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About Ivan Goldberg, M.D.
(Top Expert on this page)

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

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Mental Health > Bipolar Disorder

Questions Answered By Expert Ivan Goldberg, M.D.
In Category Bipolar Disorder

Subject	Date Asked

Bipolar Disorder and Self-Destructive Behavior	8/9/2008
Q: I am diagnosed BPII w/ rapid cycling and dually dx'd with Substance Abuse. I have a history of Self ... A: . . DBT = Dialectical behavior Therapy. Although ut is promoted as a therapy for people with ...
Confronting my father with his illness	8/9/2008
Q: Goldberg, I am not sure where to turn to and was surfing the web for treatment facilities and came ... A: Carter . . . The situation you describe is essentially a hopeless one. Unless your father is ...
Bipolar Disorder and Self-Destructive Behavior	8/8/2008
Q: I am diagnosed BPII w/ rapid cycling and dually dx'd with Substance Abuse. I have a history of Self ... A: . . While I cannot give personal medical advice I can tell you when treating people with a history ...
Bipolar Predisposition	8/6/2008
Q: My mother and 2 of my brother's have been diagnosed with bipolar. My husband has recently been ... A: Melanie . . . While there have been many studies of the genetics of bipolar disorder disorder I ...
BiPolarism and Infedelity	8/3/2008
Q: Three days ago, my fiancee to Washington DC (to go to a 1-year grad program) and I live in Philly- ... A: Elizabeth . . . One of the biggest problems with bipolar disorder is impulsive behavior. Impulsive ...
bipolar and hysterectomy	7/28/2008
Q: I am 43 and have bipolar i w psychosis. i need to have a laproscopic hysterectomy but have been told ... A: . . Most of my patients who have had psychotic bipolar episodes have done well following surgery. I ...
daughter	7/23/2008
Q: My daughter recently left a 45 day treatment facility for eating disorders. She is bipolar and has ... A: Lisa . . . The best psychiatric care is available through the departments of psychiatry of medical ...
over for bipolar or proper treatment?	7/22/2008
Q: 5 days ago my brother-in-law started talking very fast and saying and doing strange things. He was ... A: Kathleen . . . Major tranquilizers (neuroleptics) are often prescribed in hospitals as a treatment ...
wellbutrin	7/21/2008
Q: , Is it OK to use wellbutrin that expired in Oct, 2007? Thank ... A: Dionne . . . While I would never suggest to one of my patients that they take medication that has ...
Teen son needs alternative mood stabilizer	7/20/2008
Q: My son will be 17 in a few days. He was diagnosed and treated for juvenile onset BP at age 11. The ... A: There are many mood stabilizers that are useful when it comes to treating people with bipolar ...
Suffering from Bipolar II	7/17/2008
Q: I have been suffering with Bipolar II for 5 yrs - I am 25 yrs old. I may have had it at a younger ... A: While I am not allowed to give personal medical advice I can say something in general about the ...
bipolar child lost a sibling	7/14/2008
Q: My 15 year old daughter just lost her big brother she is manic most of the days and i really do not ... A: . . I suspect that my reply will disappoint you again. There is no simple solution to the ...
bipolar child lost a sibling	7/14/2008
Q: My 15 year old daughter just lost her big brother she is manic most of the days and i really do not ... A: . . I am sorry to hear of the death of your son. The loss of a relative is handled differently by ...
Bipolar & Pregnant	7/13/2008
Q: , I am 6 weeks pregnant diagnosed with Severe Depression,Bipolar, and PTSD. I was taking Effexor XR ... A: Keasha . . . Going through a pregnancy when one has been taking psychiatric medications is ...
injection of a long-acting antipsychotic medication.	7/8/2008
Q: How long is this injection effective? Where can I find out more info on this? My daughter is 21 ... A: Jamie . . . Injectable long-acting antipsychotic medications are used to treat people with ...
Bipolar Sister	7/7/2008
Q: My sister is 31 years old and is bipolar. Even with medication and therapy she is getting more out ... A: . . While I will answer your question i think there is a larger problem that you do not mention. ...
Sex and Bipolar	7/5/2008
Q: I am bipolar, diagnosed about 3 years ago but probably have been for much longer. I have had ... A: . . Excuse my bluntness but children do what is comfortable while adults try to do what is right. ...
oxcarbazepine	7/5/2008
Q: I have been taking this medication with success and when presciption was recently refilled..I was ... A: Kellie . . . Then a medication goes from there just being the brand product on the market, in this ...
schizoaffective disorder bipolar type	7/2/2008
Q: For the first time in 20 years my mood swings and psychotic symptoms are resolved. I am taking 1500 ... A: . . I am sorry my answer was so nonspecific as to be uninformative. But I am prohibited form giving ...
Bipolar	7/1/2008
Q: Why would someone with Bipolar be promiscuous but always come back to one person? (he is dating one ... A: Jennifer . . . There is no way that I can explain the behavior of a specific individual without ...
Is it because of BP Disorder, or just a communication problem?	6/30/2008
Q: I have been a dating a man for a little more than 2 months. He was diagnosed with BP disorder about ... A: Jennifer . . . People with bipolar disorder often show some psychopathology even when not in a ...
my sister's hateful letters	6/16/2008
Q: I have a sister that is 63 years old. All of her life she has sent hateful, mean and vicious ... A: Patty . . . While some people with bipolar disorder are irritable, angry and inappropriately ...
bipolar	6/11/2008
Q: i have bipolar ive been taken the pills but they make me not myself. im 18 i just got on the pills ... A: Tom . . . Bipolar disorder is best controlled by a combination of psychotherapy and medicine. To ...
recovering drug addicts and BPS	6/10/2008
Q: Are recoving drug addicts most likly to generate a Bipolar Disoder?, because my boyfriend is a ... A: . . The relationship between bipolar disorder and substance abuse is a complex one. It is well ...
soft bipolar vs. depression	6/8/2008
Q: my husband has been recently diagnosed (at age 52) with soft bipolar. Sometimes he would rage over ... A: Marie . . . A common mistake in thinking about people who have some form of bipolar disorder is to ...
