My 17 year old grandaughter was diagnosed bipolar six months ago.?

Question

Since starting the two antidepressants she is worse, she bought 5 xanax at school wednesday, took them all, and mixed with her other prescribed meds, ended up in the ER, stomach pumped, the whole bit, there was a police officer posted at her door, they said they have her on suicide watch.
Today she was transferred to a psych hospital, she told her dad she may try again, she's really developed an attitude with her parents, she's acting very nonchalant about it, and expressing no fear or remorse about what she did, plus the week before she drank beer with her meds when out with a friend, and thats also a no no. I pray she survives this, and all her medication adjustments, I don't know anything about bi-polar and with this sudden onset with her, We don't know what to think, and are feeling pretty desperate. Whats making her act so out of character, I just don't get it, I've read the depression web sites, and I'm still confused, any one else with this experience, How did it work out??????

Answer 1

Hi I know its very hard to watch a loved one going through all of this kind of thing and not knowing what you can do but sit back and watch. I am glad that she is in hospital as right now that's the best place for her. Listen to give you a little reassurance I am 26 nearly 27 years old and have been there and done what your granddaughter is doing. I have bipolar and although I made some massive mistakes along the way I did get through it and turned pretty much OK. I now have a great hubby and 4 lovely children one of which also has a mood disorder. This disorder is not just about being depressed its also about being manic you need to be reading about bipolar disorder not depression as although a person with bipolar disorder has episodes of depression they also have episodes of mania or hyper-mania. I have put a link to a group on the bottom for you its for all relatives and care givers of people that have bipolar and they will be able to help you through anything that comes along. Know this that your not alone, that things can get better, and that what she does is in most things is the disorder and not the true her. take care good luck

Answer 2

If she's bipolar she shouldn't be on an anti-depressant without taking a mood stablizer as well. That could be part of the problem. She appears to have no remorse probably because she doesn't want to face the reality of what she did. She's probably scared herself and doesn't know what to do about it. I was diagnosed bipolar at 19 it took a couple years to get on the right meds, but I survived it. The fact that she's in the hospital is a good start. It's scary to lose control like she did. In my experience, I could logically know something was bad, but at the time it'll sound like a great idea. The consequences can be more than we can handle sometimes.

Answer 3

I have a friend who is bi-polar. It basically means the person has very high "highs" and extremely low "lows". They can be as happy as a playing child one day and the next day be ready to jump off a bridge, or take a handful of pills. It's caused by a chemical imbalance that the medication is supposed to regulate. Sounds to me like maybe your granddaughter needs to be in the psych hospital and kept under watch until they get her medication regulated properly so your granddaughter can feel more "normal". It might take a little while to find out what medicines will work properly for her. Your granddaughter might need to see a different doctor too. A second opinion is always a great idea. I hope this helps. God bless.

Answer 4

Hi. My name is Sarah and I am a bipolar person - I understand your concern and distress.

Antidepressants are not effective medications for bipolar people - this has been a controversy for years, and new evidence was published just yesterday that antidepressants are unlikely to help with bipolar but can worsen the condition.

What bipolar need are mood stabilizers such as lithium.

Depression is a different condition. What you need is info on bipolar.

I have included some links below. In the 1st link for Bipolar Blog, scroll down until you get to the headline "Aug 30, 2007, STEP-BD reseach shows antidepressants of little value in bipolar". The 2nd link has some good info on bipolar suicides. You can also read up on lithium.


My prayers will be with you and your granddaughter. All I can tell you is that taking lithium and stopping antidepressants saved my life. Hang in there - things will get better.

Best wishes, Sarah

Answer 5

I know it makes no sense but some of the meds out there have the side effects that you are trying to treat. For example, you take meds for aggressions and one of the side effect is increased aggression. With anit depressants the risk of suicide can be increased in the beginning because the drug starts working so your head is more clear, while you're still depresst and deal with suicide thoughts. So you actually are more able to commit suicide. Before you take anti depressants you are so depressed and in your own world that you are usually not able to commit suicide because you're too depressed. I know it sounds complicated and it's hard to explain. But the fact is that everyone who starts on new mental drugs, specially for depression, needs to be monitored closely for a while until the meds actually start working right. (which is around 3 weeks)

Answer 6

Im bi polar II which means I don't have highs to the level bi polar I has them. I become more hyper, but I have bad depressions and alsorts of other things mixed in.

