Posted by bleauberry on October 25, 2009, at 6:53:53
In reply to Initial treatment for 1st time bipolar depression, posted by psych chat on October 24, 2009, at 23:35:37
I don't hold much faith in the so-called labels of mental illnesses since: 1)Most of them overlap somewhat, 2)Subjective...will vary from doctor to doctor, 3)Are just names for idiopathic clusters of symptoms that can respond to a wide variety of agents, 4)Provides only basic ideas for a starting point.
I don't see the bipolar component in your post. I'm not sure where that conclusion came from. Assuming it is true, then...
1. Lithium orotate from online or health food stores for mood stability, brain neuron protection and rejuvenation. Magnesium supplementation of at least small to modest doses is a good idea, as long as it doesn't worsen the depression.
2. Rhodiola Rosea (either the Ameriden brand or the Mind body Spirit brand) for the depressive symptoms.
3. Get the B vitamins separately, not a complex with all of them, and start experimenting with each. They can make a huge difference in many people. At the very least, get some B complex. Individual ones are better though, so you can judge what is doing what. Most potential likely from B6, B12, Niacin, Folate.
Is he still on ADHD meds? If not, his brain may be lacking in the chemicals that those meds were supporting, which would call for supplementation with Tyrosine 150mg to 1000mg, if the Rhodiola alone didn't do the job. If he is still on them, then he may need 5htp instead, 10mg to 100mg.
This will save you a ton of money and keep you out of the expensive doctor/meds roller coaster ride. I think it makes sense to avoid experimental big guns if you don't need tham. At this point, you don't know if you need them. So it would be foolish, in my mind, to go straight to them without trying easier, cheaper, healthier things first.
Whatever you do...doctors or not...will be experimental. There are no surefire foolproof methods to fix any psychiatric diagnosis. It is experimental. I mentioned Rhodiola because it has a large body of evidence supporting it, much stronger than the popular St Johns Wort. (which by the way, in combination with the lithium and lemon balm, would be another worthy consideration)
However, this is important. If he reaches a point of suicidal thoughts, anything be tried up to that point needs to take a back seat while he is brought to prompt medical attention, either a doctor or the emergency room. If you try the best you can with the above suggestions and they fail...which I doubt they have a strong chance of failing...then, and only then, turn to the more expensive yet equally experimental world of psychiatry medications.
While immediate symptom control is the present goal, you kind of have to look back in history to where these symptoms started and try to ask, "What happened then?" "What changed?" "Why did these symptoms begin at that time?" There is a reason. It wasn't the moon or the tides. Do you live near ticks? Did he have amalgam fillings installed in his teeth? Detective work. What changed between the 7th grade and the 8th grade? Very important question.
poster:bleauberry
thread:922320
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091021/msgs/922342.html