Bipolar is a disorder that many people all over the world suffer from; some are already diagnosed with the disease but a lot of undiagnosed cases are also noted. What people should know is that bipolar disorder can worsen if it remains untreated. And therefore, those individuals who think that they have the disorder must seek medical attention at once to get the proper treatment and medication.
Having episodes is but natural for a person having bipolar disorder. Though it may not bother the individual, his or her family members and friends may be gravely affected by it. Your doctor can prescribe medications to control or treat the current episode symptoms. Medications for bipolar patients may be for short term only, but now, the FDA has approved a particular medication that is intended for long term treatments.
The medication is called LAMICTAL. This medication is especially for adults with bipolar I. Clinical studies have shown that LAMICTAL prevents mood episodes for extended periods. Although it may not remove initial mania or depression feelings, preventing the episodes from occurring is already for the good of the patient.
Only your doctor can tell if LAMICTAL is the right medication for you. Long term studies on bipolar showed that the medication delays time until the mood episodes need additional treatment. Depression symptoms last longest and LAMICTAL is quite effective in delaying it. If you want a long term medication that offers stability for about eighteen months, LAMICTAL may be for you.
You must remember that this medication is not offered for all bipolar patients. Those patients using LAMICTAL can tolerate the medication. Some were able to experience side effects like headache, dizziness, double or blurred vision, sleepiness, nausea, lacks coordination, vomiting, rash and insomnia. There are also cases when patients require hospitalization due to severe skin reactions; but this is very rare and happens mostly with children.
LAMICAL is best prescribed for people 18 years and older, and is used as a standard therapy. You must be warned that the effectiveness of this medication is not yet established.
How can you start using LAMICTAL? It's quite easy especially if your doctor thinks that the medication will work for you. Kits are available which makes it easier for you to follow the course of your medication. If you want to achieve the best results, make sure that you take the medication as prescribed. And it is important to bear these things in mind:
1. Your doctor will let you start using LAMICTAL whether you're having an episode or not, since the medication is specifically for delaying episodes and not as an on-the-spot treatment.
2. Your doctor will prescribe a low dose at first which will gradually increase over time.
3. If you experience any problems or side effects, inform y our doctor immediately.
4. You can only experience full effect after several weeks of using LAMICTAL. If during the initial period of taking the medication you experience distressing experiences and thoughts, inform your doctor immediately or go to a hospital. In the event that your mood episodes worsen, contact your doctor.
If you're out to buy LAMICTAL, make sure that you receive the right medication. Getting the wrong medication can cause serious problems. Always check and read the labels.
When you're using LAMICTAL, or any medication for that matter, make sure that you follow your plan. Bipolar disorder is already a condition that you're bound to suffer all your life. When you're already feeling well and better, that doesn't mean that you can stop medication.
If in case you've stopped taking the medication because of a valuable reason, consult your doctor right away and don't restart without getting help first. Remember to stick with your dose, don't increase or decrease it unless otherwise specified indicated by your doctor.
It is also necessary to keep track of the symptoms and the side effects (if any), and report any problems that you encounter. It would be best to have a mood chart to track your moods, sleep, and side effects. Every time you visit your doctor, don't forget to bring the chart.
Precautions should also be observed for people having an allergic reaction to LAMICTAL. If you're planning for your pregnancy or is already pregnant, or planning to take hormonal products like pills prior to taking the medication, you must inform your doctor first.
Your aim in taking any medication is to be able to live a normal life again, and this can only happen with the right treatment and medication.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Depakote and Bipolar Disorder
Every single day, you can see a lot of people going to and from drugstores. Different medicines are used to address different kinds of illnesses and diseases. There are over-the-counter medicines that you can buy without any prescriptions. But some regulated drugs need the proper prescription before you can purchase them.
Not all illnesses can be given just about any medicine. Different conditions require different types of treatment and medications. Just to be sure that you're on the safe side, consult a doctor before taking any medication. You must be aware now that there are individuals that abuse certain drugs, and this can lead to undesirable situations. And if you're suffering from bipolar disorder, what you really need is the help of a medical professional who knows a great deal about the illness.
There are several medications available for bipolar disorder. The most common are mood stabilizers. Valproic acid is usually given to bipolar patients, and there are a few brand names that sell this medication including Depakene and Depakote.
Depakote is a brand name of valproic acid. It is considered an anticonvulsant that doctors usually prescribe as mood stabilizers for bipolar patients. Valproic acid is a very effective medication for bipolar, however, it has certain side effects like divalproex sodium.
The side effects can be divided into the common ones and the less common. In any case, you should always verify with the doctor especially if the side effects are bothersome and continues on.
Common Side Effects
- Mild stomach or abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Change in your menstrual cycle
- Indigestion
- Loss of hair and appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unusual weight gain or loss
- Trembling of arms and hands
Less Common
- Unsteadiness or clumsiness
- Constipation
- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Changes in mood, behavior, and mental
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Restlessness
- Unusual excitement
- Irritability
- Uncontrolled eye movements
- Increased seizures
- Weakness and tiredness
- Eye spots or yellow eyes (and skin)
- Bruising and unusual bleeding
- Swelling of the face
The list only includes the most commonly experienced side effects of bipolar patients. If you feel other side effects not included in the list, then you must inform your doctor immediately.
Pharmacology
Depakote or valproic acid increases the brain concentration of GABA or gamma aminobutyric acid thereby acting as an anticonvulsant. But its action mechanism is not yet established and the effect is also unknown with regards to the neuronal membrane.
Depakote is administered orally and is rapidly absorbed. A single dose can give peak levels of serum after four hours, and its half-life ranges from 6-16 hours. Patients taking antiepileptic drugs together with Depakote will have a lower serum half-life.
