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Mother bipolar with symptoms
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Mother bipolar with symptoms, daughter suffering Q: I AM ITALIAN, I FOUND YR. SITE AND I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING . MY MOTHER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER .SHE IS 66 AND SINCE MY FATHER'S DEATH (2 YEARS AGO) THINGS ARE WORSENING . SHE REFUSES ANY CURE, THE DOCTOR WE VISITED SUGGESTED US TO CONTINUE WITH "IMPROMEN" MEDICATION. SINCE 3 MONTHS WE DO NOT SEE IMPROVEMENT. SHE LIVES ALONE, IT SEEMS NOT TO SLEEP SO MUCH, SHE SPENDS MORE MONEY THAN USUALLY, SHE IS OFTEN IRRITABLE, SHE SENDS LOTS OF GREETING CARDS. I AM REJECTING HER, I CAN NOT SUPPORT THIS ... WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST ? THANK YOU DONA Dear Dona -- In the U.S. we use a medication called valproate; the trade name here is Depakote, which is a slow-release version that really helps people tolerate the medication (meaning that, if you were to try to find this medication, you should look for the slow-release version). Older people, in your mother's age range, seem to do particularly well on this medication, especially when they are agitated. Agitation can occur in older age folks for numerous reasons, not just "bipolar" -- yet despite arising from different causes, it can respond to the same medication. In other words, one does not have to have a certain understanding of why the symptom is present -- this medication will still often work). Another of her symptoms you mention that makes this medication a good choice is her spending pattern.
I'm not sure what that "impromen" is. Here we use a medication called imipramine, which is an antidepressant medication known to make bipolar disorder worse quite often. If your mother's medication is indeed our imipramine, then that would be another change to consider -- stopping that medication gradually, over at least several weeks, and starting a medication from the group that we call "mood stabilizers" -- as I hope was apparent from the website you read. Good luck!
Dr. Phelps |