Posts Tagged ‘treatment’

Available Bipolar Treatments For Bipolar Manic Depression

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

For most psychiatrists or doctors the first line of treating this mental disease bipolar  is the use of medications  or by pharmacological intervention . Most of the prescribed treatments we have today are for bipolar depression or mania. We have outlined some general classes and specific examples of medicine used by doctors in the control of bipolar manic symptoms.

Treating Bipolar manic depression

1.Mood stabilizers. Doctors give mood stabilizers to treat bipolar manic depression. One of the biggest problem with antidepressants are – patients are at risk of switching into either mania or hypo mania symptoms. Victims of bipolar have been known to develop severe cycling of moods. Many doctors use  combine stabilizing drugs with antidepressants to help control patients from this mood swing.

2.Lithium is used for the short-term treatment of bipolar manic patients, to keep the depressive and manic moods from returning.

3.Two other effective medications are Valproate (sold as Depakote) and carbamazeprine (marketed as Tegretol), which prevent convulsions, stabilize the patient’s mood, and treat bipolar symptoms that resist effective treatment with other drugs.

4.Valproate and carbamazepine, (Antipsychotic medicines). It has been proven by doctors and patients alike that clozapine, which is an antipsychotic drug, is quite good as a mood stabilizer for those who cannot respond to lithium or anticonvulsants treatments.

5.Olanzapine is another widely prescribed drug, approved by the FDA specifically to treat the most serious bipolar manic symptoms.

More Bipolar Treatments

If you have or know someone with bipolar manic depression, you should know that there is an intervention that can be used as part of a bipolar treatment plan.

Warning to Adhere to

Psychosocial intervention, along with an unremitting continuing care plan, can help combat the persistence of the problem. It is necessary to maintain your psychosocial appointments and to be sure to take all prescribed medications as prescribed. As with all medication, you should make sure you keep track of all your medication is working correctly.

If you are taking a prescribed medication along with an over the counter medication, inform yourself of the dangers of the drugs mixing. Lastly, if you are being treated for bipolar symptoms or manic depression, be advised that you should not stop your medication without speaking to your doctor as this may cause an adverse effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying To Live With Bipolar Maniac Depressive Disorder “+”Bipolar

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Bipolar Manic Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Manic Depression, Bipolar Affective Disorder and Disorder “+” bipolar is a mood and emotional disorder which is caused by an imbalance of  chemical in the brain. These chemical imbalances  than causes uncommon shifting (bipolar) of an individual’s moods, energy level, and everyday function. These unusual disorder “+”bipolar( mood swings) can range from severe happiness to complete despair or hopelessness. These feelings can change very quickly for some people and stay on for long periods of time with others. One thing that must be pointed out here is, it is not the normal ups and down that we go through every day. These disorder “+” bipolar victim’s up and down are severe, when they are happy that are very, very happy with lots of energy and when down (depressed) they are really down with no energy.

The Who? -  Question

This  disorder affects both men and women and children diagnosed at 5 years have been seen to have the symptoms at 2. While bipolar manic disorder may appear different in children than in adults, it usually occurs more often with people whose relatives have the disorder running in their families.

The Disorder “plus”

While some people experience the most severe form of bipolar disorder, with severe ups and downs, there are also milder versions of the disorder, which have varying symptoms. Some bipolar patients experience only hypo mania, with a lesser severity of manic symptoms, and without accompanying depressive symptoms. Other patients experience hypo mania and very slight episodes of depression.

    Cyclothymia is a mild disorder, with fluctuations between mild depression and mild hypo mania.

    Hypo mania is similar to mania but less extreme, and is sometimes called the middle ground.

    Hypo mania: It is mania but not the extreme of mania. It is the middle ground of disorder “+” bipolar.

    Depression:  What is extraordinary about this depression is, it’s the brain making  its own lows with  feelings of worry, sad, angry, guilt, isolated and no hope. These disorder can cause sleeping and eating problems with the body always tired and unable to do activities once enjoyed. Because of its low energy, the lack of sexual activities and  lack of action or motivation are some obvious signs to look out for.

