positive changes.

I hope and pray that your son will finally discontinue his drug use. You’re doing the absolute right things for him right now. I pray every night for our children and for God’s guidance to help us make the right decisions to help our children.

I know you have tried different meds for your son, but have you ever considered or tried an injectable? It has taken such a load off my mind, one less worry. And son prefers it too. Not sure how much longer pdoc wants him to take the Invega 3mg.

Stay strong ((hugs))

22

I’m so glad that things are turning around for you and your son, especially that he is not using anymore! I sometimes think that my son really does find a relief outside of the addiction from his marijuana use. Hopefully the right medication will do the same for him.

23

I’m happy for you that you are getting such good help. I wanted to say that my son never did well on Respiradone, and now he is on Invega and I think this is the best he has ever done since his initial break. I know that is not to say that your son will do well on it, but I just mention that it is working for him. He has a Schizo-affective diagnosis.

On the minus side, my son really does not understand that he is ill. He thinks that he was “given” disability because he could not find a job. He does not realize that he could not find and/or keep a job because he was ill. Now he wants to re-do his resume which will be difficult since he has not really worked since 2010. His first break was in 2008 and at that time he was trying to work for his father.

My guess is that he will have to struggle with this problem - the desire to work vs the ability to work - forever. His success in reconciling the conflicting aspects of his life will determine how well he continues to be. My heart breaks for our sons and daughters with this illness.

24

I’m happy that your son is doing his best. That is always good news :smile:

I was going through my son’s notes and noticed that he has been tried on Invega/Paliperidone before and the notes say it made his symptoms worse however no one knew the extend of his marijuana use so I’m hoping that is was the marijuana as he used to blame being high etc on his meds.

I’m sorry your son is struggling with delusional or immature thinking regarding work. Recently my son has stated that since he can’t do school work then he will get a job since working is easy. He doesn’t have the experience of working to know that it is not easy. He did have a ‘job’ working with his nana once which was helping to clean windows etc, vacuuming and taking out garbage. This job didn’t last long.

It is hard to watch those we love struggle with a reality that we don’t see.

25

It sounds like your son has a much more serious substance abuse problem than just marijuana, stealing percocets, drinking alcohol, marijuana, and the adderall. If he does have more than a marijuana addiction then he really needs to get treatment for it. Are the doctors aware of his abuse of the other drugs?

26

Yes they are aware. My son has an addiction personality. It’s the same with nicotine. He goes through phases of cigars and chewing tobacco. He likes energy drinks. Getting treatment for addiction is not any easier then getting treatment for psychosis when the person doesn’t want to acknowledge that there is a problem. I can walk him to rehab but I can’t make him walk in or stay. Since living with me this past 15 months we have managed to keep it out of his life for the most part so when he does get some it has a bigger affect as his tolerance is now so low.

27

Yep, so true. I didn’t mean any slight at all. I just wasn’t aware if the doctors knew about all that stuff. I know it’s an incredibly difficult situation and I think you’re doing a great job.

28

Thank you Malvok. I didn’t take it as a slight :sunny:

29

Barbie,
Hope you are getting through. My son too, has an addictive personality. I asked myself frequently is this his illness or him. Well he does go through phases of I’m done with it. And for now, I hope it stays that way of course. But have seen his change of mind in an instant. So, I do understand. Maybe my son is coming to a little more understanding (on medicine) of his illness and how prescribed adderal makes it worse if he abuses it. My son chews tobacco and quits, but the dr and I both recognize he has health delusions. he will always blame the psychosis on tobacco, and then quits. Aah, I do gently let him know abusing drugs make his symptom worse, I wait until right after he feels a little better. He recognizes paranoia, so we talk once the paranoia is lighter, and I say drinking always makes your paranoia worse and then he will agree. This has worked better for us, what didn’t work was the iron clad you are not doing this in my house. I’m sure you have tried it all, like me. Getting my son on medicine did lighten the road in every aspect.

30

Invega is a good but strong medicine. My son was hositalized during injectable because he was overdoing everything else, like you said no one knew the extent. Then later he did better on it than any other. he had been on it 3 different times. Its so hard to know what the problem is in this illness

31

I’m glad your son is currently going through a good phase. At least we have some building blocks to work with :smile: When my son is clean then things are good and he progresses. Once he makes that wrong choice then the consequences are worth it in his mind. He knows that marijuana has been the main reason for pretty much all of his 6 breaks but he is ok with that. Baby steps… He has had one break in the last 19 months when he was averaging one every 4-6 months. Currently this is the longest he has gone, 11 months. I believe not allowing drugs and alcohol in the home is the main reason for this. It keeps him more stable therefor more med compliant. Of course he brings it in on occasion and I get rid of it.

Today is the third day of Invega. Not really noticing any difference but I know it can take time. It is hard trying to tell what is causing what. Usually my son takes his meds and is asleep within 20-40 minutes. He is still up, it’s 7:30 am and he told me he took his meds by 3:30… Makes me question if he took them.

32

I understand, the same thing doesn’t always work for another. The invega is suppose to be fast acting but it wasn’t in my son’s case, and he didn’t get consistency with the shot. The one thing I noticed about invega, it didn’t make my son sleep after he adjusted. He had to have sleep aid with Invega. We recently switched meds, he had high prolactin and a pituitary mass, scared him. I am really nervous waiting for the ball to drop. But the main thing is that its been a week, no major break, but some bumps. Yes, baby steps, our biggest progress is that he takes medicine. He hasn’t been hospitalized in 5 months and thats a record. I’m thankful your son is on Medicine. How do you keep from getting lost in this?

33

I agree that the biggest progress is actually taking medication. I’m sorry he had to switch meds due to side affects. Hopefully those bumps or what I call hiccups will even out for you both soon. I was wondering if it could be a side affect of the Invega keeping him up while he adjusted. He finally went to sleep after 12 last night after being up for about 34 hours. Last night was a tough night with family issues and I ended up taking away his phone and internet privileges. Didn’t go over to well but at least he got to sleep at a reasonable time for a change.

I do get lost sometimes. He used to live with his Nana until things got to bad for both of them and he came to live with me 15 months ago. This forum and my blog keep me on track. My blog really helps to give me a place to get things off my chest.

Congrats on five months!