Friday, August 21, 2009

Accounting For Some Basic Principles Of Bipolar Treatment In Bipolar Depression

By Ken P Doyle

Before any treatment can be given, most doctors must be sure the patient does not have thyroid changes that are a catalyst for the mood problem. A simple "TSH" test is utilized to determine the amount of "thyroid stimulating hormone." Some doctors may order additional tests, but the point is to have blood chemicals and a cell count. This is so they can be sure you do not have other things causing your mood. By utilizing these tests, doctors can be certain they are not missing anything unusual.

The three most important principles, of bipolar treatment:

1. Always be careful with antidepressants ( if you are on antidepressants do not stop, always work with your psychiatrist).

Second:Take less of a non-medication approach.

3. A lot of people with sever systems of a bipolar disorder will have to use proven mood stabilizers.

Be Always Careful with Antidepressants

In addition to the less severe versions of bipolar II and hypomania, Bipolar Depression is a major issue. Often, patients suffering from bipolar disorder are prescribed antidepressant medications to help manage their symptoms. Even though this is a common, and seemingly sensible, approach, sometimes it backfires and causes problems to actually worsen. Bipolar researchers have concluded that antidepressants should actually be utilized only if results from other mood stabilizing drugs are unsatisfactory. Essentially, it is generally agreed upon by the experts that antidepressants are not the first choice in dealing with bipolar depression.

When given the right medication patients should show improvement, if the reaction to medication is adverse then it should be tested on a test group and results compared to see if the good reaction out weighs the bad reaction.

1. Antidepressants have been known for causing "rapid cycling" with around 4 mood episodes in an year with every day or few days "cycling".

2.Antidepressants have been known to cause "switching", hypomania or mania symptoms.

3. Antidepressants have caused "mixed states". Lijke having Bipolar mania and bipolar depression all at once. If you look at the moods it is like being agitated, or irritable or anxious; hard sleeping; and depression, all bundled up together.

Advice to Patients

If you are living on antidepressants and have read this please DON'T STOP your medication whatever it might be. Stopping the medications for your bipolar treatments may make matters worse. Always consult your doctor for any concerns you might have. - 14130

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