    Mixed state: When the two main phases of mania and depression overlap each other and occurring at the same time or in quick succession one after each other.

Treating Disorder “+” Bipolar

Not treating disorder “+” bipolar can be disastrous both for the individual and the families living with you. The disorder affects our relationships with others , school and work activities and which can  lead people to suicide or attempted  suicide. Always seek treatment whenever you see the signs of bipolar manic symptoms appear.

 

 

 

 

 

Bipolar Manic -Exaggerated Or Unrealistic Belief – Bipolar Treatment

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

With long periods of depression followed by manic mood episodes, bipolar disorder characteristics are the thoughts and mood disorders. Each person is different, depending on each patient, depression or mania can last a long time. Bipolar mania is sometimes called  mania or hypo mania (a much lesser form of mania). With those in the hypo mania stage, victims may be irritable, too sensitive with an extremely elevated mood. Victims associated with mania episodes have big plans, involved in many projects and quite talkative. The high risk for bipolar manic victims is the use of alcohol or cocaine.

Anti-Psychotic Drugs

The presence of psychotic thoughts, leading to highly charged emotional responses and judgment errors which can render them incapable of communicating is  the main symptoms for those with bipolar mania. It is important before these thoughts get out of control, patients must be given mood stabilizing medicine to control their symptoms. These drugs may include:

Clorazil : For treating schizophrenia was first used in Europe in 1971. It is one of the  first antipsychotic drug to be developed.

Risperdal:  Under this market name, was developed by Janssen-Cilag as an antipsychotic drug for the treatment of schizophrenia. It was later used for mixed and mania episodes and  children with autism disease.

Zyprexa: A combination of two drugs fluoxetine Symbyax  and FDA approved for  antipsychotic and treatment of schizophrenia and later for the treatment of bipolar.

First Line Bipolar Treatments

The first-line of the treatment of severe bipolar manic episodes  for most doctors are:

Lithium: A drug primarily for bipolar mania, is a chemical salts and used as a mood stabilizer.

Valproate: A replacement to lithium salts is believed reverse the brain process and affect the function of the neurotransmitter. It is used in bipolar treatment . Its main work is to stop or  block transamination of GABA.

Monotherapy: With  FDA approval for treating bipolar manic and bipolar I.

Family Therapy

Quite effective for bipolar patients, a lot of people who are bipolar manic or depressive episodes forget that the first line therapy is a family-focused therapy. Patients  with bipolar manic can get  worse by fighting within the family. With this family-focused therapy, all family members must contribute by trying to manage their own behaviors so there would be no catalyst for the symptom to reoccur. This bipolar treatment -family therapy is for them to be alert to the signs and symptoms of bipolar manic symptoms and how to they can handle it when the signs appear.

Therapy – Dialectal Behavior

This kind of behavior therapy was first started by Dr. Marsha Linehan in which patients go through different stages of therapy which finally can lead them to taking control of their behaviors. One of the main focus of this therapy is patients learn to accept and control their thought patterns.

For bipolar manic patients, building on these stages requires skill training. But the first  stage  goals is to reduce these behaviors which are self-threatening and an  obstruction to  bipolar treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bipolar Manic Ddepression And the Available Bipolar Treatments

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

The use of medications, or pharmacological intervention, is often the first step in treating bipolar disorders. The majority of such medicines are designed to treat either bipolar depression or bipolar mania. Below we have provided some examples and categories related to the treatment of bipolar mania.

Treating Bipolar manic depression

1.Mood stabilizers are the standard treatment for bipolar manic depression, and are prescribed by many doctors. Unfortunately, antidepressants are not always effective, since they may lead to hypo manic or manic symptoms. Patients with bipolar disorders will frequently have violent mood swings, and these are usually prevented with antidepressants combined with other drugs to keep the patient’s mental state in an equilibrium.

2.Lithium. Lithium is generally used to control bipolar manic patients. It is most effective in limiting the reappearance of depressive and manic modes.

3.Valproate and carbamazepine are anticonvulsant drugs that work to stabilize mood and treat difficult-to-treat bipolar symptoms. They are known under the brand names as Depakote and Tegretol, respectively.

