Posted by Adam on September 27, 1999, at 20:55:21
In reply to lithium, posted by bob on September 25, 1999, at 18:14:06
I agree, mostly, with what people have been saying here, but I thought I
would share a couple of thoughts...There are a lot of new treatments out there for BD, with fewer side effects,
etc., but lithium is generally very reliable and works quickly to control mania.
It may be that bob's daughter was experiencing a particularly bad manic
episode, and thought lithium is pretty old school, it's got the best track
record, I think. Perhaps when she's stabilized she could try something else.The use of Paxil in combo. is pretty odd, unless her depression is quite severe.
Paxil seems to be one of the least desireable SSRIs as far as side effects go,
but anecdotally it seems to be the most potent serotinergic next to chlomipramine,
which has particulary noxious side effects, but is also one of the best
antidepressants out there next to the MAOIs.I've heard of some people who are bipolar doing super well on lithium+nardil or
marplan. The side effects can be truly awful, but, again, it can be very
effective. Given what are perhaps a nearly infinite number of possible drug
combinations, you can spend a whole lot of time trying to find what works, and
suffer greatly in the interim. Many of the newer drugs look great on paper,
and their relatively mild side effects and adversity make them attractive, but
what I think many good pdocs know is that the older, dirtier interventions
sometimes simply work better, more reliably, and for more people than anything
else. If time is of the essence, such choices are not irrational ones.> My 20 year old daughter has been diagnoised with bipolar disorder, and has been given lithium and paxil. I am concerned with the rush to medication and the type. I'm new to this-any advice?
poster:Adam
thread:12039
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/12156.html