If Depakote is administered amid meals, a minor delay can occur in the absorption of the valproic acid, and is quickly distributed in the body since it is bound strongly to plasma proteins. Protein binding may be decreased by increasing the dose. If Depakote needs to be used as a therapeutic drug, the concentration must only be about 50-100 mcg per ml. At present, good correlation between serum levels, therapeutic effect, and daily dose, is yet to be established.
The therapy must be instituted at periodic intervals at first because there have been reports about platelet aggregation and thrombocytopenia inhibition. The bleeding time and platelet counts should also be determined.
When your doctor prescribes Depakote, you must follow all instructions pertaining to dosage and administration carefully. This is essential to avoid over dosage. Some patients ended in coma with the improper use of valproic acid. Since valproic acid is rapidly absorbed, there may be limited value of gastric lavage. Supportive measure must be applied to prevent hypovolemia and make sure that your urinary output is maintained.
Bipolar disorder requires medication as part of the treatment. Valproic acid is one of the many medications approved for bipolar disorder. With the right dosage, this can reduce bipolar symptoms, prevent episodes from occurring, shorten hospitalizations, and help the individual in living a productive life despite his condition.
Over time, bipolar disorder exposes people to mood changes which can reach the point of unacceptability in the society. But with proper treatment and medication, bipolar patients can lead rewarding lives.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Not all illnesses can be given just about any medicine. Different conditions require different types of treatment and medications. Just to be sure that you're on the safe side, consult a doctor before taking any medication. You must be aware now that there are individuals that abuse certain drugs, and this can lead to undesirable situations. And if you're suffering from bipolar disorder, what you really need is the help of a medical professional who knows a great deal about the illness.
There are several medications available for bipolar disorder. The most common are mood stabilizers. Valproic acid is usually given to bipolar patients, and there are a few brand names that sell this medication including Depakene and Depakote.
Depakote is a brand name of valproic acid. It is considered an anticonvulsant that doctors usually prescribe as mood stabilizers for bipolar patients. Valproic acid is a very effective medication for bipolar, however, it has certain side effects like divalproex sodium.
The side effects can be divided into the common ones and the less common. In any case, you should always verify with the doctor especially if the side effects are bothersome and continues on.
Common Side Effects
- Mild stomach or abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Change in your menstrual cycle
- Indigestion
- Loss of hair and appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unusual weight gain or loss
- Trembling of arms and hands
Less Common
- Unsteadiness or clumsiness
- Constipation
- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Changes in mood, behavior, and mental
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Restlessness
- Unusual excitement
- Irritability
- Uncontrolled eye movements
- Increased seizures
- Weakness and tiredness
- Eye spots or yellow eyes (and skin)
- Bruising and unusual bleeding
- Swelling of the face
The list only includes the most commonly experienced side effects of bipolar patients. If you feel other side effects not included in the list, then you must inform your doctor immediately.
Pharmacology
Depakote or valproic acid increases the brain concentration of GABA or gamma aminobutyric acid thereby acting as an anticonvulsant. But its action mechanism is not yet established and the effect is also unknown with regards to the neuronal membrane.
Depakote is administered orally and is rapidly absorbed. A single dose can give peak levels of serum after four hours, and its half-life ranges from 6-16 hours. Patients taking antiepileptic drugs together with Depakote will have a lower serum half-life.
If Depakote is administered amid meals, a minor delay can occur in the absorption of the valproic acid, and is quickly distributed in the body since it is bound strongly to plasma proteins. Protein binding may be decreased by increasing the dose. If Depakote needs to be used as a therapeutic drug, the concentration must only be about 50-100 mcg per ml. At present, good correlation between serum levels, therapeutic effect, and daily dose, is yet to be established.
The therapy must be instituted at periodic intervals at first because there have been reports about platelet aggregation and thrombocytopenia inhibition. The bleeding time and platelet counts should also be determined.
When your doctor prescribes Depakote, you must follow all instructions pertaining to dosage and administration carefully. This is essential to avoid over dosage. Some patients ended in coma with the improper use of valproic acid. Since valproic acid is rapidly absorbed, there may be limited value of gastric lavage. Supportive measure must be applied to prevent hypovolemia and make sure that your urinary output is maintained.
Bipolar disorder requires medication as part of the treatment. Valproic acid is one of the many medications approved for bipolar disorder. With the right dosage, this can reduce bipolar symptoms, prevent episodes from occurring, shorten hospitalizations, and help the individual in living a productive life despite his condition.
Over time, bipolar disorder exposes people to mood changes which can reach the point of unacceptability in the society. But with proper treatment and medication, bipolar patients can lead rewarding lives.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
What is the Real Cause of Bipolar Disorder?
Everything happens with a cause and that is a fact. It has been stressed in many subjects in school that there is always the so called 'cause and effect'; and one can't happen without the other.
What about bipolar disorder? The illness is considered as the effect; so what then are the causes? Studies are still underway and researchers are still trying to determine the exact cause of bipolar disorder. Scientific evidence claims that the chemical imbalance inside a person's brain has something to do with bipolar disorder. But then again, what causes the chemical imbalance? Viable theories say that it is due to environmental triggers and heredity. Let's deal with these things one at a time.
Chemical Imbalance
Some people believe that the chemical imbalance in a person's brain is caused by dog bites, osmosis and lithium shortage. But that is a misinformation that brings a lot of confusion to the minds of the people. Most scientists believe that psychological and biological explanations may be the cause of the brain's chemical imbalance.
