loving someomeone suffering from bi-polar & schizophrenia

[luvg01frd]

Hi,  I have a very close friend that suffers from bi=polar and schizophrenia.  We've been together for 5 1/2 yrs. And I can see her slipping away everyday. Our relationship is fading away as a couple, and more into a friendship only!!       1. Will the detachment from me and others be forever?  2. Will her sex drive ever come back ?  3. If so how , and would it have to be with medication? 4. Can you live with thiis disorder and not let it take over your life?  5. How can I help her as a partner? 6. Are there websites that can help her learn that she can go on productively?

[luvg01frd]

Thank you for all the information and  taking the time to give me some solutions  that could help !!!!

[ILADVOCATE]

I'd say for sure that people with schizophrenia need medication for life. Besides the schizophrenia forum here there's a website schizophrenia.com that's monitored by providers and has a posting board. They could try that. They should speak to their psychiatrist about available options. This is a list of all currently available mood stabilizers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
As for antipsychotics, there are new antipsychotics in development that are proving a more favorable recovery rate and I've been helped strongly but they are not available yet but stick with the person. Over time treatment will improve. For more information for all new medications in development google "psychmeds123". Also good are NAMI friend and family support groups.