"soft" bipolar	6/7/2008
Q: my husband has been recently diagnosed (at age 52) with soft bipolar. Sometimes he would rage over ... A: Marie . . . The use of antidepressants alone in people with any form of bipolar disorder sometimes ...
Medication worries	6/3/2008
Q: I've been diagnosed with Bipolar..I think rapid(very rapid) or mixed bipolar. I've been put on 600mg ... A: Kayte . . . I ma not sure exactly what you are asking in your query. Topiramate (Topamax) is ...
Can't get to sleep	6/1/2008
Q: I have BPD and GAD and due to the extreme anxiety associated with these illnesses I don't sleep ... A: . . As you know Seroquel is an antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medication that is used for many ...
Dramatic Worsening of Bipolar II symptoms - SSRI effects? Cytomel?	5/29/2008
Q: Dr. Goldberg, First I'd like to thank you for your long time efforts to increase professionals and ... A: 1. Since early onset dementia can look similar to deteriorating BP II symptoms, what would you as a ...
reduction of lithium	5/26/2008
Q: I have a family member who is on lithium he has a diagnosis of bipolar but this is now being ... A: Julie . . . Lithium does little to reduce primary anxiety. But, lithium does control mania and ...
Bipolar	5/25/2008
Q: When I was young I was diagnosis with many things the last being bipolar mixed episodes I noticed ... A: Nicole . . . In my practice I get to see many people with stories similar to yours. You will not ...
bi-polar resistance to medication	5/17/2008
Q: our son is 39 and was diagnoed bi-polar 4 years ago. his first psychotic episode was treated. 7 ... A: . . While out-patient commitment and long term hospitalization are available in some place I am not ...
bi-polar resistance to medication	5/16/2008
Q: our son is 39 and was diagnoed bi-polar 4 years ago. his first psychotic episode was treated. 7 ... A: . . I am not sure what you are asking. It is not unusual for people with the psychotic forms of ...
Lamictal and side effect	5/13/2008
Q: My husband was diagnosed with hypomania and was prescribed Lamectol. He is concerned with the ... A: Sabine, Lamotrigine (Lamictal) was introduced into medical practice about 18 years ago and I have ...
bipolar medication	5/12/2008
Q: I have rapid cycling bipolar disorder with mostly depression and am taking cymbalta 30mg 1x day and ... A: It is considered dangerous for someone with any form of bipolar disorder to take an antidepressant ...
My daughter was diagnosed bipolar	5/1/2008
Q: My daughter just started college a year and a half ago. She has been going through depression the ... A: . . If you have questions about your daughter's diagnosis and treatment I think you should insist ...
OCD Symptoms and BPD	3/28/2008
Q: Dr. Goldberg: I read an answer of yours on this website in which you stated "The symptoms of OCD ... A: . . As pointed out in the abstract below, the usually pattern is that depression is associated with ...
Figuring out if my hubby is bipolar	3/21/2008
Q: I am going to start by giving our story. My hubby and I are pretty sure he has bipolar disorder. He ... A: . . Lithium usually take a while to work and often people experience side-effects before feeling ...
Figuring out if my hubby is bipolar	3/19/2008
Q: I am going to start by giving our story. My hubby and I are pretty sure he has bipolar disorder. He ... A: . . I am not really sure what the question is that you wish answered. From your description is ...
Blackouts and realistic dreams	3/17/2008
Q: I have several "issues" and I'm having a hard time dealing with it.First,I have been recently been ... A: Christina . . . PTSD or not, people who describe dreams such as yours often have them as the result ...
Blackouts and realistic dreams	3/12/2008
Q: I have several "issues" and I'm having a hard time dealing with it.First,I have been recently been ... A: Christina . . . What you describe is something that rarely is seen in people with mood disorder, ...
my daughter	3/10/2008
Q: my daughter is 24 and been diagnosed with bipolar and depression. she has been in treatment for ... A: Mia . . . The situation you describe is a very difficult one and one that causes great pain in all ...
diagnosing ultradian from random severe mood swings	3/10/2008
Q: is there a diagnostic criteria for ultradian bipolar disorder? i cannot see a therapist because i am ... A: Kelly . . . There are no criteria for the diagnosis of ultra-rapidly cycling bipolar disorder. ...
Medication question	3/8/2008
Q: Dr. Goldberg: You've answered my questions before and I so value your wisdom. My son, who has ... A: Frances . . . One of the problems faced by people with a mood disorder is that the disorder can ...
bipolar and pregnancy	3/7/2008
Q: I am currently taking 2.5mg of zyprexa and I'm 3 months pregnant, what are the risks? should I stop ... A: . . Some women have taken Zyprexa quite successfully during their pregnancy/ Other women have had ...
Bi-Polar Disorder	2/19/2008
Q: Can someone in there 60s, who has never displayed any symptoms of mental illness suddenly develop ... A: . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis via the Internet, but if I were to see a patient ...
Bi-Polar and pregnant	2/16/2008
Q: When I found out I was pregnant, I was taking my regular bi-polar meds for about 4 weeks (Abilify ... A: Jennifer . . . I have been unable to find any reliable information regarding the possible impact ...
Bipolar disorder....internet and sex addiction	2/14/2008
Q: My marraige fell apart when my wife fell into an online gaming addiction wehre she has cyber sex and ... A: . . People with bipolar disorder often show both poor control over their impulses and bad judgment. ...