I am fast cyling which is hell as i can at times go throught numerous different cycles in the same day week etc. As others had said there is more than just depression that goes with this. The bad behaviour that you are concerned about is one of them. I get real bad anger bouts which are physicall draining and intense.

About three weeks back I was sat on top of a multi story car parking intending to through myself off. Now I've hyper and yesterday I had a scare and this made me more hyper. I talked none stop without taken a breath(fast talking another symptom) and I have not been to bed since I got up yesterday morning. That makes it currently 39 1/2 hours and I'm still not tired. Not even tablets that normally helped me sleep did anything last night.

I can't go into details here it would be a novel, but I've beem out of contoll is bouts since March this year and I am awaiting to see if there is going to be any consequences of that. It did not involve sex or criminal activity I will say that.

So the point is, it's not your grandduaghter that is doing these things it's her illness. I refere to mine as 'it'. It wanted me to killmyself etc, because when I'm fine I don't want to do these things and they are totally out of charecter for me. Luckily you know about it early. I've had it six years and I'm still searching for the right help.

Your clearly care about her greatly as you posted on here to help her. Most of us, lissicares especially so, will try to give you information that we know or you can just unburden yourself of your worries. There are some nasty ones that answer, you'll learn who they are and then block them. It's invaluable at times of need and support.

I sincerely hope it all goes well for you and she gets the help that she needs. She lucky to have you as so many are dealing with such things alone.

Answer 7

Yes, when I was on antidepressants I tried to commit suicide and went out drinking as well. I took them for 6 months, so that 3 week thing = no more bad reaction, YEA RIGHT!!! I had a bad reaction to my meds that lead to this strange sort of depression. It wasn't quite the tired, bored, numb depression that is most common or most commonly described, but an over excited depression or perhaps dysphoria that came with insomnia, impulsivity, a mad sex drive and on and on. It may be considered a 'mixed state' but I didn't stick around long enough in treatment to find out.

Her lack of fear or remorse for or on any her behaviors may be a result of this sort of state. She doesn't care because she's so upset that these things don't matter. She just wants it all to be over with and has so much energy she can't do anything, but be led by this energy. She's not in control of her life, if she's anything like I was. It was like an undertoe had caught hold of me and as much as I may have wanted to swim away, I couldn't. This sort of undertoe takes over with 'regular' depression as well as these sort of weird happy states I get into too. Maybe thats bipolar, maybe not, but like I said I didn't stick around in therapy long enough to find out.

I do know that people who suffer from bipolar disorder typically react poorly to antidepressant medications without taking a mood stabilizer or even sometimes with a mood stabilizer. Do ask her doctor about it or if you're not her legal guardian get someone to talk to her doc about it.

Some times, especially with teenagers and children, the medication is no good, but parents and doctors have a hard time listening. If she ever tells you, "I don't want these meds." or something of the sort, don't write it off as a simple "I don't want to have to take meds." thing, but dig deeper. Ask her why she doesn't want these meds, if they're causing problems etc.

Answer 8

Depression is only one side of the Bi-polar disorder equation. Do a web search on Bi-polar disorder and get the facts. It is controllable with counseling and medication, but it takes dedication on the part of the patient.

Answer 9

Hey I bet you she is fooling you and the doctors.
Get the child to a REHAB PROGRAM and get her off all drugs.
No Doctor can make a good evaluation of a patients health or needs if they are on a drug.
You don't know if she was using a drug to get the BI POLAR DRUGS so she can be a legal drug addict.
DRY HER OUT then see a doctor.

Answer 10

Bipolar aka as manic depression is a disorder that affects everyone involved with the person. Someone suffering from bipolar swings between euphoria (mania) and depression. I dated someone who was a "rapid cycler" and it was a tough road. I would suggest that you research bipolar instead of depression websites. Hopefully they will get her meds straightened out and she will remain on them. (Many don't).

http://www.bipolar.com/