I have a friend who is 25 years old and she suffers from bipolar. The doctor wants her to take mood stabilizers which are a form of anti-psychotic drug. I don't trust many doctors because many drug companies cater to these doctors and treat them with expensive dinners and gifts. In addition, the the drugs usually have side effects such as weight gain or harm the liver. This girl has more depressive episodes than manic but I feel the L-theanine could calm her down then. Also, she knows she will 'get it' from her dad if she acts up really bad. Her dad still believes in spanking her and it seems to be effective in keeping her from acting up too much. I figure the L-dopa and L-tryptophan can help give her a boost in motivation and happiness during the depressive state. Any advice on what dosages to take or am I way off base here?
2007-07-07 13:10:01 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Sandy, you are a strange one...... Somehow, your questions about spanking make me regret my own fetish.
2007-07-10 16:54:07 · answer #1 · answered by baka_otaku30 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's difficult, because you don't know what exactly her problem is. If she does not make enough neurotransmitters, NT precursors may help. However, if certain recepotor sites need to be blocked, or she has a problem with excessive reuptake of NT's, then she will continue to have the same problems.
Yes, many drugs have side effects. Sorry, but that's life. Bipolar has many "side effects" as well. She may find a medicine that can help her with her affect and have little to no side effects, it's trial and error. Eventually, someone is going to have to make a decision, what is more important...being at a better level of functioning and risking some side effects, or maybe not being able to roll out of bed on most days, but being side effect free!
If she is concerned about weight gain, I would not recommend Lithium or Depakote, or many of the antipsychotics (although Geodon & Abilify may or may not cause weight gain).
Any antidepressive effects (whether from precursors or medications) may precipitate mania. That is why combined therapy is highly important.
2007-07-07 13:21:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
L-tryptophan can only affect you mildly. It cannot cause schizophrenia unless you were predisposed to the disease and recieved impossibly large amounts of the amino acid. Why don't you want to take 50-HTP? It helped me a little in my depression. Not enough to be a final solution, but I did notice a lift as I used it in conjunction with heliotherapy (light therapy) to treat SAD(seasonal affective disorder)-like symptoms. Rule of psychology - Correlation does not equal Causation. If you want tryptophan, eat Thanksgiving dinner. Have you noticed everyone sleeping after dinner, after they start to watch the game? That's tryptophan from the turkey(supposedly). Along with overeating. And vacation. And higher stress levels with extended family around. Okay, so maybe tryptophan has nothing to do with the sleeping. We like to make connections sometimes.
2016-04-01 02:26:25 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you ARE way off-base with this one, my dear. First of all, mood stabilizers are NOT antipsychotics; they typically are anticonvulsants. Second, a little weight gain sure beats cycling into a depressive, manic, or mixed state, especially if there are consequences like you describe her dad as perpetrating (who, by the way, needs to be locked up for abusing a mentally ill child who sometimes can't help her behavior). Part of the problem with so-called "motivation boosters" is that they push a patient into mania. I'm sure my psychiatrist gets plenty from the drug companies, but it makes zero difference to me. He is able to keep me stable with the meds he's prescribed, and that is the bottom line, isn't it?
2007-07-07 14:06:25 · answer #4 · answered by boogeywoogy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, my advice to you is not to play doctor with this. My husband has Bipolar Disorder, and he needs his doctors. One is the chemical wizard who adjusts his meds as needed. The other is for counseling. Why would you prescribe something as a layperson for a person with a serious medical condition?
Get your head out of that, and don't worry about the side effects, which the doctor can manage as well. Think of her true best interests!
As for the spanking of a 25-year-old, this is wrong. Can you help her get away from that environment? If you look at it legally, that spanking is assault and punishable under the law.
2007-07-07 13:17:58 · answer #5 · answered by CarlisleGirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are trying to ask a stupid question about spanking females wrapped around a depression dilema. Stop it.
2007-07-07 13:20:04 · answer #6 · answered by Senator D*L*P™ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
nope sorry sweetheart
2007-07-07 16:15:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
hey sandstorm. switching catagories are you?
2007-07-07 13:29:50 · answer #8 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