SSRI and Substance Abuse Induced Mania	2/11/2008
Q: Dr. Goldberg, In the spring of 2007, I began to smoke marijuana heavily after a long moratorium. I ... A: It is hard for me to say anything definite based on the information you provide. I have seen many ...
early-onset bipolar psychopharmacology	2/7/2008
Q: Goldberg: We are planning a retrial of Wellbutrin/bupropion to treat my nine-year-old son, who has ... A: Sarah . . . I am not enthusiastic about the use of antidepressants in anyone diagnosed with bipolar ...
biopolar	2/6/2008
Q: Why would a person diagnosed being bipolar get off his meds on his own, whether he forgets or just ... A: . . There are many reasons why people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medication. Among ...
Bipolar II, frequent hospitalizations & reaching stability	2/3/2008
Q: I was diagnosed with Bipolar II over 14 years ago after a bout of 3 hospitalizations and treatment ... A: . . Usually with intensive treatment an episode of bipolar depression can be controlled in a few ...
starting Cymbalta & wanting to know more	2/3/2008
Q: Golberg, I am 38 yrs.old. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder twenty years ago. I have been on ... A: . . People with any form of bipolar disorder should generally avoid taking antidepressants as ...
18 y.o. son with ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder	1/31/2008
Q: My 18 y.o.son was diagnosed and began treatment 2 years ago for Bipolar II disorder and has had ... A: Mary . . . When treating someone with bipolar-II disorder hat is rapidly cycling here are a few of ...
Bipolar diagnosis	1/27/2008
Q: I am writing in regards to my aunt. She is in her late 40s. She has been diagnosed with Bipolar ... A: Selena . . . While diagnosis from a distance is really impossible, it sure does sound as if your ...
Pediatric mood disorder/ drug induced mania	1/27/2008
Q: One of my children was diagnosed at age 3 with OCD. She is now almost 7, and we have tried ... A: Laura . . . I am not surprised to hear that there is bipolar disorder in your husband's family. ...
Pediatric mood disorder/ drug induced mania	1/27/2008
Q: One of my children was diagnosed at age 3 with OCD. She is now almost 7, and we have tried ... A: . . It is impossible for me to evaluate the situation based on the information that your provide. ...
bipolar & electroconvulsive therapy	1/25/2008
Q: Good Morning Dr. Goldberg, My husband has a a-typical personality disorder with bipolar. This ... A: Susan . . . ECT is an appropriate treatment for people with epilepsy who are depressed. Usually a ...
Bipolar medication side effects	1/24/2008
Q: Can you please tell me any and all medications used to treat Bipolar Disorder that have a chance of ... A: Leesa . . . There is no way that I can catalogue all the medications that could cause sexual side ...
early-onset bipolar psychopharmacology	1/23/2008
Q: Goldberg: I discovered you while looking for information on the internet, and am an admirer of both ... A: Sarah . . . I am not a child psychiatrist and while I have treated some bipolar children, as young ...
Am I bipolar?	1/22/2008
Q: Goldberg. I'm 19 years old, and I've had ongoing problems with depression and anxiety my entire ... A: . . It is both unethical and impossible for a physician to attempt to make a psychiatric diagnosis ...
Children	1/17/2008
Q: I am married to a man who adopted two children from his ex wife. His ex wife has borderline ... A: . . I may be mistaken but it seems that you need legal advice much more than advice from a mental ...
Bi Polar	1/15/2008
Q: My wife has a bi polar disorder. Before she was hypo manic now she is suffering with depression.She ... A: Kenneth . . . The single most important thing you can do for her is help her find an excellent ...
medication toxicity?	12/7/2007
Q: I am a 33 y/o female in overall good health except for the following: bipolar 2 disorder and ... A: . . There is no way that I can comment of the safety of those medications for you as that would ...
Is Bi-polar like a truth serum?	12/7/2007
Q: I have a 19 year old stepdaughter who my wife and some doctors believe has Bi-polar disorder. I've ... A: . . People often mistakenly think that alcohol and disinhibiting disorders such as bipolar disorder ...
What Is Wrong With Me?!	12/5/2007
Q: ..my name is Jessica and I'm a seventeen year old living in the US. Over the past four years, I've ... A: Jessica, Hi again . . . Mood disorders are potentially serious as they can affect all aspects of ...
Bipolar Disorder	12/4/2007
Q: Goldberg, I have recently have been diagnosed Bipolar I, I have also been recently been diagnosed ... A: Walt . . . I'm not sure that I have any encouraging words for you but I often encounter behavior ...
What Is Wrong With Me?!	12/4/2007
Q: ..my name is Jessica and I'm a seventeen year old living in the US. Over the past four years, I've ... A: . . People who have a history of having been abused in any way are at increased risk to develop ...
Parent w/ bipolar	12/2/2007
Q: My mother was diagnosed with bipolar twelve years ago, when I was three. Since that point, she has ... A: . . The situation you describe is more than difficult and has the possibility of being tragic. You ...
RE: Bipolar	12/1/2007
Q: Goldberg, I have a sister,37, who is currently suffering from bipolar.She is on Risperidone 2mg, & ... A: . . Clozapine is frequently very useful in the management of people with Bipolar Disorder. Below ...
What is the genetic risk of bipolar	11/29/2007
Q: I am wondering what the risk of giving a baby bipolar is. I know this guy and both his parents seem ... A: . . In the general population the risk of having bipolar disorder is 1-2 percent . . . although if ...
Am I making it up?	11/14/2007
Q: Here lately I'm wondering if I'm bipolar or a hypochondriac or what. I'm 17 and for nearly a year ... A: . . I don't think that you are making it up, but of course there is no way I can know for sure. It ...
