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Camilo
11:55 am on
July 16th, 2008Hi,
I just wanted to know, I’ve been following closely the reports and news about the “renaissance” of psychedelic therapy. However, none of the reports seem to focus on Bipolar Disorder, all that I’ve read is mainly focused towards PSTD, and other diseases.
Is this because there really hasnt been psychedelic therapy research for Bipolar Disorder? Maybe Bipolar can’t be treated with that, and thats the reason? I’d love to know. I am a Bipolar II patient, and have been stable and symptom-free for about 2 years now. I’m just on Carbamazepine.
Thanks
JC
9:54 am on
July 21st, 2008Dr. Fink and Mr. Kraynak,
What do you think about Child Bipolar and the researchers at Harvard MGH?
For instance, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with a faculty appoitnment at Harvard Medical School and who works at Joseph Biederman’s clinic at Mass General Hospital, as having Pediatric Bipolar ( I was 12). I don’t have it. And the diagnosis’ effects and treatments have devastated my life. Ten years later many of my current treaters have, basically, been apologetic themselves for that particular treaters mistakes.
To be specific, I had symptoms that would qualify for a Biederman diagnosis, but not an adult one ( no mania). I was being physically abused in my family and had enormous distress over my sexual orientation among other things.
My mom ate the diagnosis up. And had many unexamined problems herself.
How can someone with a faculty appoitnment at Harvard be wrong like this? I’m the protoypical kid who gets the diagnosis and I dont have normal Bipolar disease. In my opinion, they’re kidding themselves at Harvard. Sure children can become manic or psychotic, they have brains don’t they? But it’s unfortunate that normal kids are being condemned to life-long patienthood. And this practice is main-stream and “state-of-the-art”.
What are your thoughts?
Hi, JC–
Dr. Fink posted a piece on this called “Bipolar Disorder Overdiagnosed in Children?” on our Bipolar Blog. I think you’ll find it very interesting and informative.
Dr. Fink also mentioned Biederman by name when she was interviewed for an article in Westchester Magazine entitled “I’m Bipolar. He’s Bipolar. You’re Bipolar.” Not sure you can still get the article on Westchester Magazine’s website, but we included Dr. Fink’s quote in a piece called “Bipolar Diagnosis on the Rise: Pros and Cons.” We’ll be syndicating that content on Bipolar Beat sometime in the future.
Personally, I think you’re right to be upset about this misdiagnosis and all the fallout that resulted from unnecessary treatments.
Mom
6:53 am on
July 29th, 2008I attended a local NAMI conference 4 years ago where the guest speaker was the head of the school of medicine’s psychiatry department. He promised that within 5 years there would be truly effective medications and within 10 a cure for bipolar disorder. How close are we? I am so frustrated and angry with the pharmaceutical industry, the politics and funding that delay real research, but mostly by the chase for the almighty dollar. It seems that all of the recent medications are just tweaks of previous medications that allow new copyrights and obscene profits. What real difference is there between haldol, risperadal, zyprexa, geodon, abilify and all the rest, other than the opportunity for the pharmaceuticals to make unconscionable profits? Where is research in the spirit of a Jonas Salk?
Hi, Mom–
Good question. Many people are frustrated by the fact that the medication choices are so lousy, including my wife. As Marissa pointed out in her comment on our Lithium post, it seems as though people with bipolar have to choose between mental and physical health. (Of course, bipolar is physical, but everyone who’s faced this choice is well aware of what Marissa is getting at.) What a terrible choice.
My wife’s been on every one of the anti-psychotics you mentioned (except haldol), and has had problems with every single one of them.
Dr. Fink is out for the week, but we’ll take a look at your question in a future post. We’ve discussed doing “what’s new with bipolar” posts – not sure whether this will be a biweekly feature of the blog or something more or less frequent, but we’ll be doing something along those lines.
Shelli
5:41 pm on
August 4th, 2008My ex refuses to believe that our son is bipolar. He insists that our boy tried to choke his half-sister to death and that our son speaks of his “evil-other side” but he fights with me about giving the boy medication. Could he be so stupid as to think our boy is just mean? Since he is medicated he is a calm and kind teenager. Have you ever heard of one of those? The ex even commented one time that our son was “like a different child” when he was visiting after he started his seroquel but still refuses to believe the diagnosis. What can I have him read or look at to help with his disbelief?
Hi, Shelli–
Chapter 18 of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies® is all about bipolar in children and adolescents. In that chapter, we point out the fact that parents often disagree about the diagnosis and treatment:
“Parents often disagree about the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the necessity of medication in kids. Media images of psychiatric medication and the stigma associated with mental illness can weigh heavily on parents’ minds as they make difficult choices. If a parent has bipolar disorder, her personal experiences may color the decisions about treating her child. And if parents don’t see eye to eye, the child often gets caught in the middle.”
