Emergency thereafter

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The day after, I spoke with mum over the phone for a while (my sister visited her). She was much better. She could state that the day before was "horrible", ask me about my back ache and possible cause, and give me "muack muack" at the end of the conversation.

My sister spoke with the ward doctor:
  • They'll be adding lithium to mum's medication
  • Blood test 3 months later (specifically to check liver and kidney function)
  • If dosage is determined to be appropriate, then blood test once every 6 months
  • If this new set of medication doesn't work, replace olanzapine with clozapine
Unfortunately, not only did it not work, lithium seems to worsen my mum's condition: she hurt herself more often. She also couldn't sleep at night and had to be restrained to prevent her from rolling off the bed :(

The doctor had a discussion with my sister:
  • Suggested ECT x6. My sister's concern was that even if mum is alright after ECT, she might revert back to this psychotic behaviour since there's no change to medication. The doctor seems to have anticipated this by immediately suggest concurrent plan of changing her medicine
  • Replace olanzapine with clozapine but has to be done gradually i.e. slowly reduce the former while slowly introduce the latter. Takes about 5 weeks to reach the optimal dosage.
  • Clozapine has more serious possible side effects: faster heart beat & inflammation of heart, low blood pressure (but mum has hypertension though), and reduced white blood cells count. Hence, for 18 weeks, there will be weekly blood test and weekly consultation with doctor

Comments

Anonymous said…
I am so sorry your Mom's condition has not stabilized. At least the doctor is weaning her off olanzapine in the right manner (unlike what the previous doctor did when she was cut off xanax and sulpiride in a drastic way). Possible consideration: Ziprasidone, and Lamotrigene. Hope her condition stabilizes real soon, and joy will return to her life. SR
November 22, 2018 at 12:59 PM
Jaded Jeremy said…
Arvind,
Mum's ok now :) Just left dizziness.

SR,
She wasn't suddenly cut off Xanax previously. It was gradual.
December 19, 2018 at 8:55 PM
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