I think I have Bipolar Disorder	11/14/2007
Q: What are the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and is Lithium the best medication? Can Bipolar Disorder ... A: . . Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which people have periods of depression and other times ...
TRD / VNS Therapy	11/14/2007
Q: I had VNS Model 102 installed in Jan.2007 for TRD. Initially it worked well. About 6 weeks after the ... A: . . While I have seen in consultation many patient who have been treated with VNS, I do not ...
Medication-Induced Mania	11/11/2007
Q: How can SSRI induced mania be a good argument for diagnosing someone with Bipolar disorder when that ... A: . . I am sorry that my reply to your original query was not clear. What I am saying is that if ...
Medication-Induced Mania	11/11/2007
Q: How can SSRI induced mania be a good argument for diagnosing someone with Bipolar disorder when that ... A: . . Great question and I think I understand your position. I disagree, and here is why. Let's say ...
Taking the first step.	11/8/2007
Q: Good afternoon Dr., And thank you for taking the time. I am a 23-year-old female who's suffered from ... A: . . I think a proper diagnosis is the first thing you need. I think that can best be obtained from ...
Bi Polar?	10/30/2007
Q: My sister has been on Prozac off and on for many years, from 20mg to 40 mgs. She suffers from ... A: . . I don't think you should see the doctor but not to to ask questions. I think that you should ...
Cymbalta/Trileptal	10/25/2007
Q: I am on Cymbalta and Trileptal. I am wondering if you can tell me what condition this would be for? ... A: , , Cymbalta is FDA approved for the treatment of both anxiety and depression. Trileptal is only ...
can it be dangerous?	10/24/2007
Q: My live in boyfriend of 8 years has met a girl that he befriended and has been trying to help. She ... A: Deanna . . . There is no way I can comment on the possible dangerousness of a person I have never ...
BP wife	10/23/2007
Q: Goldberg. My situation is as follows; I have been married to my wife for 15 years and have always ... A: . . What you describe is a typical story of what uncontrolled bipolar disorder does to a ...
I want to get pregnant - what meds can I take?	10/23/2007
Q: My husband and I adopted a baby 18 months ago and would now like to try to get pregnant. I have ... A: . . Women with bipolar disorder who wish to become pregnant have some hard decisions to make. It is ...
Depression and morbid thinking	10/21/2007
Q: I am looking for understanding into my "bipolar" illness which i have battled with for many years. ... A: . . Bipolar disorder is a disorder that has biological, psychological and social etiologies. To ...
adoption	10/19/2007
Q: We have the chance to adopt a 1 year old. Mother was a cocaine user but in a treatment facility ... A: Michelle, Hi . . . To answer your question properly would require a book and I do not have the ...
EX WITH SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDER	10/19/2007
Q: Goldberg, I have quite a complex question. I understand by answering it that you can only give me ... A: Lori . . . One should remember that probably the best predictor of future is past behavior. If ...
Bipolar and Medication	10/19/2007
Q: I was diagnosed with depression and subsequently attempted suicide at 18. Soon after that ... A: . . Having bipolar disorder and being treated for it are, as you have discovered, very frustrating ...
Weight gain on lithium	10/16/2007
Q: I am a seventy-year-old female who gained 45 pounds in 3 months on lithium 30 years ago. Everything ... A: . . Unfortunately, many medications used to treat people with psychiatric disorders induce weigh ...
Depakote	10/15/2007
Q: My son was diagnosed with bipolar in August 2007 after having two manic episodes. One in June and ... A: . . probably the most difficult thing in life is not being able to help someone you love. From that ...
Stability	10/14/2007
Q: Dr. Goldberg: I wrote to you last November, 2006 and you have no idea how much I appreciate your ... A: Frances . . . I can only answer your quesiton in the most general terms as I have no idea what ...
lamictal for bipolar II	10/13/2007
Q: Have you observed the occurrence of folliculitis or vesiculitis in people taking lamictal? If so, ... A: Camilla . . . I am always made anxious by patients taking Lamictal who develop lesions of any sort ...
Treatment resistant bipolar	10/11/2007
Q: I am a 39 year old female dx'd Bipolar 1 with psychosis. I have taken every pill that's out there, ... A: Rose . . . Without a list of exactly what you have taken and the doses and the length of time there ...
Bipolar Disorder / depression/migraines	9/20/2007
Q: I am a 48 year old female diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder since the age of 16. I am ... A: . . People with bipolar disorder are MUCH more likely to have migraine headaches than those without ...
Zonisamide	9/10/2007
Q: I recently started taking this medication and have been taking it for about 3 months. How do I stop ... A: . . For direction on how to stop a medication you will have to ask you doctor. I am not able to ...
bipolar husband	9/9/2007
Q: My husband has bipolar and we have a great relationship when he is stable and we are very much in ... A: Kristin . . . In my practice most of the people I see who have bipolar disorder improve but from ...
Are meds ALWAYS needed?	8/17/2007
Q: My 16 year old son recently had his first manic episode, lasted 2-3 weeks before it was diagnosed ... A: . . Bipolar disorder is a serious, often fatal disorder. It clearly has bio-psycho-social aspects ...
help	8/8/2007
Q: I think that I am dating someone who has a serious mood disorder. I have only been with this guy ... A: Megan . . . From the description of the guy there is no way that I can say what his problem might ...
abilify	8/7/2007
Q: I have been taking 5 mg Abilify for two weeks for rapid-cycling bipolar. Previously I was taking ... A: . . Please do Google searches on: "metabolic syndrome" "tardive dyskinesia" "neuroleptic malignant ...