Has your ex spoken with your son’s doctor? That seems to be the most logical place to begin. The doctor can explain how he or she arrived at the diagnosis, how the medication(s) can help, possible side effects of the medication, and some of the negative long-term issues that may result if you son does not receive proper treatment.
Obviously, from what you wrote, your ex acknowledges that the medication is helping. That’s a hopeful sign that maybe your doctor and you and perhaps even your son can help you build on.
Hi, Leonard,
We did a post on our Bipolar Blog called “Beware of Diagnosis by Prescription,” which you may find helpful. We also provide a sample chapter from the book, Chapter 5, “Getting a Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Plan,” in which we emphasize the importance of obtaining a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation.
Stopping “mood” medications cold turkey, especially antidepressants and anti-seizure medications is usually a bad idea. As we say in Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, page 17, “Stopping a medication cold turkey can destabilize your moods and cause other withdrawal symptoms.”
Hi Leonard -
It must be really frustrating to have seen your fiancee feeling better and then have the medications changed and she gets worse. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder isn’t concrete or solid – but the most severe type – bipolar I with true manic episodes is pretty distinctive. It is hard to know what they were basing the bipolar diagnosis on. I tend to be somewhat pragmatic though and if a drug regimen is working and not causing problems I will usually follow it out for a while before making any changes – but again I can’t say what the doctors’ observed that they based their decision on.
Trauma and abrupt medication changes can trigger acute psychiatric episodes and should be considered in the diagnostic possibilities if they have occurred.
I typically try to avoid major medication changes (such as stopping a medicine or starting a new one) before major life changes or events and particularly before traveling far away. Of course it isn’t always possible, but the stressors of big life changes can be difficult on the brain and body, so I don’t like to add medication changes to the mix if I can help it and if my patient is in agreement.
I hope she is feeling better soon -
Dr. Fink
Selena
10:15 pm on
September 23rd, 2008Hi,
2 years ago my life spiraled yet again into a cycle of manic/depressive episodes. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar I 15+ years ago so I fully cognitive of what’s foing on but I have a problem. Because of my spirals I found myself without insurance (quit yet another job). I have looked all over the internet trying to find ways to access to private mental health care, something similar to a medical clinic but I have come up short. I tried to go through of state SSI program but they did not think my problem required immediate attention (even though I told them I would not be here if it wasn’t). I reside in AL but I am willing to travel to get the care and more importantly the meds I need as I know the longer I go without meds the more I will cycle. Do you know of any programs that offer these kind of services? I don’t want to check myself into a mental hospital but I feel this is my only option. BTW I am not a harm to myself or others (I worked in a mental hospital so I know when I should go).
Sincerely,
Selena
Janine
7:35 pm on
October 6th, 2008I was recently prescribed Lamictal and just started today. I’ve been online doing some research and noticed that a lot of people start off on 25 mg and slowly increase that dose. I currently started today on 100 mg. I’m supposed to take 100 mg a day for a week and then start on 200 mg next week. Is that too much too soon?
I’m no doctor, but my wife was prescribed Lamictal just yesterday. GlaxoSmithKline offers something called a “starter pack” that ramps you up very slowly:
Weeks 1 & 2, you take one 25-mg tablet once a day.
Weeks 3 & 4, you take two 25-mg tablets once a day, which equates to 50mg of Lamictal per day.
Week 5, you take one 100-mg tablet once a day. These tablets are bigger and peach color.
The reason for the slow ramp-up is to prevent side effects, including a very rare but serious rash from occuring. Double-check with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure that the quick ramp-up you describe is safe.
For more about Lamictal, check out Bipolar Medication Spotlight: Lamictal (Lamotrigine).
Suzanne
3:57 am on
October 9th, 2008I’ve been on Lamictal for about 8 years (150 mg a.m./150 mg p.m.) & was ramped up very slowly as Joe described. I think you should immediately talk to your doctor & if he/she still insists this is the correct way to start on Lamictal talk to your pharmacist, read the inserts & read the info. from the official web site on-line & speak to your doctor again armed with this info.
It is very important to increase the dosage slowly to make every attempt to avoid the rash. Lamictal has been very helpful to me & a lot of people in my support group.
ouchouch
8:27 pm on
October 15th, 2008Hi,
I was wondering: I did not experience hypomanic symptoms until I started taking anti-depressants. Anti-depressants didn’t work for me – they either didn’t work or revved me up. Mood stabilizers helped my depression. I was therefore diagnosed as bipolar II – is it really bipolar II?
Roy
3:56 pm on
October 16th, 2008I have ringing in my ears that seemed to start around the time I started taking Lamictal. Is there any evidence that Lamictal can cause tinnitus?
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