Antipsychotic meds and illicit drugs

[frndinneed]

My roommate has been going on a psychotic episode for 4 weeks now.  She was a functioning meth and marijuana user and didn't show any signs of psychosis until recently.  Around the new year, she quit using meth for about 2 weeks.  She then started using again, but not that much; maybe a couple times in a day or when she was tired.  She more regularly smoked marijuana (MJ) because she says it helps her handle her anxiety.  She has a history of traumatic incidents from childhood and didn't seem to have gotten proper therapy.  I believe she was diagnosed with PTSD.  

I read that someone can go through meth psychosis when quitting and re-starting.  She gets extremely angry, depressed, and paranoid.  The doctor started her on risperdal 1mg-day, 1mg-night.  It didn't seem to slow her down and she couldn't sleep because she was constantly worrying about different issues.  The doctor then increased it all the way up to 2mg-day, 3mg-night.  She has been on it for 3 weeks now and it still hasn't stopped her incoherency and her need to move things around.  She does have days where she is clear, but then it goes back to incoherency after about an hour.  I know she doesn't have regular sleep habits and she'll sleep only about 4-5 hours.

I noticed that she'll start dancing, stretching, and moving around after she smokes MJ.  I'm thinking that she maybe getting EPS or TD regarding her muscles.  The doctor just prescribed cojentin for her twitching.  We haven't tried it yet.  Smoking meth seems to calm her down.  I'd like her to quit, but being in this state of mind, she won't even consider it.  

My concern is whether the MJ is the cause of her not getting better and whether taking risperdal, cojentin, and smoking is okay?  I read that MJ is not good if schizophrenic, and okay if bi-polar.  

I'd also like to get any kind of advice on how to go about handeling this.  I know she has to take ultimate responsibility, but if you have any tips please let me know.

[avisg]

it sounds like she needs to be in the hospital .It might be good if they pulled her off everything . Then added things back until they can find a combo that works well for her . Of course if she is going to use on top
her meds then her meds aren't going to do much for her . Of course it sounds like she needs a diagnosis  too

[frndinneed]

She is 39 years old.  I have been trying to be hard-nosed and told her that she can't live with me anymore if she keeps on doing drugs.  So, she left, and she went completely off the risperdal for about 3 days now.  And, as I figured, she is currently in the hospital because of an episode.  The people that she decided to "hang with" are enablers so they let her go cold turkey on the risperdal even though I told them that she could get psychotic if she does.  My friend didn't like risperdal because it made her hallucinate when she tried to smoke marijuana.  I told her you can't base meds on drug use!  I then advised her (on the phone) to lower her dose of risperdal and take the cogentin to help with the "ticks", and don't go cold turkey.  But, without the proper support around her, she did what she wanted.  Why don't people listen to advice, especially since I have been doing as much research as possible.  Thanks to the people that responded.

[avisg]

I have heard for some people meth can bring out cerirten mental disorder if they are there ,bi polor being one of them .How old is she ? That is alot of rispardol.is she still doing the meth ..... i dont think she will get better unless she stops

[cathy5841]

my daughter smoked meth for about three years and she experienced all the symptoms you are describing.  but that was while she was on it.  i dont know why she would be doing this if she is not smoking it.  my daughter finally went to rehab and got off it.  sorry you are going through this.  stick around maybe someone with more knowledge will come along.
cathy