4.The first kind of medicine that should be considered is antipsychotics such as carbamazeprine and valproate. Many patients do not respond to lithium or to anticonvulsant medications, but the antipsychotic drug clozapine is much more effective at preventing bipolar mood swings.

5.Some other prescribed drugs. Olanzapine ” Aproved by the FDA – this drug is capable in the treatment of severe bipolar manic symptoms.

Some  Other Bipolar Treatments

Psychosocial intervention can be used in the treatment of bipolar manic depression .Because of the recurring nature of bipolar manic depression, a continuous long-term bipolar treatment is absolutely necessary. A good combination of medicine and psychosocial treatment is vital. Make sure you keep note of the following so you can be sure the medication given is doing its work.

Caution to All

Psychosocial intervention can be used in the treatment of bipolar manic depression .Because of the recurring nature of bipolar manic depression, a continuous long-term treatment is absolutely necessary. A good combination of medicine and psychosocial treatment is vital.

Any nutritional supplements and over-the-counter medications need to be disclosed, so that the doctor can check for the possibility of harmful interactions. Never change your treatment by yourself. Talk to your doctor, who will let you know if any course of treatment needs to be started or stopped on your bipolar symptom medications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bipolar Manic Depressive Disorder “+”Bipolar

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Manic depression, bipolar manic depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and disorder “+” bipolar are all different names for the same ailment, in which the chemical balance of the brain is disrupted.  Unusual mood swings can occur, resulting in very rapid shifts from total despair to complete euphoria.  Some people shift every few minutes, while other can stay locked in the same mood for days.  These are not the normal moods that most people have each day, but are far more severe.  When people with this disorder are happy, they are extremely happy; when they are sad or depressed, they are simply not able to function.

The Who? -  Question

This  disorder affects both men and women and children diagnosed at 5 years have been seen to have the symptoms at 2. While bipolar manic disorder may appear different in children than in adults, it usually occurs more often with people whose relatives have the disorder running in their families.

The Disorder “plus”

Disorders are experienced by different people in different ways and with uneven intensity.  Many people have very strong cases of these disorders, while others have much less serious problems.

    Cyclothymia: It is a milder disorder which includes periods of hypomania and very mild depression – less bipolar (mood swings).

    Hypo mania: These people experience mania but not the extreme of mania of bipolar manic symptoms. It is sometimes referred to as the middle ground of disorder “+” bipolar.

    Hypo mania: It is mania but not the extreme of mania. It is the middle ground of disorder “+” bipolar.

    Depression:  What is extraordinary about this depression is, it’s the brain making  its own lows with  feelings of worry, sad, angry, guilt, isolated and no hope. These disorder can cause sleeping and eating problems with the body always tired and unable to do activities once enjoyed. Because of its low energy, the lack of sexual activities and  lack of action or motivation are some obvious signs to look out for.

      Mixed state: This is  when the two main phases mania and depression overlap each other. These two bipolar manic symptoms can  occur at the same time or in quick succession one after the other other.

Treating Disorder “+” Bipolar

Not treating disorder “+” bipolar can be disastrous both for the individual and the families living with you. The disorder affects our relationships with others , school and work activities and which can  lead people to suicide or attempted  suicide. Always seek treatment whenever you see the signs of bipolar manic symptoms appear.

 

 

 

 

 

Bipolar Manic -Exaggerated Or Unrealistic Belief – Bipolar Treatment

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

With long periods of depression followed by manic mood episodes, bipolar disorder characteristics are the thoughts and mood disorders. Each person is different, depending on each patient, depression or mania can last a long time. Bipolar mania is sometimes called  mania or hypo mania (a much lesser form of mania). With those in the hypo mania stage, victims may be irritable, too sensitive with an extremely elevated mood. Victims associated with mania episodes have big plans, involved in many projects and quite talkative. The high risk for bipolar manic victims is the use of alcohol or cocaine.

Anti-Psychotic Drugs

One of the main symptoms of bipolar manic is the presence psychotic thoughts, which may lead to highly charged emotional responses and judgment errors which render them incapable of communicating. Before these thoughts get out of control, manic patients can be given mood stabilizing drugs to control bipolar manic symptoms. These drugs include:

Clorazil : First used in Europe in 1971 for the treating schizophrenia. It is the first antipsychotic drug to be developed.

