Patient Update May 16, 2007

Patient begins double dose of Lamictal on May 17th which becomes 50mg at 11AM and 50mg at 5PM.

Had video conference with Patient for an hour this evening. We discussed how the Patient mistakely took the 100mg Seroquel at 4PM today May 16th and as a result fell asleep between 7-8PM and planned to go to sleep at 11PM for the night. Conversation started at 8PM by phone. We discussed a hallucination that was experienced at 3AM today. We also discussed the hallucination from 3 weeks ago that involved a police visit to the house and the trip to the hospital. It is the same concern for the family member which is being experienced. The hallucinations were being stated as factual events and no fear was associated with the memories of the events during the discussion.

It appears that at least the Psychiatrist has allowed for the possibility that seizure treatment could improve the outcome. Since our posts about Lamotrigine and requests for trials for the Patient largely went ignored up to this point, we are satisifed that the current Psychiatrist perhaps has some prior experience with this matter. During the first consult after release from the hospital the family requested Lamictal samples and this Psychiatrist agreed and provided them. It was just a few days later when the Neuorlogist who had, even as recently as the day before, been stating that seizures were not present, that all the symptoms we have previously posted in the blog were not seizures, the next day prescribed the anti-convulsant Lamictal (Lamotrigine.) And prescribed the increasing dose 25mg x 2, 50mg x 2, 75mg x 2 over the coming weeks. If you've been following the history of this blog up to this point, lets pause for a moment.... Ok, enough said.

Observations of the Patient's progress can be summarized as follows:
1. Clearer thought and speech as compared to Risperdol & Abilify.
2. No motor impediments yet noticed as compared to Risperdol & Abilify.
3. Sleep cycle appears healthy and day wake hours appear normal and longer than without medication.
4. expression of emotion returns.
5. thought disorder which previously occured daily after meals has become very infrequently very late at night near time of night dose of Serquel is due.
6. Patient feels clear thinking enough to drive a vehicle early in the day.
7. Patient has conversations by phone that go without any searching for words and feels this is significant progress.
8. Long conversations are now possible extending beyond an hour where before 5 minutes would have been the limit.
9. Optimism has increased regarding outlook, that we may find a solution and slow or stop the decline and not end up in the same condition as mother at the same age.
10. Patient recalls memories and brings them up in conversation instead of only being able to answer questions.
11. Patient askes fewer questions of family members and experiences less confusion and less thought disorder.
12. Patient experinces little worry where before worry would consume the entire day and be present with serious fears.
13. Patient no longer experienceing leg or muscle weakness.
14. Patient appears to be mentally less affected by blood sugar fluctuations around meal times.
15. Patient remarks being tired of changing drugs (referring to the side effects), and wants the current drugs to work.