When you talk about biological explanation, the first thing on the list is genetics. Inheritability is a great issue and there is overwhelming evidence that bipolar disorder runs in the family and reflects genetic vulnerability.
Bipolar disorder is said to be caused by neurotransmitter systems. For decades, scientists are already aware that there is a link between mood disorders and neurotransmitters. Low or high levels of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine cause bipolar disorder. There are also studies that indicate a change in the nerve cells' receptors and sensitivity.
For now, the neurotransmitters are considered as part of the cause of bipolar disorder but their exact role is not yet established. Research is still being conducted.
Geneticists are trying to determine the chromosomes and genes that act as carriers of bipolar disorder. They would like to find out if these chromosomes or genes come singularly or in tandem. The gene GRK-3 and some chromosomes are said to be linked with bipolar disorder. But most scientists and geneticists agree that 50% is caused by genetics and the other half is due to the environment.
Continuous studies are still underway. Sophisticated tools are needed to uncover what activates the genes or chromosomes, the brain component's code, and how these things affect human behavior. Once the molecular knowledge is acquired, new therapies may be engineered to make the lives of bipolar sufferers much easier.
Environmental Triggers
Life is full of stressful events, and this is the primary culprit that implicates bipolar disorder manifestation. Stressful events may pertain to job loss, death of a loved one, or anything that is encountered by an individual. There have been studies showing that the events results to the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. So when bipolar is triggered, it will soon progress and continue.
To sum it all up, some scientists were able to come up with model called Diathesis-Stress. This is a term that refers to a person being susceptible to diseases like bipolar disorder. This model says that every individual inherits physical predispositions that make him/her at risk to possible problems that might be encountered. In order for a disorder to be produced, both the inherited tendency, as well as the stressful conditions is required.
So if you're suffering from bipolar disorder, it's likely that you were able to inherit some genes that make you susceptible to the disorder, and that some events in your life triggered it. Scientists are still studying this disorder and the theories can still be refined.
By expanding and applying the knowledge gained by scientists in their studies, the bipolar patients can be given the right treatment strategies based solidly in science; and not on the trial/error method.
Bipolar disorder typically starts during an individual's late twenties, but there have been cases where teenagers and even children are diagnosed with the disorder. Physicians and patients still find it hard to struggle with the disorder especially if the right treatment combinations are not yet struck.
Living with bipolar disorder is quite difficult, but with the many discoveries yet to be uncovered, the patients and their families can be assured that a bright and normal future awaits them. Therefore, great attention must be given to the different studies and researches that specialists undertake.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
What about bipolar disorder? The illness is considered as the effect; so what then are the causes? Studies are still underway and researchers are still trying to determine the exact cause of bipolar disorder. Scientific evidence claims that the chemical imbalance inside a person's brain has something to do with bipolar disorder. But then again, what causes the chemical imbalance? Viable theories say that it is due to environmental triggers and heredity. Let's deal with these things one at a time.
Chemical Imbalance
Some people believe that the chemical imbalance in a person's brain is caused by dog bites, osmosis and lithium shortage. But that is a misinformation that brings a lot of confusion to the minds of the people. Most scientists believe that psychological and biological explanations may be the cause of the brain's chemical imbalance.
When you talk about biological explanation, the first thing on the list is genetics. Inheritability is a great issue and there is overwhelming evidence that bipolar disorder runs in the family and reflects genetic vulnerability.
Bipolar disorder is said to be caused by neurotransmitter systems. For decades, scientists are already aware that there is a link between mood disorders and neurotransmitters. Low or high levels of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine cause bipolar disorder. There are also studies that indicate a change in the nerve cells' receptors and sensitivity.
For now, the neurotransmitters are considered as part of the cause of bipolar disorder but their exact role is not yet established. Research is still being conducted.
Geneticists are trying to determine the chromosomes and genes that act as carriers of bipolar disorder. They would like to find out if these chromosomes or genes come singularly or in tandem. The gene GRK-3 and some chromosomes are said to be linked with bipolar disorder. But most scientists and geneticists agree that 50% is caused by genetics and the other half is due to the environment.
Continuous studies are still underway. Sophisticated tools are needed to uncover what activates the genes or chromosomes, the brain component's code, and how these things affect human behavior. Once the molecular knowledge is acquired, new therapies may be engineered to make the lives of bipolar sufferers much easier.
Environmental Triggers
Life is full of stressful events, and this is the primary culprit that implicates bipolar disorder manifestation. Stressful events may pertain to job loss, death of a loved one, or anything that is encountered by an individual. There have been studies showing that the events results to the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. So when bipolar is triggered, it will soon progress and continue.
To sum it all up, some scientists were able to come up with model called Diathesis-Stress. This is a term that refers to a person being susceptible to diseases like bipolar disorder. This model says that every individual inherits physical predispositions that make him/her at risk to possible problems that might be encountered. In order for a disorder to be produced, both the inherited tendency, as well as the stressful conditions is required.
So if you're suffering from bipolar disorder, it's likely that you were able to inherit some genes that make you susceptible to the disorder, and that some events in your life triggered it. Scientists are still studying this disorder and the theories can still be refined.
By expanding and applying the knowledge gained by scientists in their studies, the bipolar patients can be given the right treatment strategies based solidly in science; and not on the trial/error method.
Bipolar disorder typically starts during an individual's late twenties, but there have been cases where teenagers and even children are diagnosed with the disorder. Physicians and patients still find it hard to struggle with the disorder especially if the right treatment combinations are not yet struck.