Can dieting bring on bipolar episodes?	8/2/2007
Q: My girlfriend has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and there is some concern that when she diets ... A: Tony . . . I have never heard of dieting causing manic or depressive episodes, but I have heard of ...
definitions	7/30/2007
Q: What is the difference between cyclothymia and rapid-cycling bipolar type II? When I search the ... A: . . Cyclothymia involves relatively minor mood fluctuations. The downs do not meet the criteria for ...
Cyclothymia vs. Ultradian bipolar	7/29/2007
Q: My 19 year old daughter came home from college this summer with a change in her personality. She ... A: Carol . . . It is impossible to make a diagnosis on the basis of the information your provide. But, ...
Lithium Related Psoriosis	7/27/2007
Q: Goldberg, For three years I have been in agony with Lithium related psoriosis. The problem is that ... A: Jodi . . . I have found that it can be disastrous for someone with psoriasis to continue to take ...
bipolar sister in manic stage	7/24/2007
Q: I have a bipolar sister,54 yr old,I have been dealing with this since since was in college.She is ... A: . . The generic advice I give my patients and their relatives is to set whatever limits are ...
HEREDITARY BIPOLAR	7/24/2007
Q: IS THE CHANCE OF HAVING A BIPOLAR CHILD LOWER IF THE FATHER IS BIPOLAR AND THE MOTHER IS NOT AND ... A: . . If either parent has bipolar disorder the probability of each child having bipolar disorder is ...
BF has Bipolar.	7/21/2007
Q: When I was a little girl and moved into a new house at age 5 I met my next door neighbor who was 4 ... A: . . Being a friend to someone who has bipolar disorder can be very difficult. If you can accept ...
marinol	7/20/2007
Q: I have ocd and bipolar. i am on welbutrin and paxil. i want to try marinol , just to try, but my ... A: Carol . . . Marinol is a controlled substance and I know of no legal way that a physician can ...
Drug Complications	7/19/2007
Q: My husband was diagnosed as being bipolar approx 10 years ago. He has been stable on Lamictal and ... A: . . Diagnosis at a distance is impossible, but it may be that your husband has tardive dyskinesia. ...
abilify	7/19/2007
Q: I took risperdal for 5 years even i had breast milk then my new doctor changed it to abilify.i have ... A: . . There is no way that I can say of Abilify, Risperdal or any other antipsychotic medication is ...
clnical evidence	7/19/2007
Q: Is there any clinical evidence that the cocktails of subtherapeutic doses work for bipolar? A: . . Whiel I am unaware of any formal studies of the use of a combination of subtherapeutic doses of ...
Normal or BP	7/16/2007
Q: First off, I’m a daydreamer. At 18, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, I never ... A: . . There is no way that I can make a diagnosis over the internet. It certainly is possible that ...
Follow up	7/15/2007
Q: Doctor: This was my original question, and below is a follow up from a recent visit to my mothers ... A: . . I can understand the lithium being discontinued with a creatinine of 1.3 and the confusion you ...
My mother's bipolar disorder and her medications	7/13/2007
Q: Goldberg, I am very concerned for my mother's situation right now. She has had bipolar disorder her ... A: of herIt sounds as of your mother should have a reevaluation by a new psychiatrist and general ...
geodon, lamictal, wellbutrin	7/12/2007
Q: Can any of these be associated with sexual dysfunction? A: Idelle . . . As soon as a question starting with "Can any of these . . ." is asked the short answer ...
Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy	7/11/2007
Q: I have been diagnosed bipolar for some years now, and though I had accepted that due to my many ... A: Leslie . . . Mnay women with bipoalre disorder have had children. One thing to remember is that, ...
lithim toxicity	7/10/2007
Q: My dad has been taking lithim for his bipolar disorder since he was 25 and is now 62. He has been ... A: Doris . . . The symptoms of dementia can originate in many ways. While it is possible that lithium ...
lamictal	7/5/2007
Q: Although it's called a mood stabiliazer, is it really no good for antimania? A: . . Lamictal is generally prescribed to people with bipolar disorder as a way of reducing the ...
Determining bipolar 'racing thoughts'	7/3/2007
Q: Are bipolar racing thoughts, thoughts that are pleasurable? Are they thoughts of planning to do ... A: . . While I have never seen an increase in obsessive symptoms in any of the 500+ patients I have ...
Determining bipolar 'racing thoughts'	7/2/2007
Q: Are bipolar racing thoughts, thoughts that are pleasurable? Are they thoughts of planning to do ... A: Jennifer . . . The racing thoughts that are found in people during a manic or hypomanic episode may ...
Anxiety on Abilify?	7/1/2007
Q: My 45 yr old husband has been dx with BP-rapid cycler- for 3 years now (but probably had it since ... A: . . Because of the dangers of tardive dyskinesia (see: ...
drug and natural supplements interactions	6/27/2007
Q: I am currently on 300mg of Lamictal and 300mg of Seroquel for bipolar disorder. I have been hearing ... A: Katie . . . IN the 1980s I published on the use of L-tyrosine as a treatment for people with mood ...
lithium and older people	5/31/2007
Q: Doctor, a few years ago a doctor my mother had said that sometimes older people do better on lower ... A: . . The answer to both of your questions is, "Yes." "Subtherapeutic" doses of lithium can be an ...
bipolar husband	5/29/2007
Q: My husband recently had an episode where he cut his arm and called the police to charge me with ... A: . . Thge situation you describe is a difficult one and there is no good answer to your problem. ...
Therapists in CO	5/26/2007
Q: I checked the list you have of top therapists for mood disorders and did not see any in Colorado. ... A: Leslie . . . There must be expert mental health professionals in CO, but I am not familiar with any ...
