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.
In treating patients suffering from bipolar disorder, there are three vital principles:
First: use caution when taking a patient off antidepressants, as stopping use completely is not advisable: use your psychiatrist's recommendation. Second: consider that non-medicating is frequently not the right way to treat.
Second:Take less of a non-medication approach.
Thirdly: when selecting medication be aware that already proven mood stabilizing medications are , most often, the best choice .
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.
Whether it's true or not there is a general agreement by some experts that antidepressants don't play any role in bipolar treatment of bipolar depression. There are two main reasons which have come up - the lack of evidence for its advantages and the strong evidence that antidepressants can do more harm than good. For many Psychiatrits antidepressants have been an easy and extensively used antidepressants. Although controversial, some doctors think they are not common and hence continue to use them since it is having a positive effect on some patients and secondly it's the only bipolar medication available to them.
1.Antidepressants have been known to cause "rapid cycling" with about 4 mood episodes in one 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.
Good 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.
In treating patients suffering from bipolar disorder, there are three vital principles:
First: use caution when taking a patient off antidepressants, as stopping use completely is not advisable: use your psychiatrist's recommendation. Second: consider that non-medicating is frequently not the right way to treat.
Second:Take less of a non-medication approach.
Thirdly: when selecting medication be aware that already proven mood stabilizing medications are , most often, the best choice .
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.
Whether it's true or not there is a general agreement by some experts that antidepressants don't play any role in bipolar treatment of bipolar depression. There are two main reasons which have come up - the lack of evidence for its advantages and the strong evidence that antidepressants can do more harm than good. For many Psychiatrits antidepressants have been an easy and extensively used antidepressants. Although controversial, some doctors think they are not common and hence continue to use them since it is having a positive effect on some patients and secondly it's the only bipolar medication available to them.
1.Antidepressants have been known to cause "rapid cycling" with about 4 mood episodes in one 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.
Good 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.
About the Author:
Ken P Doyle is a campaigner for bipolar disorder and has a lot of information on mental illness. As a campaigner he is willing to share some FREE information and data on bipolar depression and bipolar treatments.