Living with bipolar disorder is quite difficult, but with the many discoveries yet to be uncovered, the patients and their families can be assured that a bright and normal future awaits them. Therefore, great attention must be given to the different studies and researches that specialists undertake.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tapestry of Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The medical society may have disagreed about so many diseases in this world since Pandora has opened the little box of horrors. One of the few things that they have agreed upon is that bipolar disorder is not caused by a lone factor. Several factors are intertwined together to produce a cloth of the illness. Hence, its being so called to run among blood relatives, other factors such as biochemical and environmental can not just be eliminated. In other words, having a relative with a bipolar disorder doesn't always mean you'll get it too, but there is a big possibility. Moreover, having a clean slate in the family background doesn't always save you from the lash of the sickness.
Luck seems to be the key to escaping any illness or disease.
Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by cyclical mood swings which may start during the adolescent years or later in life. There are some cases where young children were afflicted with the disorder. It does not spare any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. The disorder is treated with an amalgamation of mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, anti-manics or anti-psychotics, and psychotherapy.
In any case, individuals afflicted with the disorder seem to have biologic similarities that are detected by tests and imaging scans. The patients manifest an over production of cortisol (stress hormone); more than the usual hyperactivity in some parts of the brain that is related with movement and emotional functions; reduced brain activity in parts that are linked with cognitive functioning; fast biological clock (regulates the body's circadian rhythm: cycle of sleep and waking); and extreme flooding of calcium into the brain cells.
Bipolar disorder can be caused by either or a combination of these factors: biochemical or biological, genetic or familial, medication induced, and environmental.
Biochemically speaking, bipolar disorder takes place in a certain part of the brain where a number of neurotransmitters (a sort of chemical messenger) are said to have been malfunctioning. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are just the three, maybe a lot more, of neurotransmitters involved in bipolar disorder. With this in mind, the disorder may be just sleeping or dormant for years and can be set off by some external factors such as stress or crisis. A closer look at the brain research scientists have discovered that a patient's brain suffering from the disorder is "wired differently" from the normal person, which may explain the maddening alterations of extreme emotions.
As for its familial/genetic factor in the cause of the illness, individuals with first-degree blood relatives such as siblings, offspring, or parents are highly possible candidates for the disorder compared to those who have no relatives with the illness. Research scientists have been working hard to discover the specific genes that are involved in the disorder.
Bipolar disorder may also be triggered by medications. This usually happens during misdiagnosis, and therefore the patient is given a medication that may not be competent enough to control the disorder. With a different illness in mind (in some cases only the depressive mood could have been diagnosed), the physician may not be alert in detecting unusual changes in the patient that may be sidetracking from the original diagnosis. An example is the antidepressant medication which can activate a manic incident in patients who are vulnerable to bipolar disorder. This is due to the fact that the manic stage could have been overlooked upon in cases of misdiagnosis. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder should be prescribed both anti-manic and antidepressant medications. Antimanic medications produce a shield that protects the patient from mania that is stimulated by the anti-depressant.
Other drugs that can be abused which can cause mania in individuals are appetite suppressants, cold medications, corticosteroids, designer drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.), and an excessive intake of caffeine. Abuse of alcohol and other stimulants can also trigger the disorder.
Stressful life events can also single-handedly trigger this mood disorder. Events in a person's life that causes much stress may vary from a shocking death of a loved one, career loss, pregnancy, geographic changes, to financial bankruptcies. Individuals who are highly likely vulnerable to a stress-caused bipolar disorder are adolescents, old adults, and pregnant women. These are population groups that can be easily pinpointed to have been undergoing huge changes in their lives and thus, with a shaky foundation, whether family support or low-self-esteem, they may easily find themselves in a crisis.
Studies have shown that a one time trigger of the disorder can cause a progression and the cycles may begin. If not diagnosed early, it can be hard to control the disorder. Nevertheless, it all boils down on how strong the individual's coping mechanisms are, and a little self-awareness, too.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Luck seems to be the key to escaping any illness or disease.
Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by cyclical mood swings which may start during the adolescent years or later in life. There are some cases where young children were afflicted with the disorder. It does not spare any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. The disorder is treated with an amalgamation of mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, anti-manics or anti-psychotics, and psychotherapy.
In any case, individuals afflicted with the disorder seem to have biologic similarities that are detected by tests and imaging scans. The patients manifest an over production of cortisol (stress hormone); more than the usual hyperactivity in some parts of the brain that is related with movement and emotional functions; reduced brain activity in parts that are linked with cognitive functioning; fast biological clock (regulates the body's circadian rhythm: cycle of sleep and waking); and extreme flooding of calcium into the brain cells.
Bipolar disorder can be caused by either or a combination of these factors: biochemical or biological, genetic or familial, medication induced, and environmental.
Biochemically speaking, bipolar disorder takes place in a certain part of the brain where a number of neurotransmitters (a sort of chemical messenger) are said to have been malfunctioning. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are just the three, maybe a lot more, of neurotransmitters involved in bipolar disorder. With this in mind, the disorder may be just sleeping or dormant for years and can be set off by some external factors such as stress or crisis. A closer look at the brain research scientists have discovered that a patient's brain suffering from the disorder is "wired differently" from the normal person, which may explain the maddening alterations of extreme emotions.
As for its familial/genetic factor in the cause of the illness, individuals with first-degree blood relatives such as siblings, offspring, or parents are highly possible candidates for the disorder compared to those who have no relatives with the illness. Research scientists have been working hard to discover the specific genes that are involved in the disorder.