Risperdal:  Developed by Janssen-Cilag and was first sold in the Netherlands under this market name. It is an antipsychotic drug for the treatment of schizophrenia. Later used to mixed and mania episodes and  children with autism problem.

Zyprexa: Is a combination of two drugs fluoxetine Symbyax ( FDA approved) used as an  antipsychotic for the treating schizophrenia, later for the treatment of bipolar.

First Line Bipolar Treatments

For many doctors in their  recent practice guidelines, the first-line of the treatment of severe bipolar manic episodes are:

Lithium: A chemical salts and used as a mood stabilizing drug primarily for bipolar mania.

Valproate: A replacement to lithium salts is believed reverse the brain process and affect the function of the neurotransmitter. It is used in bipolar treatment . Its main work is to stop or  block transamination of GABA.

Monotherapy: With  FDA approval for treating bipolar manic and bipolar I.

The Family Therapy

Many  people who are with a bipolar manic or with  depressive episodes,  forget that a family-focused therapy can be quite effective for bipolar patients. Bad blood running within family members can make bipolar manic states worse. All family members  must help contribute by trying to manage their individual behaviors so as to reduce a catalyst for the symptom to come back. The main aim of this bipolar treatment -family therapy is members are alert to the signs and symptoms and how they can  handle it properly when the signs appear.

A New Therapy – Dialectal Behavior

This kind of behavior therapy was first started by Dr. Marsha Linehan in which patients go through different stages of therapy which finally can lead them to taking control of their behaviors. One of the main focus of this therapy is patients learn to accept and control their thought patterns.

Reducing behaviors which are self-threatening like being suicidal and other bipolar manic behaviors that obstruct with bipolar treatment is the first  stage  goals. For manic victims, building on these stages requires skill training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Types of Depression are Diagnosed?

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Depression symptoms and appropriate depression treatment can vary from person to person.  Some may experience symptoms that cause them to be virtually debilitated in life while others may still be able to blend in and hide their symptoms. All symptoms of depression can cause an explosion effect into other areas of the life including school grades, marriage, new job or job lose, parenting, physical health and so many more.  Depression symptoms should not be ignored as they can cause many areas of daily life to be effected negatively.  A person who has experienced several of the following symptoms may be considered depressed.  

Depressed Mood:  includes the emotions and feelings of sadness, discouragement and sometimes includes frequent crying.A mood of depression is often expressed through irritation especially in teens and children.  

A Marked Decrease in Pleasure or Interest:  Persons with this symptom may discover that activities that used to bring them pleasure no longer interest them.  They may begin to withdraw or act distinctly disinterested in the every day activities of daily life.

Change in Weight: A change in weight of 5% or more in 1 month while not attempting to loss or gain weight can be an indication or a symptom of depression.

Disruption in Normal Sleeping Pattern:  Sleeping long hours of the day and night and still feeling sluggish and sleepy is a symptom of depression as is insomnia or the inability to sleep.

Fatigue:  Feeling tired all day no matter how much sleep is gotten is a symptom of depression.

Feelings of Guilt, Condemnation and Discouragement:  Feelings that control emotions and bring overwhelming and reoccurring thoughts of guilt, condemnation and discouragement are symptoms of depression.

Brain Fog:  Challenges in focusing, thinking clear thoughts and making correct decisions.  

Contast Thoughts About Dying: Considering suicide and constant though that death would be better than being alive are depression symptoms.  Plans to commit suicide indicate depression may be an issue.

There are several types of depression diagnosis’s including mild depression, major depression, Dysthymia and Bipolar Disorder.A diagnosis of depression will often leave lead to the treatment that will best help the depressed individual.  There is a sensitive balance between mental health and physical health in a person and the treatment selected must address both effectively in order to deal with the depression symptoms that the person is experiencing.

Capital Clinical Research Associates is a depression research center for DC, Rockville, & Bethesda, as well as the symptoms and treatments of the condition.   Take our free Depression Assessment Questionairre.