patients with schizoaffective disorder and type 2 diatetes

My sister is schizoaffective/bipolar and now had type 2 diabeties from the antipsychotics she has taken over the years.  She is 42 years old and keeps landing back in the hospital with psychotic symptoms.  There have been times in her life where she has functioned quite well and even worked part-time.  Now, she can not take Lithium any more because she gets into toxic levels (due to the diabetes-the kidney's can't brake doen the Lithium) and whe has tried every medicine under the sun.  She is currently on 2mg of Risperdol b.i.d. 400 mg. Serequel at night, .05 kolonopin b.i.d, for diabetes, 1000 mg Metformin, b.i.d., Zocar, Glipzide and Aticand (need to get dosage on those.) Any suggesions to stabilizing her?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Not a clue...so many medications that have to be managed that it is impossible to sort out without a detailed analysis and timeline, and something only her doctor can do...sorry.

[janetsparrow]

Has she tried doing without medication?
She may cope better without especially if she has a very good diet.
No tea or coffee as this is a duretic and can damage her kidneys which are probably already damaged from long-term medication u see.  Just water. Try living on a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables.
She must come of the medication very slowly to prevent withdrawal symptoms. The brain has to adjust to the different levels of serotonin and dopamine.[the chemicals that alters the brain mood] If she takes it very slowly coming off the brain heals and adjusts.

[Audrey9660]

Thanks for your comment, unfortunatley she is too sick to not be on medication.  Right now she in the hospital.

[kathy434]

She should never change her medications in any way without her doctor first giving the OK and that he has supervision of her.
As you said, she is too sick to be messing with anything at this point.  Don't make any more waves than what she is going through at the moment.  Let her doctor manage her condition to the best of his ability.
In time, after she is stable once more, if her medications are still not really helping her stability, then maybe you may want to discuss it with a psychopharmacologist.  Her doctor may refer her to one, or you may need to find one on your own.  But it is important to work closely with her current doctor giving him any information about her that may help him to help her better.
Remember, do no changes in medications without first discussing it with her doctor and only with his OK and supervision.  Never do anything behind his back.  That is very counterproductive and dangerous for her.          K

[Jaquta]

I meant to write earlier.  I just wanted to say that I was sorry to hear that your sister was in hospital.  I hope the doctors are better able to stabilize her this time and that the results will transfer back into her daily life.
I hope you're taking good care of yourself through all this as well.  I don't expect it can be easy for you.

Words seem really inadequate but I wish both of you all the best.