Bipolar disorder may also be triggered by medications. This usually happens during misdiagnosis, and therefore the patient is given a medication that may not be competent enough to control the disorder. With a different illness in mind (in some cases only the depressive mood could have been diagnosed), the physician may not be alert in detecting unusual changes in the patient that may be sidetracking from the original diagnosis. An example is the antidepressant medication which can activate a manic incident in patients who are vulnerable to bipolar disorder. This is due to the fact that the manic stage could have been overlooked upon in cases of misdiagnosis. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder should be prescribed both anti-manic and antidepressant medications. Antimanic medications produce a shield that protects the patient from mania that is stimulated by the anti-depressant.
Other drugs that can be abused which can cause mania in individuals are appetite suppressants, cold medications, corticosteroids, designer drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.), and an excessive intake of caffeine. Abuse of alcohol and other stimulants can also trigger the disorder.
Stressful life events can also single-handedly trigger this mood disorder. Events in a person's life that causes much stress may vary from a shocking death of a loved one, career loss, pregnancy, geographic changes, to financial bankruptcies. Individuals who are highly likely vulnerable to a stress-caused bipolar disorder are adolescents, old adults, and pregnant women. These are population groups that can be easily pinpointed to have been undergoing huge changes in their lives and thus, with a shaky foundation, whether family support or low-self-esteem, they may easily find themselves in a crisis.
Studies have shown that a one time trigger of the disorder can cause a progression and the cycles may begin. If not diagnosed early, it can be hard to control the disorder. Nevertheless, it all boils down on how strong the individual's coping mechanisms are, and a little self-awareness, too.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder: Getting Rid of that Monkey on your Back
It is a common occurrence that bipolar disorder is undiagnosed in a sufferer for an average of eight years. Individuals afflicted with the disorder do not seek out professional help for at least a decade after the first manifestation of symptoms. Though the disorder can be controlled with proper treatment, there are a lot of people who suffer from the disorder because they are left untreated or are treated inappropriately.
There is a huge population of sufferers that have multiple incidences and it is quite uncommon for them to have a sole episode of depression or hypomania in bipolar disorder in a lifespan. The duration of the symptom-free periods increase with the advancement of age. The existence of major symptoms may well forecast long-term psychosocial dysfunction. The danger of a relapse is high in patients with mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms.
The disorder, being untreated, can cause a variation of damage in the life of the sufferer. Therefore, it is imperative that the disorder be diagnosed as early as possible and treatment plans be started at an early stage as well.
There are varieties of treatments for Bipolar disorder. Some may fail but some are successful in controlling the disorder. Oftentimes the patients easily give up on their medication thinking that the drugs have failed them when in fact there are drugs that need a certain amount of time before it works. Compliance is also a major factor in the success of a treatment. Any lapse in the medication intake can easily allow a relapse of the disorder.
There are two stages of treatment: the acute and the preventive or maintenance stage. Acute stage treatment is intended to end the present depressive, hypomanic, manic, or mixed mood swing episodes. Preventive or maintenance treatment is for the continuation of the healing process to avoid or control future episodes.
Treatment is composed of medication, psychotherapy, and education. Medication is important for almost all patients throughout the acute and preventive stages. Psychotherapy aids both patients and their families in dealing with the more than the usual bipolar behavior of the patients. Education is also very helpful to patients and their families as they become more aware of the complexities of the disorder as well as how to manage it.
In any case, all treatments aim to decrease the incidence of episodes, prevent cycling from one mood stage to another, decrease and treat the intensity of acute mood episodes of depression or mania, and aid the patient as much as possible in between mood episodes.
Before any treatment is prescribed, the physician will first identify what had caused the episode and will assess the patient for any other emotional or medical predicaments that could get in the way of the treatment.
The following are medications and other treatments used to help individuals suffering from bipolar disorder:
- Mood stabilizers are the core medication treatment for bipolar disorder. These medications are efficient for short-term or acute episodes of depression and psychotic mania. It is also used for maintenance treatment. Lithium and valproate are mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed. These two drugs act to stimulate the liberation of glutamate (a neurotransmitter).
- Atypical Antipsychotic drugs are prescribed treat schizophrenia. This drug also has mood stabilizing characteristics which is helpful in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and ariprazol are the five standard medications for the bipolar mania and mixed episodes. Quetiapine is only utilized for the treatment of mixed episodes. These drugs may be used single-handedly or can be combined with mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate. Furthermore, a blend fluoxetine and olanzapine is also accepted for bipolar depression treatment.
- Antiseizure medications are also utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from rapid-cycling and mixed episodes, mania, and for those who have suffered the consequences of substance abuse. Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine are the antiseizure medications usually used in helping patients suffering bipolar II disorder and rapid cycling.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also an efficient treatment. This is ordered for patients suffering acute emotional stages or may also be utilized for maintenance.
- Sleep Management and Psychotherapy in combination with bipolar medications are also highly helpful in the treatment plan for bipolar disorder.
Consequences of medications may include increase occurrence of diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain. To diminish such risks, the patient is instructed to have a dietary intake that will include whole grains, foods that are low in saturated fats, foods low in sugar, fruits, and vegetables. These can help decrease the incidence of gaining weight, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
With vigilance and discipline in addition to a strong support of family and friends the individual who is suffering from bipolar disorder may well sail through without much difficulty during troubled times.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
There is a huge population of sufferers that have multiple incidences and it is quite uncommon for them to have a sole episode of depression or hypomania in bipolar disorder in a lifespan. The duration of the symptom-free periods increase with the advancement of age. The existence of major symptoms may well forecast long-term psychosocial dysfunction. The danger of a relapse is high in patients with mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms.
The disorder, being untreated, can cause a variation of damage in the life of the sufferer. Therefore, it is imperative that the disorder be diagnosed as early as possible and treatment plans be started at an early stage as well.