Zonegran and bipolar disorder	5/25/2007
Q: I take Sonogram, Lexapro, Wellbutrin and Ambien. This is all to combat bipolar disorder, depression, ... A: Maria . . . Serotonin is made in many parts of the body. Some is made in the gut, some in the blood ...
exhaustion; muscle spasms; paralysis	5/22/2007
Q: I was diagnosed "bipolar 1 w/ psychoses" 16 years ago. In the last 2 0r 3 years it's been changed to ... A: Clare . . . What you describe does not sound like the "leaden paralysis" symptom often seen in ...
Bipolar or Unipolar?	5/22/2007
Q: How do I know if I'm bipolar or unipolar? I was diagnosed 7 years ago with OCD and Unipolar ... A: John . . . See the test at: http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar-screening.html and ...
depression and ocd	5/10/2007
Q: My adult son has ocd and bipolar depression. He has been on a combo of 1000 mgs a day of depakote ... A: . . Depakote is often taken for many years by people with epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. In ...
severe shaking and meds	5/9/2007
Q: I have a question regarding the meds my husband is on for being bipolar. He is on Lithium, Clonopin, ... A: Denise . . . When one of my patients taking a bunch of medications starts to shake badly I usually ...
Zonegran	5/7/2007
Q: Have you heard about Zonegran being a good medication for the treatment of Bi-polar? A: . . The matrerial below is from a book I am bringing out. Best regards . . . Ivan ...
Bi-Polar	5/7/2007
Q: Have there been any studies on a correlation of bipolar and nicotine use, or any other drugs for ... A: Kevin . . . Below are a few abstracts. Best regards . . . Ivan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 1: J Clin ...
Breastfeeding	5/5/2007
Q: Ivan, it is so cool to find that I can ask you a question personally as your website is one of my ... A: Danielle . . . I am delighted that you find Depression Central to be useful. When it comes to ...
Bipolar episodes.	5/3/2007
Q: My husband is bipolar I. When he goes into a depressive episode, he turns against me (hates me, ... A: Wendy . . . Unfortunately there are limits on what you can do to help your husband get the help he ...
am I bipolar?	4/29/2007
Q: Let me start off in saying im am 15 but i have had symptoms of bipolarism since i was 9. I am young ... A: . . There is no way that I can even try to make a diagnosis over the internet. If you suspect that ...
Bipolar	4/8/2007
Q: My husband has been recently diagnosed with bipolar but he refuses to believe anything is wrong. ... A: . . In most parts of the USA people can be hospitalized against their will if they are a danger to ...
Bipolar	4/8/2007
Q: My husband has been recently diagnosed with bipolar but he refuses to believe anything is wrong. ... A: . . People with bipolar disorder are often convinced that they are not only OK but that they are in ...
Bipolar II	4/4/2007
Q: Goldberg, I have had bipolar symptoms since I was 17. I have in one way or another controlled these ... A: . . Unfortunately you may not be able to get first class treatment unless you can figure out how to ...
Bipolar and Vicodin	4/4/2007
Q: My dentist recently prescribed Vicodin ES for severe tooth pain. I also take trileptal for my ... A: . . Narcotics and alcohol can destabilize mood in people with bipolar disorder If the pain is very ...
my bipolar son	4/3/2007
Q: I have a son who is 20 years old and refuses to take medications they prescribe him, and only wants ... A: Patricia . . . Ethical physicians will never prescribe a medication simply because a patient things ...
Xyrem and selegilene patch	3/31/2007
Q: Ivan, I was an ultra-rapid cycler who is now stable on aripiprazole, duloxetine, lamotrigine, T3 ... A: . . I have no experience with Xyrem and cannot comment on its usefulness. When it comes to ...
Bi-Polar and Pregnant	3/10/2007
Q: My wife and I got married this past July, ive noticed alot of mood changes in her, lack of wanting ... A: John . . . There is no way I can diagnose your wife from a distance. It is impossible for me to ...
I'm starting to cycle again	3/9/2007
Q: I have ADHD and Bi-polar and few other things to boot. I have not taken my Depakote b/c it is ... A: I will not prescribe Depakote for women who think they might want to have children some day in the ...
Mentally Ill Parent Refusing Treatment	3/2/2007
Q: I have a friend who's mother she suspects is mentally Ill. She is on medicare and has several ... A: . . I have no idea what the law sin in California but in New York if the daughter were to petition ...
bipolar II vs something else?	2/28/2007
Q: Goldberg- I am in the process of consulting with as many professionals as I can with regard to ... A: . . Unfortunately psychiatric symptoms are on-specific. Depression and anxiety may be found in ...
Bipolar danger?	2/23/2007
Q: I am writing with concern about our landlord. He is Bipolar and on Sertraline and Depakote. He has ... A: . . There is no way I can comment on the possible danger of interacting with an individual who I ...
bipolar with other health issues	2/22/2007
Q: I am bipolar with symptoms of psychosis which don't seem to coincide with my mania or my depression. ... A: . . People with bipolar disorder who have other health PROBLEMS are often not taken seriously, To ...
going back on meds, scared	2/15/2007
Q: I had to go off my meds , 7-05 because of a very bad GI bleed had 4 units was very sick. Since then ... A: Juli . . . Both Depakote and risperidone have been reported to cause bleeding in some people. Such ...
bipolar?	2/13/2007
Q: The last couple months ive been trying to fix whatever is wrong with me. At first i was diagnosed ... A: Jon . . . There is no way that I can make a diagnosis based on the information you provide. To make ...
Mood Swings?	1/4/2007
Q: Ok i was diagnosed a few weeks ago with having borderline bipolar disorder. I didn't even know that. ... A: . . I just came back from vacation and found your question. It is impossible to make a diagnosis ...
