Am I being treated correctly?

[Leinad714]

I am 20 years old and smoked marijuana since age 16. I don’t use any illegal drugs anymore. I was diagnosed with adolescent depression when I was 15 and have taken most of the anti-depressants out there. In the last three years the diagnosis became bi-polar disorder. In February  my thoughts turned delusional and was hospitalized for delusional psychosis (law officers bugging the phone and computer and following me wherever I went), paranoid schizophrenia and mild depression. The treatment was Prolixin (25mg injections) and Effexor (150mg cahnged to 37.5mg after a few days). The Prolixin has tightened my muscles so badly that my friends refer to me as the “robot”. The psychiatrist then added “Cogentin” to the mix, which has had little or no effect on my muscle rigidity. Since the hospital stay I’ve been attending therapy counseling at the hospital every weekday morning for 4 hours. My condition now is rigid muscles, racing thoughts, inability to concentrate and a very low self esteem. I’ve had to drop out of school. The delusional thinking and the psychosis are gone as far as I and my parents can tell. We’ve tried to talk to the doctor about changing medications to an atypical with lessened side effects, but he does not even respond to the questions. I am supposedly very intelligent according to my record in the first 12 years of school. Nevertheless, I can’t attend school or work because I can’t sit still for more than sixty seconds. I am for all practical purposes, non-functional.

My parents believe the marijuana use caused doctors to misdiagnose me over the years and the introduction of so many medications, particularly Prolixin, has caused the racing thoughts and impatience. Now that I am not using any drugs other than those prescribed, how should we attack this? How do I withdraw from Prolixin injections? What are the risks in changing to an atypical medication? Is there any hope? We saw a new psychiatrist who seems to be too confused to make a recommendation for further treatment.

[DLA]

I agree with Cammeel that you should have a complete medical workup and that you should find a new pdoc.  

I went through the same kind of robot feelings with severe hypothyroidism and it is absolutely miserable.  Find someone who will listen.

[cammeel1]

The only advice I can give you is to look for another psychiatrist and get a second opinion.  As always I think anyone who is ill should have a complete physical and blood work up.  
I offer you warm thoughts and hope that someday soon this will all be cleared up and things will be better for you.

Best wishes
Camm