Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice Hansen
I am interested in talking to other parents who have teens with substance abuse and Bipolar Disorder. We have been seeing a psyciatrist and a therapist for awhile. They first were treating her for depression and substance abuse problems. She has been in 4 treatment centers and has gone to NA alot too. That helps some...she is off the meth now. It seems the Effexor made the mania worse. What I think is the plan is to wean her from the effexor and put her on mood stabilizers. The next appointment with the psych is 10-20. I am interested in hearing from bipolars too on your experiance with your parents and the meds. Thanks.
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Hi,
Good that she is in NA and off the meth. Street drugs mess up any effort to get a grip on the bipolar.
Does the pdoc have a good plan for coming off the Effexor? I have heard that some people need help stopping this drug.
As soon as she gets on a mood stabilzer she will feel better.
Of course, then she will have to pay attention to side effects and symptoms so that she can report to the pdoc. Also, so that she can have some control over her disorder and the treatments for it.
Have you already checked with
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation:
www.bpkids.org A trusted source of vital information on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, resources at your fingertips, and a network of parents and experts.
Also
www.nami.org -- local meetings in your twon -- mostly for family members
Here is an on-line mood chart
http://moodtracker.com/
You can goole "mood chart" to find others that you print out.
Your daughter might benefit from group meetings.
Ask the therapist or pyschiatrist about who meets in your area
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
1000 patient support groups acrosst the country.
www.dbsalliance.org
Information about mood stabilzers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depres...tabilizers.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/
Good luck.
Mari