You probably won't like this, we shall see

[jst4shanell]

I believe we are seeing this huge TREND in Bipolar diagnosis these days.  I would say in the last 10 years.  People are being improperly diagnosed and it's sad to think people are on medications that could potentially harm them.  In the 90's it was ADD or ADHD.  Did you know that Zyprexa kills 1 in 125 people?  Wow!  That is astonishing to me.  The fact that the FDA knew about this and approved it, is horrible to say the least.  2 million people a year get prescribed that drug, including children.

[rayrose50]

I cant sleep started first pill of xyprexy 25mg and olanzapine 5mg 2am just took 6 Seroquel 25mg should be ready for a good sleep within the hour hope it all works well for me my doctor told me not to take any seroquel what I've read here suggests it safe to do so. Im male 50 suffered from major depression from age twelve to 24 thenhave been goiong manic ever since whst a ride spent  good part of a yr in physc wards till age 24 never been back since I own my own succesfull grain farm lived on streets for a few yrs dealing and cranking that's how I got my hep c almost 25 yrs ago I worry about my bipolar more than my hep C I have to manage my mrds every day I don't see my doc very much been 3 yrs since I saw my phyciatrist.like greenery

[spinner626]

I have bipolar disorder, but i also believe bipolar disorder is over diagnosed, and people are over medicated unnecessarily.  i think a whole lot of doctors don't understand the medications they are prescribing, don't take the time with their patients to actually understand them, and probably go into the field because they have mental health issues themselves.

and that's my personal opinion which I think is closer to a fact!

[becky2381]

My minor son over the last year has been on quite a few different meds in order  to help stablize his moods as he can become quite violent.  He has been on tenex for approximately 8 months now which has very much helped his anxiety levels.  He has tried several other meds in conjunction w the tenex in order to help stablize his moods...with no luck and only making his violent behavior outburts more  frequent and violent.  He has been on the Zyprexa now for about a week, and I am hopeful.  So far so good.  I am quite concerned regarding all the possible side effects the meds can have on him though....  My son has had therapy 1x week for four years now and since starting medication 8 months ago, has made good progress.  Obviously medications work on an individual basis, and what works best for one person quite frequently wont work for another.   I certainly wish nothing but the best for everyone. It's nice to be able to have a place like this.

[hell1971]

Zyprexa seems to be my life saver too, I am on epilim and lithium and it just wasnt enough to settle my mixed episode, I added Zyprexa last week and by day four I now no what normal feels like and im happy again. I know its early days and I havent had any traumers to deal with but I am hopefull, this is the most normal I have felt in 2 years.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Good to hear you found the right medication and recovered.  It can take some people years to find the right medication combination to get on that road to recovery.  It can work literal miracles if it's the right one.

[therese83]

Zyprexa is amazing.  OMG, it completely saved my life and I was able to wean off it in time.

Yes I swelled up, but before zyprexa I had conmpletely lost it.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I suppose you're right.  You're always really informative and interesting.  I don't even know what my paranoia stems from... I've just been that way my whole life.  I even was fussy as a baby when it came to medications.

[ILADVOCATE]

Best to be informed of medications and their side effects rather than paranoid. If you had pneumonia you'd take an antibiotic but those have side effects. Same even with asprin and Tylenol. Of course there will be safer medications as they go along but that's no reason to avoid treatment for now and remember anything not FDA approved is not guaranteed safe and effective yet. They may find things in the studies (though I would hope not and it doesn't appear so). As for FDA approved medications used off label as mood stabilizers I believe I've posted this list but its of help:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
Its good to be strong willed but why tough it out when medication can help? If I hadn't taken antipsychotics from age 18 I might very have been institutionalized long term and certainly wouldn't have made it through college and beyond and to where I am today. Why cheat yourself out of a better life?

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I look at it this way.  I believe I'm fortunate in a way to have been as strong willed as I am to have made it as long as I have off medication until they developed safer and better medications especially with my extreme paranoia of them.  It's like that saying good things come to those who wait, I guess.

