Juvenile diagnosed schizophrenia

Hello,
Newbie here. I'm the guardian of my niece who been diagnosed with a type of schizophrenia. She has only been with me a year and before then she was in and out of the hospital. I don't have all the exact details and diagnoses. We see a counselor and still seeing a dr for medical evaluation once a month or more. She's 16, and this all started 4 years ago. Of course there were other things going on before then but it got serious 4 years ago. My question is about medicine. She feels like a lab rat with all the changes in medicine, trying to find the right thing for her. After several tries we've been on Abilify ( I say we because I feel like I'm in this battle with her) for about a year and it works, but she is very withdrawn, depressed acting, gaining weight faster then she can eat. I just know there has to be something better for her. So, we're currently adding a mood stabilizer Lamectol and keeping the 7.5mgs of Abilify nightly. She was up to 15 mil per day, but she was non-existent. I cut it back to 7.5 and she was better but not great. Since we have added the Lemectol all the behaviors are coming back. It's like she's on no meds at all. I feel like the lemectol is canceling out the Abilify. Has anyone experienced adding a mood stabilizer with an anti-psychotic with this type of out come? Our goal was Lemectol and Latuda eventually. Life has to better then just okay on Abilify for my niece. Forgive my mis spellings of the medicines.

Lamictal only helped a little with depression. I'm on 20 mg abilify only.

My sister was diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia in 1972 when she was 11. She has lived in a group home for decades. She was diagnosed back when there were very few medications to try that managed hallucinations and delusions, children or adults. She was also violent. I think a better way to look at the medication switches is rather than seeing her as a "lab rat" see her as having medication options my sister's psychiatrist couldn't even dream of. Ask direct questions of her MD. Get a feel for his train of thought. That may help clear up your concerns. I'm not clear if you are changing her meds on your own or under medical supervision. I'm so happy to hear you say that you "are in this fight with her." You care. You'll guide her well.

hi. sorry about all this.

the drugs can only do so much. im not saying that to be a debbie downer, its just...blah. i take abilify and prozac. side effects? some, yes. i know my concentration isn't as good as it would be without the abilify, and im a little on the lazy side. and yet...

with the abilify, in particular, i can stay out of hospitals, simmer down enough to get out of my own inner world and into the world around me, etc. so, good times, i guess. for me, abilify gets the job done, no major tics, twitches, drug induced depression or anything. to an extent, each person is different...

but when one gets to Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, etc., -all- off the drugs are far better at tranquilizing--calming down intense emotions, reducing agitation, reducing the frequency and severity of hallucinations and psychotic episodes-- than they are at dealing with social withdrawal, trauma, attention difficulties, etc. not to knock psychiatrists or act as if i don't care or anything, its just...

there's really only so much the miracle meds can do. --personally-- my big deal is being on enough Abilify (or...whatever...) that I don't have in your face problems, but not so much that I'm vegetating.

im glad you're in her life. :-)