2 disorders at once	1/2/2007
Q: First I know we need to see someone . My wife has been diagnose with Post traumatic stress and ... A: Darren, Its hard for me to give any sort of advice as I have no idea what sort of psychiatric care ...
bipolar disorder	12/30/2006
Q: I have a brother who has been suffering from manic depressive illness since he was 20 years old. He ... A: . . Whiel drugs such as lithium and Thorazine often do a good job they do not always do a perfect ...
Question	12/30/2006
Q: I recently went to a the psyatric part of my hospital and met with somone who siadi had depression ... A: . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis of any sort from the information you provide. I ...
Bipolar disorder	12/29/2006
Q: My Mother is 63. She has been severley depressed for 4 years now. she spent her first year of ... A: So 3 questions. What are your thoughts on Shock therapy? I think hat when someone has been ...
BIPOLAR and pregnant	12/26/2006
Q: I am 28 years old and diagnosed as bipolar 9 years ago. Six weeks ago I found out I am pregnant. ... A: . . Pregnancy in a woman with a mood disorder leads to some hard decisions to make. It is well ...
Bipolar,IBS,questions	12/23/2006
Q: It's along time that I have Bipolar disorder(BP) and also IBS. I used so many different medicines ... A: . . Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic basis. The disorder can be controlled through the use of ...
EST	12/20/2006
Q: I have a long history of Bipolar/BPD/PTSD diseases. The past three and a half years have been hell ... A: . . AS you may know ECT is done under anesthesia two or three times a week. It is probably be most ...
65 yr old mother BP?	12/9/2006
Q: I recently found out in a very circuitous way that I am BP. I was being treated for unipolar for 8 ... A: . . As you know there is a strong genetic aspect the bipolar disorder. At one time most people with ...
Question/Help	12/2/2006
Q: I've recently recognized what ive been experiencing for a while as a possible mental illness. I have ... A: Jon . . . It is impossible to make a diagnosis from the information you provide in your query. It ...
im diagnosed bipolar and im on so many meds	11/30/2006
Q: in march 2006, i had a psychotic episode, i had to be restrained by police. thought my husband was ... A: Tamara, It is common for people with bipolar disorder, especially people who have had a psychotic ...
BP d/o and Cymbalta	11/21/2006
Q: Goldberg-I was just diagnosed with BPD. I have been taking Cymbalta for about 3 months and my ... A: Jody . . . People with bipolar disorder will often have hypomanic or even manic episodes if they ...
seroquel addiction? Stomach ulcers?	11/21/2006
Q: I am a 36 year old wife and mother of 4. I was dx with bp when I was 16 years old. I have been tried ... A: . . While there is no evidence that Seroquel is addicting, there is evidence that some people have ...
Bipo;ar	11/19/2006
Q: My father had bipolar, I think I might have it or some sort of disorder. The other day for example, ... A: Terri . . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis over the Web, but if you think you may have ...
alternative to medication for bi-polar	11/14/2006
Q: I realize you are an MD but do you know or have heard of any treatments besides medication for ... A: . . There are a few non-pharmacologic treatments that help medications work better, but that do not ...
antidepressants and bipolar problems	11/11/2006
Q: I was diagnosed and treated foe depression for over 10 years. After getting into trouble during a ... A: There is some data that suggests that people with bipolar disorder often go 10+ years before the ...
Discontinue Depakote ER	11/11/2006
Q: I have heard you speak many times and value your advice. Currently, I am taking 250 mg of Depakote ... A: . . I cannot give personal medical advice, but when my patients ask me about the possible effects ...
Medication,self medicating	11/9/2006
Q: For years have struggled. am 41. I have been on several medications for the past 20 years. When I ... A: Heather . . . The following is form a book I am in the process of finishing: Tramadol (Ultram) ...
Seroquel for Bipolar side-effects irritating my IBS (constant upset stomach/diarrhea)	11/9/2006
Q: I started on 25mg for anxiety/sleep issues. It was discovered that I have had mania/bipolar disorder ... A: Ken . . . I have been prescribing Seroquel for many years and have never run into increased ...
Bi-Polar Couples	11/8/2006
Q: My boyfried and I both have bi-polar. We met in a support group about 2years ago. We both work ... A: Joyce . . . I this life love is rare and should not be easily thrown away. Couples in which both ...
Bipolar: Life Insurance	11/7/2006
Q: I have has bipolar disorder for appx 20 years. For the past 3 years my doctor and I have finnally ... A: It is often difficult for people with bipolar disorder to get life insurance because of the ...
anticonvulsants to treat bipolar	11/3/2006
Q: My first manic episode was while I was on Keppra for epilepsy. 6 months off meds I had no bipolar ... A: Joanne . . . It is impossible for me to say much about your situation based on the data you ...
In the genes?	10/31/2006
Q: I am a 27 year old female. My mother says she has been diagnosed as a manic depressive with a ... A: . . While your question was quite long and involved, the answer is short. I am not familiar with ...
Re Bipolar	10/30/2006
Q: I am sorry my mail was quite rightly very unclear, I sent it very late and did not check it before ... A: Sandra . . . If, in fact, you are bipolar, paroxetine by itself might just make things worse. I do ...
bipolar?	10/30/2006
Q: Goldberg, Thank you so much for providing this service. I truly appreciate it, as I can not get an ... A: . . I think ti is important that you get a psychiatric evaluation ASAP. There is a chance that you ...
Re Bipolar	10/29/2006
Q: Goldberg, I'm a 39 year old female and my first depressive episode was age 7. Although I was not ... A: . . I am a little confused by your message as I am not sure what you are asking. If you doubt the ...
