Last week, Joe posted a piece entitled “Bipolar Dilemma: Insensitive Jerk or Irresponsible Oaf?” in an attempt to spark a discussion and collect insights on what to do when you sense that your loved one with bipolar is exhibiting symptoms of mania or hypomania. This week, Dr. Fink weighs in.

Dr. Fink Replies…

This dilemma lies at the heart of so much of the strife that families living with bipolar disorder face every day. I don’t have any magic answers – I suspect that people living with these challenges have creative solutions that will be more helpful to others than anything the doctor might have to offer.

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Welcome to Bipolar Medication Spotlight, where we shine the light on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and other symptoms often related to bipolar disorder. Two weeks ago, we covered the benzodiazepines (or benzos for short) – a class of powerful and fast-acting anxiolytics (tranquilizers) used to calm the nerves in the midst of a panic attack. This week, we turn our attention to a gentler anxiolytic – BuSpar (buspirone).

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When you’re in a relationship with someone who has bipolar disorder and seems to be exhibiting symptoms of mania or hypomania, you’re likely to face the dilemma of whether to say anything:

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Danielle Asks…

My 4 year old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about six months ago…he is currently on Seroquel, and the doctor added lithium today. I am scared that my baby has to be on these medications at such a young age and I am wondering if there is anyone out there with children (or yourself) that started these meds so young.

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Over the past ten years of living with bipolar disorder, my wife has seen about a dozen different doctors for about a half dozen different reasons – insurance issues, trouble getting in to see the doctor, ineffectiveness of treatment, moves (us or the doctor), and so on.

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Over the past year or so, this sort-of-biweekly series has shined the spotlight on a host of medications used to treat the two poles of bipolar disorder. The medications and medication classes we have covered so far include lithium, anti-seizure medications (including Depakote and Lamictal), antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics (including Zyprexa and Seroquel), SSRI antidepressants (including Prozac and Paxil), SSNRI antidepressants (including Cymbalta and Effexor), and the older Tricyclics and MAOI’s for treating depression.

This week, we shift gears to start our coverage of medications not exactly designed for treating mania or depression but that nevertheless may come in very handy for treating symptoms that often accompany bipolar disorder and may contribute to its severity – symptoms such as anxiety and sleeplessness. Today, we examine anxiolytics (pronounced ang-zee-oh-li-tiks), sometimes referred to as tranquilizers – medications used to alleviate anxiety and calm the nerves. The main family of anxiolytics is made up of the benzodiazepines – commonly referred to as ” benzos.”

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I watched an episode of Intervention last night. The woman involved in the intervention, Marci, was heavy into alcohol and drugs, including smoking crystal meth. Prior to the intervention, she had lost her home, her marriage, and custody of her children. By the end of the show, she agreed to treatment, was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, received effective treatment, and experienced a complete turnaround.

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Last week I saw the Broadway musical Next To Normal – with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. As a big fan of Broadway, I was anxious to see this rock musical that has become quite a sensation and has won two Tony awards – for Best Original Score and for Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley). I was particularly interested because Next To Normal tells the story of a family grappling with Bipolar Disorder.

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Robert Asks…

Do you think a combination of different herbs can cure any form of bipolar disorder and if so what are those herbs?

Dr. Fink Answers…

In Chapter 9 of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, we discuss a host of alternative treatments for bipolar disorder, including ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), light therapy, vitamins & minerals, and herbs, used alone and in conjunction with traditional forms of medicines and therapies. For example, some people claim that St. John’s Wort is useful for treating the depressive pole in bipolar disorder. (Of course, unfortunately, like most other antidepressants, St. John’s Wort also increases the risk of triggering mania, especially in someone who has bipolar disorder.)

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I recently received an email message from the translator who’s doing the Slovene translation of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies. Following is the letter (included here with permission).

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