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Bipolar Disorder/Drugs that treat Bi-polarism

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Expert: - 7/4/2008


Question
I have a friend who just turned 80 in January.  She has been taking an anti-Alzheimer's drug, and I'm sorry I don't know which one it is.  She recently, the end of April, had a massive brain hemorrhage at her home, fell and bumped the left side of her head over her left eye and lay on the floor in a state of semi-consciousness until discovered by her neighbors which was probably a few hours later as they had tried to call her earlier in the day.  The result was that she was paralyzed on her left side and was completely out of it.  Now she is awake and at times can remember a story if you help her along, but most of the time she talks to her deceased mother and father and just rambles on, or shouts and screams at people when they move her.  She has regained movement of her left side.  She is being fed by a feeding tube in her stomach.  (I also want to mention at this point that she had a mini stroke in October of last year.)  For the last 3 1/2 weeks they have been giving her the following drugs:  Risperdal, Depakote and Depakote sprinkles, Seroquel, and Trazodone.  She is not getting any better.  She still gets very agitated, but it seems since she began taking the drugs she has become more out of it and sleeps more than before.  Her husband is 85 and just recovering from his third back surgery and pretty much does whatever they tell him.  Any help or advice regarding the drugs prescribed would be very helpful.  thank you.

Answer
Dear Stephanie,

I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Unfortunately I cannot give you any advice about the drugs that she is given because this is this is outside my expertise. The best is to look up information about the medication by google searching for them.

I think having regard to her condition it is best to, leave treatment in the hands of her doctors.

I am sorry if I have not been very helpful.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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