There are varieties of treatments for Bipolar disorder. Some may fail but some are successful in controlling the disorder. Oftentimes the patients easily give up on their medication thinking that the drugs have failed them when in fact there are drugs that need a certain amount of time before it works. Compliance is also a major factor in the success of a treatment. Any lapse in the medication intake can easily allow a relapse of the disorder.
There are two stages of treatment: the acute and the preventive or maintenance stage. Acute stage treatment is intended to end the present depressive, hypomanic, manic, or mixed mood swing episodes. Preventive or maintenance treatment is for the continuation of the healing process to avoid or control future episodes.
Treatment is composed of medication, psychotherapy, and education. Medication is important for almost all patients throughout the acute and preventive stages. Psychotherapy aids both patients and their families in dealing with the more than the usual bipolar behavior of the patients. Education is also very helpful to patients and their families as they become more aware of the complexities of the disorder as well as how to manage it.
In any case, all treatments aim to decrease the incidence of episodes, prevent cycling from one mood stage to another, decrease and treat the intensity of acute mood episodes of depression or mania, and aid the patient as much as possible in between mood episodes.
Before any treatment is prescribed, the physician will first identify what had caused the episode and will assess the patient for any other emotional or medical predicaments that could get in the way of the treatment.
The following are medications and other treatments used to help individuals suffering from bipolar disorder:
- Mood stabilizers are the core medication treatment for bipolar disorder. These medications are efficient for short-term or acute episodes of depression and psychotic mania. It is also used for maintenance treatment. Lithium and valproate are mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed. These two drugs act to stimulate the liberation of glutamate (a neurotransmitter).
- Atypical Antipsychotic drugs are prescribed treat schizophrenia. This drug also has mood stabilizing characteristics which is helpful in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and ariprazol are the five standard medications for the bipolar mania and mixed episodes. Quetiapine is only utilized for the treatment of mixed episodes. These drugs may be used single-handedly or can be combined with mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate. Furthermore, a blend fluoxetine and olanzapine is also accepted for bipolar depression treatment.
- Antiseizure medications are also utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from rapid-cycling and mixed episodes, mania, and for those who have suffered the consequences of substance abuse. Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine are the antiseizure medications usually used in helping patients suffering bipolar II disorder and rapid cycling.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also an efficient treatment. This is ordered for patients suffering acute emotional stages or may also be utilized for maintenance.
- Sleep Management and Psychotherapy in combination with bipolar medications are also highly helpful in the treatment plan for bipolar disorder.
Consequences of medications may include increase occurrence of diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain. To diminish such risks, the patient is instructed to have a dietary intake that will include whole grains, foods that are low in saturated fats, foods low in sugar, fruits, and vegetables. These can help decrease the incidence of gaining weight, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
With vigilance and discipline in addition to a strong support of family and friends the individual who is suffering from bipolar disorder may well sail through without much difficulty during troubled times.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Going Nuts or Just Normally Moody? (Bipolar Tests)
Bipolar disorder is an illness that is illustrated by extreme mood changes, from being manically euphoric to the very depressed and vice versa. This disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. Changes in the mood to the extremes are constantly occurring, this can happen within hours, days, or months. Bipolar disorder typically appears in the late teenage years and continues until death. There are also cases wherein the illness starts as early as childhood or as delayed as late adult years.
Although a lot of people experience mood swings every now and then, only a small group really experience radical changes in their moods which are highly characteristic of bipolar disorder. This illness can heavily affect everyday living of the sufferer. It can have a huge impact on their relationships with significant others, occupation, academics, and their day to day interaction with other people.
Are you quite curious if you're afflicted with this unlucky pestilence of a disease? Here are some of the signs and symptoms that you can check yourself with:
Signs and symptoms of depressive phase
- pessimistic, have long moments of crying
- a feeling of hopelessness
- low self-esteem
- diminished libido
- progressive decrease in energy and activities of daily living
- apathetic
- antisocial
- cognitive difficulties
- always anxious and irritable
- changes in weight (weight loss or gain)
- either insomnia or oversleeping
- abuse of drugs or alcoholic substances
- suicidal ideations
Signs and symptoms of manic phase
- extremely euphoric
- aggressive
- impulsive, irresponsibly wild
- excessively adventurous and involved in activities that are life threatening (sex, drugs, violence, excessive spending)
- insomniac
- flight of ideas, exceedingly talkative
- very outgoing
- self-centered; sometimes with hallucinations or delusions
- easily distracted, restless
- no idea that the their behavior is causing problems
If you have any of these symptoms and these odd behaviors are causing disruptions in your normal life, it is best for you to seek professional help.
There may be numerous tests out there that are used to differentiate a bipolar sufferer from the run-of-the-mill sad and/or energetic individuals, but there is no exact specific test. This is because the signs and symptoms of this illness are very similar to other mental aberrations like ADHD, borderline personally disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorders.
To diagnose the disorder, physicians provide a battery of tests to potential patients. The following are the basic tests that these professionals use:
- Medical examinations. This is used to assess the patient for other probable grounds of the mood swings he or she experiences.
- Oral and written psychiatric questionnaire or evaluations
- Family history. Bipolar disorder have a tendency to run in families
- Medical history. There may be medications that the patient is using or has used that could have triggered the mood swings.
- Interview family members and significant others regarding the patient's behavior. These people are usually the first witnesses of the disorder unfolding in the patient.
Although the doctor may be armed with these tests to help him diagnose a patient, it is quite difficult for the doctor if the patient him or herself doesn't recognize the problem. It is therefore imperative for the doctor to have an absolute and careful history of the patient's mood swing episodes. Compared to normal happiness, a person suffering the mania stage is extremely happy for four consecutive days at the very least. These patients are also easily distracted, very talkative, and has a flight of ideas.
