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Bipolar Disorder/why does it take two more medications?

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Expert: - 4/8/2009


Question
Once again, I respect your knowledge..my son has bipolar dis. and for 20 years he only took 800 mg Tegretol/day and
did well.  After a manic episode two years ago, every time
the dr. tries to lower his meds, he hears voices..now taking 800 mg Tegretol, 400 mg Seroquel and 400 mg Lithium.
Last two months, the Seroquel was dropped to 300 mg/day with no success.  Why does he need so much medication, when
Tegretol alone worked so well for him for years?  Thank you  

Answer
Hi, Frances . . .

Over a period of time people's psychiatric disorders may change. Individuals who only had hallucinations when in a severe manic episode may start to have such hallucinations between major episodes. If that happens, antipsychotic medications, such as Seroquel, may be necessary to keep the hallucinations (and/or Delusions) under good control.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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Ivan Goldberg, M.D.

Expertise

I am a psychiatrist/psychopharmacologist with many years of expereince in treating individuals with depressions, manic-depression (Bipolar Disorder), other mood disorders,. I am especially interested in the psychopharmacologic treatment of individuals with so called "treatment-resistant" syndromes.

Experience

I have been on the staff of the National Institute of Mental Health, Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. I am currently in full-time private practice in New York City.

A.B. Johns Hopkins University
M.D. N.Y.U. College of Medicine

I am the creator of Depression Central:http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html

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