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Parent Emeritus
Bipolar, ADD son, now 29 and back at home... :-(
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 706526" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Did you know that antidepressants and stimulants are NOT recommended for people with bipolar? Until moods are stabilized, these medications are exactly what someone with bipolar should NOT be taking. They are highly likely to create mood swings and to specifically push the moods into mania. Many doctors don't know this or for some reason won't follow the protocol recommended by the board that certifies psychiatrists. The protocol for bipolar starts with mood stabilizers and then includes antipsychotics. Often it takes 4-6 weeks to get to the therapeutic level and longer to see if it will work. After that, IF moods are still depressed, a very very low dose of stimulant or antidepressant may be used to deal with side effects. This isn't easy to manage, and from experience MANY psychiatrists want to skip this and use antidepressants to manage bipolar even though it is scientifically PROVEN to not work and to cause more problems. I am sorry if no one has ever let you know that this is the cases for bipolar. MANY medications, both prescription and over the counter, cause problems if you are bipolar. Even decongestants can cause mania if you are bipolar. It is not an easy disease to live with or manage and it sounds like your son's doctor is not giving him the most effective treatment or your son isn't willing to comply.</p><p></p><p>What many people don't know is that the manic state can be addictive. People get a sort of high from it and want it more and more. THey are willing to put up with the lows of the depressed state to get that high, and they often will not take the medications they need because they don't want to give up the manic state or to stop accomplishing 'all' that they think they get done in that manic state. They don't see how hard they are on their loved ones or on themselves and some never see it. They also never see the increased mortality rate that untreated bipolar has. Just because one antipsychotic didn't work well in one combination of medications doesn't mean that another medication combo won't work well to manage the disease.</p><p></p><p>This is why I think you need to be able to speak to his doctor on his behalf, even if you need to push him into it. I am sorry if I am not explaining this very well, but I really think that you need to speak to his doctor to see what the doctor really thinks is best and what your son is telling him as far as symptoms. If nothing else, type out a list and have your son take it to the doctor, ask for your son to bring it back with the doctor's notes on it so that you know what the doctor thinks if he won't let you go to the doctor with him.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 706526, member: 1233"] Did you know that antidepressants and stimulants are NOT recommended for people with bipolar? Until moods are stabilized, these medications are exactly what someone with bipolar should NOT be taking. They are highly likely to create mood swings and to specifically push the moods into mania. Many doctors don't know this or for some reason won't follow the protocol recommended by the board that certifies psychiatrists. The protocol for bipolar starts with mood stabilizers and then includes antipsychotics. Often it takes 4-6 weeks to get to the therapeutic level and longer to see if it will work. After that, IF moods are still depressed, a very very low dose of stimulant or antidepressant may be used to deal with side effects. This isn't easy to manage, and from experience MANY psychiatrists want to skip this and use antidepressants to manage bipolar even though it is scientifically PROVEN to not work and to cause more problems. I am sorry if no one has ever let you know that this is the cases for bipolar. MANY medications, both prescription and over the counter, cause problems if you are bipolar. Even decongestants can cause mania if you are bipolar. It is not an easy disease to live with or manage and it sounds like your son's doctor is not giving him the most effective treatment or your son isn't willing to comply. What many people don't know is that the manic state can be addictive. People get a sort of high from it and want it more and more. THey are willing to put up with the lows of the depressed state to get that high, and they often will not take the medications they need because they don't want to give up the manic state or to stop accomplishing 'all' that they think they get done in that manic state. They don't see how hard they are on their loved ones or on themselves and some never see it. They also never see the increased mortality rate that untreated bipolar has. Just because one antipsychotic didn't work well in one combination of medications doesn't mean that another medication combo won't work well to manage the disease. This is why I think you need to be able to speak to his doctor on his behalf, even if you need to push him into it. I am sorry if I am not explaining this very well, but I really think that you need to speak to his doctor to see what the doctor really thinks is best and what your son is telling him as far as symptoms. If nothing else, type out a list and have your son take it to the doctor, ask for your son to bring it back with the doctor's notes on it so that you know what the doctor thinks if he won't let you go to the doctor with him. [/QUOTE]
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