The disorder is suspected to individuals who have previously suffered from a depression and had a quick and excellent response to the treatment, but had frequent relapses which are followed by a disintegration to respond to antidepressant treatment.
But with early diagnosis, the disorder can be easily controlled. A combination of psychopharmacologic medications and psychotherapy may just do the trick. A strong emotional support from family and friends is also imperative for the patient who's suffering from this disorder. Just make sure you choose the right medical professional to help you or a friend in need. You may find the best help even from only searching through the net as some institutions have websites of their own.
Just remember, anybody who is suspect to any mental disorder is innocent until examined and diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Although a lot of people experience mood swings every now and then, only a small group really experience radical changes in their moods which are highly characteristic of bipolar disorder. This illness can heavily affect everyday living of the sufferer. It can have a huge impact on their relationships with significant others, occupation, academics, and their day to day interaction with other people.
Are you quite curious if you're afflicted with this unlucky pestilence of a disease? Here are some of the signs and symptoms that you can check yourself with:
Signs and symptoms of depressive phase
- pessimistic, have long moments of crying
- a feeling of hopelessness
- low self-esteem
- diminished libido
- progressive decrease in energy and activities of daily living
- apathetic
- antisocial
- cognitive difficulties
- always anxious and irritable
- changes in weight (weight loss or gain)
- either insomnia or oversleeping
- abuse of drugs or alcoholic substances
- suicidal ideations
Signs and symptoms of manic phase
- extremely euphoric
- aggressive
- impulsive, irresponsibly wild
- excessively adventurous and involved in activities that are life threatening (sex, drugs, violence, excessive spending)
- insomniac
- flight of ideas, exceedingly talkative
- very outgoing
- self-centered; sometimes with hallucinations or delusions
- easily distracted, restless
- no idea that the their behavior is causing problems
If you have any of these symptoms and these odd behaviors are causing disruptions in your normal life, it is best for you to seek professional help.
There may be numerous tests out there that are used to differentiate a bipolar sufferer from the run-of-the-mill sad and/or energetic individuals, but there is no exact specific test. This is because the signs and symptoms of this illness are very similar to other mental aberrations like ADHD, borderline personally disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorders.
To diagnose the disorder, physicians provide a battery of tests to potential patients. The following are the basic tests that these professionals use:
- Medical examinations. This is used to assess the patient for other probable grounds of the mood swings he or she experiences.
- Oral and written psychiatric questionnaire or evaluations
- Family history. Bipolar disorder have a tendency to run in families
- Medical history. There may be medications that the patient is using or has used that could have triggered the mood swings.
- Interview family members and significant others regarding the patient's behavior. These people are usually the first witnesses of the disorder unfolding in the patient.
Although the doctor may be armed with these tests to help him diagnose a patient, it is quite difficult for the doctor if the patient him or herself doesn't recognize the problem. It is therefore imperative for the doctor to have an absolute and careful history of the patient's mood swing episodes. Compared to normal happiness, a person suffering the mania stage is extremely happy for four consecutive days at the very least. These patients are also easily distracted, very talkative, and has a flight of ideas.
The disorder is suspected to individuals who have previously suffered from a depression and had a quick and excellent response to the treatment, but had frequent relapses which are followed by a disintegration to respond to antidepressant treatment.
But with early diagnosis, the disorder can be easily controlled. A combination of psychopharmacologic medications and psychotherapy may just do the trick. A strong emotional support from family and friends is also imperative for the patient who's suffering from this disorder. Just make sure you choose the right medical professional to help you or a friend in need. You may find the best help even from only searching through the net as some institutions have websites of their own.
Just remember, anybody who is suspect to any mental disorder is innocent until examined and diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The More than the Usual Moody Disorder
Bipolar Syndrome or manic depression is a psychiatric aberration that is a group of mood disorders in which an individual afflicted with it undergoes extreme emotional states from being clinically depressed to an elevated mood states (or vice versa), and/or a combination of these mood states. If this disorder is ignored and untreated, it can be a crippling condition and may possibly cause suicide.
The term "manic-depressive" made its first appearance in the late 1950s and the present name, bipolar disorder, only became in trend recently. But this mood disorder has been around since time immemorial. The Romans, thanks to their Latin, have coined the words 'ania' and 'manos'. Specifically, it was Caelius Aurelianus, a Roman physician, who proposed these etymologies. 'Ania' means to generate immense mental distress, while 'manos' on the other hand means relaxed or calmed down. Through the centuries great minds have tried to understand this mood swing that had gone terribly wrong. From Gao Lian, the Chinese encyclopedist who cited the illness in hid Eight Treatises on Nurturing of Life, to Jules Baillarger the Frenchman who explained the two-phased mental disorder being the origin of frequent cycles involving depression and mania.
But the considered father of the modern concept of Bipolar disorder is German psychiatrist Emil Kraeplin. He sorted out and studied the course of untreated patients afflicted with the disorder way back before mood stabilizers were formulated. From his studies, he conceived the phrase "manic depressive psychosis". He observed that his patients undergo a cycle with moments of acute depression or mania, with symptom-free intermissions that allows the patient to act normally.
But Kraeplin may be the father of the modern concept of this illness, Dr. John Cade discovered the treatment. He found out that Lithium Carbonate is the right medication that can really treat any psychiatric illness. This discovery pioneered the start of the treatment of psychiatric conditions through medications.
In a nutshell, having a bipolar syndrome is just like having mood swings, and a terrible one at that. This over the top kind of mood swing can cause either harm or enhance an individual's everyday life based on the disorder's severity (from mild to severe) and route (elevated or depressive mood). It causes alterations in ones sleep cycles, energy and activity levels, cognitive functioning, and social life.
