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shutterbug · 02-10-2008, 07:03 PM

Lobo,

1. Check around in your community by calling your state NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) office....the number or web site is listed in my signature to see what is available for you for free. I know that i personally was able to find a Friends and Family of Bipolars group i could attend weekly at a local church. It REALLY helps to talk with others going through the same things.

2. Since your daughter is dual diagnosis with also having the substance abuse issues (as a large percentage of bipolars do)...it is SO very important for her to get stabalized. And luckily bipolar I is much easier to treat than bipolar II (which is what my diagnosis is).

3. Many bipolar I's do very, very well on Lithium. It probably scares you because you've been told that regular blood tests are needed to ensure the salt levels don't build up in her system to a dangerous level or anything, but Lithium is the oldest mood stabalizer around. It was the first one ever found to help bipolars. I tried it myself as my 3rd or 4th mood stabalizer go-round and either my doc started me on too high a dose or i was VERY allergic to it -- as it made me so insanely ill that i couldn't sit or stand up with out throwing up (or dry heaving) and after several days of that crap i was about ready to go to the emergency room.

Many have and continue to do VERY well on Lithium....including actress Patty Duke, who is also bipolar I and dual diagnosis with alcoholism. Actually, there are a TON of famous people with bipolar disorder and also substance abusers. I highly recommend reading her book called, "A Brilliant Maddness." It was the first book about bipolar disorder I read and the best one of the subsequent 100s. It alternates chapters between her telling her own story and then the next chapter is more "informational" like as it is written by her own psychologist and gives more fact type stuff about the illness.

Depakote was the first one i was put on 4 years ago and it also requires regular blood tests.

Topamax is the mood stabalizer i'm currently on and seem to be doing okay on it. However, i don't know anything about it -- which is VERY unlike me, but i was placed on it while i was pretty much out of it, so to speak and have yet to do any research on it.

Lexapro is another, which my dad and other i've known have used/use. I tried it also and think it should not be given to bipolar II's because of the fatigue side-affect many get with it (as we struggle with fatigue enough as it is).

???(oh shoot, i can't remember the name of it) --- Is another that many like and it has very minimal side-affects....some say none at all. I thought it was a good one for me too and don't even remember why i let my doctor change me, but it did cause my acne to worsen as the only side-affect i had. When I think of the name of it....i'll come back and post it.

I've yet to hear of the Gabitril.

Welcome to our forum and best of luck during this difficult time. Pedagague is very knowledgeable about meds and things so i'd suggest hanging in a bit longer and seeing if the Lithium takes hold. It does sound to me like she's definetly in a manic episode from being off the Seraquel and not yet stabalized on the Lithium yet.

Cheers,
Jenna

02-10-2008, 07:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
shutterbug A picture's worth a 1000 words Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With any luck, I'm lost in a view finder Posts: 2,947 Blog Entries: 5	Lobo, 1. Check around in your community by calling your state NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) office....the number or web site is listed in my signature to see what is available for you for free. I know that i personally was able to find a Friends and Family of Bipolars group i could attend weekly at a local church. It REALLY helps to talk with others going through the same things. 2. Since your daughter is dual diagnosis with also having the substance abuse issues (as a large percentage of bipolars do)...it is SO very important for her to get stabalized. And luckily bipolar I is much easier to treat than bipolar II (which is what my diagnosis is). 3. Many bipolar I's do very, very well on Lithium. It probably scares you because you've been told that regular blood tests are needed to ensure the salt levels don't build up in her system to a dangerous level or anything, but Lithium is the oldest mood stabalizer around. It was the first one ever found to help bipolars. I tried it myself as my 3rd or 4th mood stabalizer go-round and either my doc started me on too high a dose or i was VERY allergic to it -- as it made me so insanely ill that i couldn't sit or stand up with out throwing up (or dry heaving) and after several days of that crap i was about ready to go to the emergency room. Many have and continue to do VERY well on Lithium....including actress Patty Duke, who is also bipolar I and dual diagnosis with alcoholism. Actually, there are a TON of famous people with bipolar disorder and also substance abusers. I highly recommend reading her book called, "A Brilliant Maddness." It was the first book about bipolar disorder I read and the best one of the subsequent 100s. It alternates chapters between her telling her own story and then the next chapter is more "informational" like as it is written by her own psychologist and gives more fact type stuff about the illness. Depakote was the first one i was put on 4 years ago and it also requires regular blood tests. Topamax is the mood stabalizer i'm currently on and seem to be doing okay on it. However, i don't know anything about it -- which is VERY unlike me, but i was placed on it while i was pretty much out of it, so to speak and have yet to do any research on it. Lexapro is another, which my dad and other i've known have used/use. I tried it also and think it should not be given to bipolar II's because of the fatigue side-affect many get with it (as we struggle with fatigue enough as it is). ???(oh shoot, i can't remember the name of it) --- Is another that many like and it has very minimal side-affects....some say none at all. I thought it was a good one for me too and don't even remember why i let my doctor change me, but it did cause my acne to worsen as the only side-affect i had. When I think of the name of it....i'll come back and post it. I've yet to hear of the Gabitril. Welcome to our forum and best of luck during this difficult time. Pedagague is very knowledgeable about meds and things so i'd suggest hanging in a bit longer and seeing if the Lithium takes hold. It does sound to me like she's definetly in a manic episode from being off the Seraquel and not yet stabalized on the Lithium yet. Cheers, Jenna __________________ I'M FINE!! Fanatically Insecure Neuratic & Emotional Bipolar/Depression support: 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).