- What is the main treatment for schizophrenia?
The mainstay treatment of schizophrenia is long term antipsychotic medications. This is given by either tablets or injections.
Your psychiatrist may prescribe other medications including anti-depressants or mood stabilizers if required to control other mood related symptoms if any.
Lifestyle management with optimal diet, relaxation and exercise is key.
Sometimes talk therapies such as CBT are used in conjunction with medications.
Mindfulness can help keeping stress levels low.
2. How long should I take medications?
After a diagnosis of schizophrenia, patients are prescribed antipsychotic medications. Sometimes these medications need to be taken for life even if there are no active symptoms. Usually well controlled symptoms in schizophrenia means that the medications are acting enough to suppress these symptoms and hence have to be continued long term to maintain this remission.
3. Can I manage schizophrenia without medications?
About 30% of people with schizophrenia are able to come off their medications after years of treatment. However, it is best to check with your psychiatrist before stopping any medications as individual cases vary.
4. What is the outcome for schizophrenia?
The outcome of schizophrenia depends on how adherent the person is to medications, how healthy and stress free the person is, absence of alcohol and other substance abuse, positive rather than negative symptoms and so forth.
Generally speaking, up to 50% of individuals can work and live a completely well-functioning life personally and professionally.
5. How can I improve the outcome of schizophrenia?
You can improve the outcome in schizophrenia by taking your medications regularly, visiting the psychiatrist for follow ups, taking care of your physical health, regular exercise, healthy diet, trying to socialize and maintain an occupation.
6. Can I live a normal life with schizophrenia?
It is a general rule that many people with schizophrenia especially if well controlled can go on to live a completely normal and healthy life.
7. What should I do to ensure I will stay healthy and not relapse?
Taking your medications regularly and following psychiatrist’s advice is paramount in preventing a relapse.
8. What lifestyle management will help?
Avoiding stress, healthy diet, exercise and good social life is key to prevent schizophrenia relapse.
9. What diet will help schizophrenia?
A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is ideal for a person with schizophrenia. Fish, green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts all will help as part of a healthy lifestyle. Cutting down sugars and unnecessary junk food will go a long way to help.
10.Will I die young with schizophrenia? If so, how can I avoid that?
Sometimes people with schizophrenia suffer metabolic syndromes, unhealthy lifestyles, other physical diseases and present a risk of suicide. It can be avoided by following all the above steps.
- What is the main treatment for schizophrenia?
The mainstay treatment of schizophrenia is long term antipsychotic medications. This is given by either tablets or injections.
Your psychiatrist may prescribe other medications including anti-depressants or mood stabilizers if required to control other mood related symptoms if any.
Lifestyle management with optimal diet, relaxation and exercise is key.
Sometimes talk therapies such as CBT are used in conjunction with medications.
Mindfulness can help keeping stress levels low.
2. How long should I take medications?
After a diagnosis of schizophrenia, patients are prescribed antipsychotic medications. Sometimes these medications need to be taken for life even if there are no active symptoms. Usually well controlled symptoms in schizophrenia means that the medications are acting enough to suppress these symptoms and hence have to be continued long term to maintain this remission.
3. Can I manage schizophrenia without medications?
About 30% of people with schizophrenia are able to come off their medications after years of treatment. However, it is best to check with your psychiatrist before stopping any medications as individual cases vary.
4. What is the outcome for schizophrenia?
The outcome of schizophrenia depends on how adherent the person is to medications, how healthy and stress free the person is, absence of alcohol and other substance abuse, positive rather than negative symptoms and so forth.
Generally speaking, up to 50% of individuals can work and live a completely well-functioning life personally and professionally.
5. How can I improve the outcome of schizophrenia?
You can improve the outcome in schizophrenia by taking your medications regularly, visiting the psychiatrist for follow ups, taking care of your physical health, regular exercise, healthy diet, trying to socialize and maintain an occupation.
6. Can I live a normal life with schizophrenia?
It is a general rule that many people with schizophrenia especially if well controlled can go on to live a completely normal and healthy life.
7. What should I do to ensure I will stay healthy and not relapse?
Taking your medications regularly and following psychiatrist’s advice is paramount in preventing a relapse.
8. What lifestyle management will help?
Avoiding stress, healthy diet, exercise and good social life is key to prevent schizophrenia relapse.
9. What diet will help schizophrenia?
A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is ideal for a person with schizophrenia. Fish, green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts all will help as part of a healthy lifestyle. Cutting down sugars and unnecessary junk food will go a long way to help.
10.Will I die young with schizophrenia? If so, how can I avoid that?
Sometimes people with schizophrenia suffer metabolic syndromes, unhealthy lifestyles, other physical diseases and present a risk of suicide. It can be avoided by following all the above steps.
Chennai minds, the best psychiatrist in Chennai offers Telepsychiatry services including online counselling for depression. Hence treatment with schizophrenia is made a lot accessible with remote consultations.