[ILADVOCATE]

Medications have improved over time. When I started off on medication on old line antipsychotics and a large dose of lithium it felt like I was being knocked out. The atypicals such as Risperdal and Seroquel in combination with Lamictal were much more tolerable. And things have improved from there. Every medication of any kind has long term side effects. The main thing is if they are tolerable from the get go and I certainly believe that's improved over time and will continue to.

[jimgreg]

yes i heard that zyprexa  is not a good drug..but ive heard that about most bp meds also..alot of them have black box warnings on them  like depakote liver problems,,geodon,lithiem,,,these are good meds but in the background you kinda have to 2ndg gfuess everything..including the prior meds that ur on..like alot of us were diagnosed when we were on meds along time.....im on strong opids  and  panic meds now this added to the mix..yes i heard  about zyprexa alot latley...i was great on lithiem and in 7 monthes went sevre toxic..2 x,s the toxic rate...was lucky.....

[LetaB]

  Oops. When I said my kids are "worse" I meant one of them had a condition that was worse than the ones I listed. MY kids are amazing and I love them.

[LetaB]

Absolutely! If I hadn't had my 4 kids - ADHD, BP, OCD, CD, and worse.... I just wasn't made for this. I feel I was an excellent mother to them when they were small - then  things  got  complicated. I used to joke around with them and say are you crazy because mom is insane or have I gone crazy because of you? I definitely believe that our exasperating situations make our BP shine brighter but the BP is latent - it is already within us.

[bernie40]

Hi Leta

Interesting factor - I have 4 kids.  

I have also read somewhere that the incidence of BP is higher in adults with 3 or more children and/or children of teenage years.  I'm assuming it is the higher stress levels associated with having larger broods and teens that can also bring about more obvious signs of the disorder.

My argument here though with regard to my last paragraph is:  if I hadn't had 4 children would I be less symptomatic - I don't think I would because if I hadn't had children I would have stayed in my chosen career, gone further up the ladder and would have just had higher work related stress as opposed to raising children stress.

So going back to what you said, is it the chicken or the egg, lol - Something I'd definitely be interested in seeing more research on and discussion come to it.

[LetaB]

How about this theory - BP is hereditary and BPs (on average) have more kids. I have nothing to back that up with except the studies that show that there is more incidence of ADHD and BP in children set up for adoption (go figure) than in the geberal public and the fact that my ex (who's BP) was from a family of 8 kids, my mom (who is BP) had 6 and my ex and I had 4 together. Just thinking out loud.

[farraway]

There have been assertions of a 37% increase in BP incidence.
Links have been made to older parents creating vulnerable offspring (Radford-Nov 08)

ALL mood stabilisers and anti-psychotics carry side effect risk.
It is the task of the doctor prescribing medications to maximise effect with minimal dosage and side effect.
This is very complex and this is why we seek their assistance.

I (like you) have a problem with natural remedies because they are not supported by proper clinical and scientific study.

[ILADVOCATE]

  There are many FDA approved mood stabilizers out there. Psychiatrists do feel the same way about side effects. They didn't invent the medications and they'd rather have medications that are safer and easier to tolerate. As I stated that is being addressed as newer treatments come out and are researched. However, that one list we have has all FDA approved medications that are used off label as mood stabilizer. You could discuss that with your psychiatrist.
   The difficulty with natural remedies is that they are unregulated. In Europe its much because they are given as prescriptions. It acceptable if you take something if its under your psychiatrist's supervision but they are something to be wary of as they are completely unregulated. Every medication that I got on that was unknown, including the experimental treatment I am on now I advocated to get on by bringing information to my providers. I wouldn't suggest a particular treatment nor would I suggest trying experimental medications but as new medications are approved or approved medications used off label as mood stabilizers it does make sense to bring clinically valid information to your providers if you can't tolerate or haven't responded to what's out there but of course the decision is ultimately there's which is true for me as well.

