Question:

Thanks for the information.I got a lot out of the article.It not mention the newer bipolar meds. Such as Lamictal and Neurotin.But I realize they have not been approved by the FDA                                                                         Thanks,Still Bipolar Susan.        

Response:

Great article, Keith – thanks! BiPolarGnu  AKA  Richard

| >Two-thirds of bipolar episodes begin with depression; whenever you see a person who is depressed, you should ask | >yourself: ‘Is this person going to be bipolar?’ | | http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/stanley/bipolar2.htm | | This will answer many questions for newbies and lend new perspectives for the | oldies. | | >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Response:

Keith: Thanks for the reminder on the Stanley papers. I had reviewed them earlier this summer and I read some of this, but probably should print the whole thing out for future reference. First, it’s amazing to me personally that so many pdocs dx depression from the get-go when both the APA and the Stanley Center adamantly insist the opposite, i.e, first suspect bipolar disorder in patients presenting as "depressed". If a couple of my other pdocs had been up to speed on some of this, it probably would’ve saved me a whole lot of time and anguish. Secondly, Jim "You used me like an ashtray heart, hid me behind the curtain, waited for me to go out…" Captain Beefheart, "Ashtray Heart"

Response:

Keith: Thanks for the reminder on the Stanley papers. I had reviewed them earlier this summer and I read some of this, but probably should print the whole thing out for future reference. First, it’s amazing to me personally that so many pdocs dx depression from the get-go when both the APA and the Stanley Center adamantly insist the opposite, i.e, first suspect bipolar disorder in patients presenting as "depressed". If a couple of my other pdocs had been up to speed on some of this, it probably would’ve saved me a whole lot of time and anguish. Secondly, Jan Fawcett’s comments on calcium channel blockers piqued my interest, as my pdoc just prescribed a CCB (Nifedipine?) as a safeguard against me vapor-locking due to a bad MAOI reaction. Any more on them being used as MSs?  I’m also tempted to ask the pdoc to try me on lithium…I’ve been depakote-free for over a month now. My first experience with lithium probably doesn’t count, as I was taking so damn many pmeds at the time and was not prepared for any of the side efx I encountered. Thirdly, isn’t it interesting that MAOIs are being used heavily again? Some of the Stanley folk seem to be saying that MAOIs should be used as a first-line antidepressant, rather than the SSRIs which seemed to be the norm in the past 6 years or so. Jim "You used me like an ashtray heart, hid me behind the curtain, waited for me to go out…" Captain Beefheart, "Ashtray Heart" Jim "You used me like an ashtray heart, hid me behind the curtain, waited for me to go out…" Captain Beefheart, "Ashtray Heart"

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