My son had his first appointment with his new pdoc yesterday. He met with my son alone first, then asked me to come in to help fill in background.

I really liked him, but then I knew I would. He wants to use alternatives in addition to or instead of medications. He doesn't like Zyprexa and thinks the dosage is way too high. He wants to begin lowering the dose gradually. My son seems opposed to that which surprised me. But my son also says he can't tell the difference between how he is on Zyprexa and off. Believe me it's night and day. I don't understand why he doesn't want to lower the dosage, if he doesn't see that it's doing any good for him.

He asked my son to read a book by a researcher named Ilardi. http://www.amazon.com/Depression-Cur...5&sr=8-1-spell The book is about depression not psychosis, but the new pdoc thinks it will be useful for my son. It's about natural ways to manage mental health.

He told my son to start taking fish oil, exercise, and begin looking for a job or volunteer work - something to keep him from just sitting around with his own thoughts and living in his head.

He gave him a dx of bipolar.

My son told the pdoc he just wants to be able to sort out what's real from what's not. The doctor was so sympathetic and kind. I do hope this will work out.

After the appointment my son said he wanted to stop all mental health services except the meds. This strikes fear into my heart, because I know he'll quit the meds cold turkey eventually. I'd much rather work with a doc to gradually reduce the dose and try alternatives. I just don't want him to crash again.