[bernie40]

blacksoul004 I know what you mean!!! Drives me nuttier than I already am.  Why would anyone "want" this that's what I don't understand.  I think that sadly there are some folk who act badly who then pretend they have BP because it's a cover up for their behaviour.

[blacksoul004]

i agree. when i try to talk about being bipolar it seems like everyone else claims to have it. or wants it! i hate that

[Fallen_A]

Its better ways now too find out about bipolar. Bipolar today is not just manic depression, 1, 2, 2½, 3 or 4. Its over all the complex depressions. So the statistics says that 10% are suffering of depression in society and 4% of them got a complex depression or bipolar. Its the same complex depression and bipolar .

Myself has suffered of bipolar II since I was 10 and now Im soon 40. The calmness in my mind is worth the meds.

[Twelvesgirl]

well just speaking for myself...
I, as a woman, am sick AND uncontrollable!!!!! Hee Hee!

I do agree w/ Bastet in its not a great idea to be medicating children w/ these drugs. Same as ADD/ADHD I feel that there are better ways to go about it w/ young children than hardcore prescriptions. My children don't have ADD/ADHD, but I do know children w/ autism who are on natural remedies that seem to help their behaviors. Anyway, it may also be people not being so afraid of "coming out" with their mental illness. I have been trying for years and years to get my parents to notice something wasn't right, finally at 28 (almost 29 on Friday!) I've finally found the strength to MAKE them see what they missed. But truly, some doctors are overdiagnosing, for me, I have had 3 major manic-depressive episodes recorded by medical professionals. Thats enough for them to know that I'm BP. BUT, my cousin was diagnosed as a young teenage girl w/ BP around the same time as I first was, but her diagnosis in fact WAS a mis-diagnosis. SO...interesting question you have brought up shanell!

As for medications, the less medication the better. My pdoc is aware of my complete disgust for her meds! She works with me. I talk w/ her frequently through e-mails to make sure my mind is healthy since I will only do one medication. If just this one medication does not do the trick then I will add another possibly, but more likely I will look into adding natural things under her supervision. She'll probably look at me sideways...but it's worth a shot!

So there's my rambling for the day I guess, sorry, haven't been on in awhile and I really liked the title to this question!!

[hell1971]

I think its a combo of things most are positive. In the past only the serverly affected were picked up, lots of BP2 and the milder versions did not seek help because of stigma and were not diagnosed properly when they did, medical advancements and better understanding is also contributing, not so positive more people died from suicide or turned to drugs and alcohol to manage the sysmptoms. I know also giving children medication seems harsh and completely unsuitable but until you have had a child suffer from suicidal thoughts, hullucinations and general overwelming emotional distress its hard one to answer, I think you have to hope that the doctors involved and the parents make the right choice. Thats my opinion anyway

[anninwashington]

overpopulation, and too much caffeine..that's not even counting some of the street drugs.
I'd say more are bipolar, more are aware, and some docs have no idea what they are doing...Historically with medical research done on men, we know they are just learning about women...Is it hormones? or manic/depression?

Are we sick or just uncontrollable?  Deep question, so many possible answers...

[ILADVOCATE]

It depends whether the people were misdiagnosed or more people are seeking mental health care. If its the latter that's positive. More antipsychotics are used as mood stabilizers but that's because the atypical antipsychotics have a mood stabilization effect. Yes they have their own set of side effects short term and long term as do any medication but the same company that made Zyprexa is researching a new generation antipsychotic (you can google "psychmeds123" for all psychiatric medications in development or the name "LY2140023" as it doesn't have a product name yet) so I would think they are doing the right thing. It is frustrating to find a medication that is completely safe and effective and no medication ever will be so 100% but I believe they are heading in the right direction. Zyprexa and Seroquel had a good mood stabilization effect when I took them and Clozaril did not require an adjunct mood stabilizer at all so I can say they were helpful. And there are better things in the works...