I'm sorry to hear about your niece. I know this must be extremely difficult for you. My heart goes out to you. I have bipolar disorder, and I have a cousin who has schizophrenia so I can relate.
I'm not familiar with the med the GP prescribed, but I read that it's in the same class as Xanax and Klonopin (drugs called benzos), both of which I've taken in the past for anxiety and panic attacks. They are sedating and should calm her down.
I'm very surprised, however, that the GP did not get her in to see the psychiatrist right away. To me, this is an emergency---and no matter what the receptionist tells you, they can always work in patients who need to be seen right away.
It sounds like you are doing the most important thing---not leaving her alone for a second. Without a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, you are not sure what you are dealing with. Giving someone with a mental problem the wrong medicine
can have very serious consquences. Many meds can induce or make manic episodes worse. For instance, many people who are depressed are given antidepressants which can induce mania in someone with bipolar disorder. (I speak from experience, because this is what happened to me.) After the wrong diagnosis and thus inappropriate medicine, I became suicidal---and thank God to this day that one of my neighbors intervened and got me to a hospital right away. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today.
Please monitor her every second, and promise me if she worsens, you will take her to a hospital for treatment. They will notify a psychiatrist and get her immediate attention.
Your family will be in my prayers! I wish you the best of luck as you seek treatment for her. She is very fortunate to have the two of you.
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Re: Schizophrenia
