What does it mean when stimulants stop working and/or start causing anxiety or moodiness? Stimulants usually have a stronger effect when they are first started...
Bipolar Disorder
How can I prevent recurrence of depression and what do I do if the depression does come back?
Depression runs in my family and I've been on the same medicine for a while with no episodes of depression. About two weeks ago I...
My 15 year old daughter has been put on Risperdal to "glue" her thoughts. She is severely depressed and worries constantly. Her doctor added Lexapro to the Risperdal. How do we know if the Lexapro is working or just helping the side-effects of Risperdal?
I don't use Risperdal because of the increased risk of neurological side-effects, and increased prolactin interfering with hormones, including estrogen. Lexapro is good for anxiety,...
I need information on Geodon. Is it anti-anxiety or mostly an antidepressant? My doctor wants to put me on it but I am worried about side-effects.
Geodon is a medication with a lot of issues so that it is not one of my first choices. It is a good antimanic mood...
I am bipolar two and when I started taking Lamictal it worked great. But it may have caused vasculitis of my skin. I had acne bumps all over my legs and also encountered a "break out" on my face.
Serious adverse rashes can occur with Lamictil but it is rare. Most reactions are mild - they go away when the Lamictal is stopped and many...
My daughter is taking Depakene and now is going to shift to Lamictal. I am so worried because of the side effects. She is 22 years old.
Depakene even in the best form, Depakote ER, can have adverse effects on hormones - it would be one of my last choices. Lamictal is...
How To Take Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) is formally classified as an anticonvulsant drug. However, it has been used for many years for migraines and pain. It is...
Postpartum Psychosis: The Science and the Seeds of Tragedy for Andrea Yates and Family
What do we know about the cause of postpartum psychosis? Hormones, especially estrogen, have a significant effect on mood. Estrogen raises serotonin. When estrogen drops...
Can Stress Trigger Bipolar Disorder?
Question: Can a series of major stress over a period of 3-4 years cause a person to become bipolar? -- Pat P. Answer: If one...
Who Panicked … Rigoberto Alpizar or the air marshals?
It's frustrating trying to figure out what happened in the Miami airport this Wednesday. For the first time in U.S. history, a passenger was gunned...