Help with schizophrenic Husband with smoking!?!
Question: My husband is having problems. Since he was taken off of one of his medications, due to his liver function, and other health problems, doc days he is a ticking time bomb.
OK he is fine until the voices tell him to smoke, etc. they tell him alot. this is what happens He says...
The voices tell him to smoke. Than...
He gets a taste in the back of his throat.
He starts to sweat and gets very upset the voices get LOUDER and the same things happens but even worse. Doctor had increased medicines over and over a number of times. NOTHING is working any more he is not sleeping he is agitating the kids and our pets. He says he is board and that's why he smokes.
What is this signs of his mental illness making this happen or is this an addiction. He was smoke free for 4 years until he started to drink because the meds were not working any more.
HELP! what is happening!
Answers: My husband is having problems. Since he was taken off of one of his medications, due to his liver function, and other health problems, doc days he is a ticking time bomb.
OK he is fine until the voices tell him to smoke, etc. they tell him alot. this is what happens He says...
The voices tell him to smoke. Than...
He gets a taste in the back of his throat.
He starts to sweat and gets very upset the voices get LOUDER and the same things happens but even worse. Doctor had increased medicines over and over a number of times. NOTHING is working any more he is not sleeping he is agitating the kids and our pets. He says he is board and that's why he smokes.
What is this signs of his mental illness making this happen or is this an addiction. He was smoke free for 4 years until he started to drink because the meds were not working any more.
HELP! what is happening!
There is an area of the brain (alpha-7 nicotinic receptor) which plays a role in filtering information/noises/voices/etc. However, in schizophrenic people, this area is often damaged in some way... meaning that they can no longer filter out information the way 'normal' people can. Although, this area can be stimulated by nicotine, making it work again.
This is why many schizophrenic people are heavy smokers.. because it actually seems to help their condition! And so this could be why your husband feels the need to smoke. His medication has been stopped so he needs to find an alternative way of preventing symptoms.
Perhaps encourage him to use nicotine patches/gum/whatever. I would think, as it still gives the body nicotine, that it would help stimulate the area of the brain in the same way that smoking does. But without the bad health effects.
Hope this makes sense and helps! Good luck! x x
Your husband has a mental health problem. His illness is probably causing the voices. Get him checked into the hospital if his symptoms get worse.
It must be a very challenging time for your family. Good luck.
Good luck! take care of you and your kids there saftey comes first. he need help help . you won't be able to do anything . I've been there before.
It sounds like a pretty serious situation. Have you discussed inpatient treatment with your husband and/or his doctors? If he's truly schizophrenic it's not uncommon that he would require that type of care.
Good luck to you and your family.