This disorder time and again appears as depression in the teenage years and then can have jumpstart as bipolar disorder in the late teens. There are also cases that started early in childhood or late in life. Bipolar is not exclusive to any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. It can strike just about anybody.
The female patients are likely to start with a depressive episode, and the males with manic episode. This disorder has a tendency to run among blood relatives.
Mood swing changes or episodes may last for as long as months or as short as hours. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is when a patient undergoes four or more mood changes or episodes of depression interchanging with mania in a single year.
A full cycle can be accomplished in days or hours by patients with bipolar rapid cycling, though mood changes with bipolar disorder usually take place progressively. These rapid cyclers are very unstable and very difficult to treat; female patients are prone to be rapid cyclers.
There are four types of bipolar disorder. It is classified based on the symptoms' intensity and patterns.
- Bipolar I disorder. This is comprised by one or more or mixed episodes, in addition to one or more major depressive mood change. This is the severest form of bipolar disorder since it is manifested by extreme manic episodes.
- Bipolar II disorder. This is a combination of one or more depressive incidents with at least one hypomanic episode (mild for of mania that may last for at least four days). Hypomanic episodes may not cause severe trouble in everyday living but some patients can be destructive.
- Cyclothymic disorder. This is a unceasing variation of moods which involves stages of depression and hypomania. These two stages are more acute, less severe, and are not experienced with the regularity encountered in the two previous types of bipolar disorder. Patients with cyclothymia may have the possibility to progress to a more severe type of bipolar disorder.
- Unspecified Bipolar Disorder. There are cases that a patient experiences symptoms of depressive and manic episodes without really fitting in any of the above mentioned types of the disorder. This disorder is curable.
But this mood disorder should not be looked down on as if it was Leprosy in the ancient times. Not does it only have an available medication to stabilize the patient's moods but it oddly gives the individuals afflicted with it a creative edge. With a good combination of medication and therapy, the disorder is very manageable.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
The term "manic-depressive" made its first appearance in the late 1950s and the present name, bipolar disorder, only became in trend recently. But this mood disorder has been around since time immemorial. The Romans, thanks to their Latin, have coined the words 'ania' and 'manos'. Specifically, it was Caelius Aurelianus, a Roman physician, who proposed these etymologies. 'Ania' means to generate immense mental distress, while 'manos' on the other hand means relaxed or calmed down. Through the centuries great minds have tried to understand this mood swing that had gone terribly wrong. From Gao Lian, the Chinese encyclopedist who cited the illness in hid Eight Treatises on Nurturing of Life, to Jules Baillarger the Frenchman who explained the two-phased mental disorder being the origin of frequent cycles involving depression and mania.
But the considered father of the modern concept of Bipolar disorder is German psychiatrist Emil Kraeplin. He sorted out and studied the course of untreated patients afflicted with the disorder way back before mood stabilizers were formulated. From his studies, he conceived the phrase "manic depressive psychosis". He observed that his patients undergo a cycle with moments of acute depression or mania, with symptom-free intermissions that allows the patient to act normally.
But Kraeplin may be the father of the modern concept of this illness, Dr. John Cade discovered the treatment. He found out that Lithium Carbonate is the right medication that can really treat any psychiatric illness. This discovery pioneered the start of the treatment of psychiatric conditions through medications.
In a nutshell, having a bipolar syndrome is just like having mood swings, and a terrible one at that. This over the top kind of mood swing can cause either harm or enhance an individual's everyday life based on the disorder's severity (from mild to severe) and route (elevated or depressive mood). It causes alterations in ones sleep cycles, energy and activity levels, cognitive functioning, and social life.
This disorder time and again appears as depression in the teenage years and then can have jumpstart as bipolar disorder in the late teens. There are also cases that started early in childhood or late in life. Bipolar is not exclusive to any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. It can strike just about anybody.
The female patients are likely to start with a depressive episode, and the males with manic episode. This disorder has a tendency to run among blood relatives.
Mood swing changes or episodes may last for as long as months or as short as hours. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is when a patient undergoes four or more mood changes or episodes of depression interchanging with mania in a single year.
A full cycle can be accomplished in days or hours by patients with bipolar rapid cycling, though mood changes with bipolar disorder usually take place progressively. These rapid cyclers are very unstable and very difficult to treat; female patients are prone to be rapid cyclers.
There are four types of bipolar disorder. It is classified based on the symptoms' intensity and patterns.
- Bipolar I disorder. This is comprised by one or more or mixed episodes, in addition to one or more major depressive mood change. This is the severest form of bipolar disorder since it is manifested by extreme manic episodes.
- Bipolar II disorder. This is a combination of one or more depressive incidents with at least one hypomanic episode (mild for of mania that may last for at least four days). Hypomanic episodes may not cause severe trouble in everyday living but some patients can be destructive.
- Cyclothymic disorder. This is a unceasing variation of moods which involves stages of depression and hypomania. These two stages are more acute, less severe, and are not experienced with the regularity encountered in the two previous types of bipolar disorder. Patients with cyclothymia may have the possibility to progress to a more severe type of bipolar disorder.
- Unspecified Bipolar Disorder. There are cases that a patient experiences symptoms of depressive and manic episodes without really fitting in any of the above mentioned types of the disorder. This disorder is curable.
But this mood disorder should not be looked down on as if it was Leprosy in the ancient times. Not does it only have an available medication to stabilize the patient's moods but it oddly gives the individuals afflicted with it a creative edge. With a good combination of medication and therapy, the disorder is very manageable.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
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