Comments on: The bipolar child: myth or reality?

By: Princess

Princess — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:22:54 +0000

I was put on medication at age 7 and I was put on cocktails of antidepressants antipsychotics, stimulants, a mood stabolizer and a benzodiazepines for generalized anxiety disorder and ADD with some OCD. I was prescribed
Prozac, Risperdal, Seroquel, Effexor, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Adderall, Abilify, Klonopin, Celexa, Cylert, Lexapro, Concerta, Lamictal, Luvox, Ativan, Zoloft, Geodon, Buspar, Clonidine and much more as a child, pre-teen and teenager. I was on Prozac and Ritalin at the age of 7 and I was on Risperdal, an antipsychotic, by the time I was 14. I was always on a cocktail which usually cosnisted of a stimulant, an amphetamine, an antidepressant, an antipsychotic, a mood stabolizer and a benzodiazepine. Goign on psyche meds during puberty is very detrimental. When I was 14, an adolescent, the Risperdal made me stop getting my period and permanately messed up my menstrual cycle. It’s been over seven years since I’ve been off Risperdal and my menstrual cycle was damaged, I can go nine months without getting my period at times. When I finally got off medication it was very hard because I had been so used to drugs by age 7, but I got off all meds. I later became anorexic, too. Now I’m as skinny as I was back when I was in middle school and on a lot of stimulants and amphetamines, before the Risperdal. Being on psyche meds as a child, a pre-teen and a teenager affected my mind a lot, now I’ve been off medication for awhile and things are so different.

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:55:54 +0000

There has been a remarkable increase in the awareness of bipolar disorder recently. This is partly due to pharmaceutical/academic campaigns such as the infamous Lilly campaign much maligned by the likes of David Healy in the UK, but it is also due I think to a genuine desire by psychiatrists and sufferers alike to blow away the stigma and misunderstanding associated with the label of BPD. The recent television documentary on the subject presented by the commedian Stephen Fry, in which he discusses in great detail his own illness, had a great impact on awareness in the UK.

As a researcher into bipolar disorder in the pharmaceutical industry I have listened to many discussions about “early onset” bipolar disorder. I have never heard comments that might justify the charge of disease mongering, but I have myself considered whether there might be a prodromal state of bipolar disorder that might be treated in order to prevent the emergence of the full blown disorder. For example, if a child’s family history suggests that he or she is at risk of BPD, then would it be worthwhile considering lifestyle changes or career counseling to avoid the stressors that can precipitate the illness? Easier said than done! However, I do agree that medication would probably not be the best approach… yet. The problem is that we know so little about the aetiology and development of BPD, and given the plasticity of a child’s brain we risk alot giving medications that we know can alter brain chemistry and function. We’ve got a very long way to go with BPD; however, I’m hopefull that we are making some progress. There certainly needs to be more informed debate on the subject of childhood mental illness, because if the adult disorder does arise from changes occuring during adolescence or earlier then there may be a much better chance of applying a correctional treatment at that stage.

By: Annette

Annette — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:36:29 +0000

Let me say I really don’t know the answer to this one, I can only follow my instincts, experience and my doctor, who I like.

He believes, as I think I do, that classic onset of BP is around 17-20.

Even though I had multiple manic episodes ending in psychosis during those years and a bit beyond, I was so unaware of mental health, I chalked it up to youthful personal nuttiness.

Personally, I’m glad I never took a mental health med until I was 36, was never classified or labled.

However, I will end again, with this is just my experience and I know next to nothing about medicine. I do find it sad kids are medicated. I also find it sad there are a million sex workers under the age of 16 worldwide. I just don’t know the answers.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:31:05 +0000

“I cannot imagine how my growth–both physical and mental–would have been compromised had I been put on OCD meds as a 9-year-old.” At age 11, I started seeing a psychiatrist four times a week who prescribed Thorazine for my OCD. He continued to increase the dosage without associating the photosensitivity I experienced with the medication he prescribed. Eventually, the photosensitivity became so severe that I largely ceased going outside. My inability to engage in normal childhood outdoor activities caused me to dissipate my energy in my family’s apartment. This led, in part, to my placement in residential treatment where I spent the next three years.