Since I occasionally work in a hospital, I often run across patients with Bipolar Disorder that are also prescribed Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many patients I encounter are unaware that Adderall is highly prone to induce mania and that it is dangerous to take if you have Bipolar Disorder. Here's a video of this topic or you can skip it and read the content … [Read more...]
Bipolar Disorder: A Complicated Disease
If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, chances are you have a lot of questions. Even if you have been aware of your diagnosis for some time, there are some things that you may not know or understand about the disorder. This article will explain important things you need to know about bipolar disorder. What is Bipolar Disorder (BD)? Bipolar Disorder, … [Read more...]
Is Lithium Still The Best Medicine for Bipolar Disorder?
Patients ask me all the time if lithium is still the best medicine for Bipolar Disorder even though it has been around almost 100 years. The short answer is yes lithium is still the best single medication, but now we have more good medications if a patient doesn't tolerate lithium and to use in combination with lithium to help it work better. The long answer is that we now have better … [Read more...]
Managing Bipolar Disorder with Winter Depression
It is common to have Bipolar Disorder with winter depression where people are more depressed in the fall and winter, but manic in the spring and summer. This seasonal pattern is most pronounced in people with Bipolar Disorder Type II (mild to moderate mania with severe depressive episodes), but people with Type I Bipolar Disorder (severe mania and severe depression) can develop a seasonal … [Read more...]