Bipolar	10/28/2006
Q: I have a 3yr old who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder her mom has bipolar can the 3yr old be ... A: . . I ma a psychiatrist, not a child psychiatrist, but I know one thing about child psychiatry . . ...
am i bipolar?	10/26/2006
Q: I have noticed strange mood swings which started around a year ago and have increasingly worsened. ... A: . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis based on the info that can be transmitted by email. ...
confusion about diagnosis	10/23/2006
Q: I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I have had depression off and on for years. Prozac helped, but ... A: Ruth . . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis or suggest treatment based on the sort of ...
7yr old son has bipolar, is sensitive to meds	10/22/2006
Q: Goldberg, Hi. My son is 7 and has bipolar disorder and an anxiety disorder. Bipolar runs in my(his ... A: Nancy . . . I am not an expert when it comes to the treatment of children, so please take what I ...
Bipolar Boyfriend	10/20/2006
Q: My ex-boyfriend has not been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, he is definately text book ... A: The situation you describe is unfortunately both common and painful. Many people with bipolar ...
Effects of Bipolar Disorder	10/17/2006
Q: What are the most major effects of Bipolar Disorder on people, other than just mood swings? Is it ... A: . . Other than mood swings the effects of bipolar can be minimal or catastrophic. School failure, ...
i have a question?	10/15/2006
Q: I just wanted to ask that if people with bipolar are capable of taking care of child? Im asking ... A: . . There probably are millions, yes millions, of mothers who have bipolar disorder. The vast ...
Bipolar and Pregnancy	10/13/2006
Q: I have two children 6 and 3 and also have bipolar 1. My husband and i would love another baby, and ... A: . . Women with bipolar disorder may have an easy time during pregnancy, but stopping ...
Bipolar and IBS, Seroquel	9/17/2006
Q: My wife has bipolar and severe Irritible Bowel Syndrome (a stress-related problem of the colon being ... A: Ken . . . Seroquel is useful as a treatment of both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar ...
Question	9/15/2006
Q: how are you going? My name is Christina and I live in Australia. Thank you very much for taking the ... A: . . It is impossible to make a diagnosis by way of email. When I have seen patients with stories ...
brain injuries	9/13/2006
Q: I had a brain injury about seven years ago. Before then I was digoised with depression. THen in my ... A: . . Many if not most people with bipolar disorder have been misdiagnosed before the true nature of ...
children with bipolar	8/10/2006
Q: Goldberg I have a three year old step daughter and for the past 2 years she has been showing many ... A: . . Bipolar disorder has a large hereditary aspect and can manifest itself in young children. I ...
Adult Sister never diagnosed	8/3/2006
Q: If we can get her to answer the questionnaire truthfully and she scores in the bi-polar spectrum ... A: . . What you might do is take your sister to a psychiatrist with special interest in diagnosing and ...
irrational fears anger and paranoia	7/31/2006
Q: I've known my boyfriend for nearly ten years and we have been dating for nearly two. I've always ... A: . . There is no way that I can make a diagnosis over the net. You might want to read, "Stop Walking ...
...	7/30/2006
Q: I'm 16 years old but I did the questionaire at the website that you used in one of your answers to ... A: . . The Bipolar Screening Questionnaire is only valid if you are over 18 and have had a serious ...
bipolar disorder	7/30/2006
Q: I was wondering is it possible for me to passed this disorder off to my children? This the first ... A: It has been estimated that each child of a parent with bipoalr disorder has about a 15% chnace of ...
How accurate is the bipolar screening thingy?	7/26/2006
Q: I just took the above screening question thingy and scored 40. The answers were wholly honest, and ... A: . . People who score 40 on the screening test have a good chance of having some form of bipolar ...
Bipolar question	7/15/2006
Q: I have a family history of bipolar disorder. My brother had symptoms of bipolar. My cousin has ... A: . . I am not a medical geneticist and cannot give you an exact answer. I would say that if we ...
Friend with Bipolar	6/4/2006
Q: Our super is bipolar. He seems like a really nice guy, but he goes into these funks and just leaves ... A: . . Obviously there is no way I can say anything about the dangerousness of an individual I have ...
bi-polar and the influence of family dynamics	5/24/2006
Q: My sister, she s 25, was diagnosed with bi-polar about 6 years ago. My father, he s 56, was ... A: Jason . . . People with bipolar disorder often have a hard time remaining organized especially ...
Mental Illness	5/19/2006
Q: Based on the information I give you, please tell me what illness you think this might be. My ... A: . . I am sorry that I cannot help you out. It is impossible to make a diagnosis from a distance ...
Bipolar	5/12/2006
Q: Dr. Goldberg, My 26 yr. old brother was diagnosed a few years ago with Bipolar II disorder with ... A: . . It is impossible for me to make a diagnosis on an individual I have never examined. People with ...
BIPOLAR/ADD	5/9/2006
Q: my doctor just diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. i am on 20 mg of lexapro and 10 mg of abilify. ... A: . . The symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADD/ADHD overlap. More often than not ADD/ADHD is ...
My 13-year old son has been...	5/3/2006
Q: My 13-year old son has been treated for OCD and ADHD. Before being treated for both, had only a few ... A: . . I am not an expert when it comes to children and adolescents. It has been my experience that ...
bipolar child	4/26/2006
Q: Dr. Goldberg, I believe that my husband is bipolar, although he is undiagnosed. He has the classic ... A: . . While I am not an expert in psychiatric genetics, my understanding is that a genetic ...
Bi-polar II	4/24/2006
Q: My husband has just been diagnosed with Bi-polar II. He is 57 years old, but he has suffered from ... A: . . Not knowing your husband I cannot answer your questions in anything other than a general way. ...
Parental denial making it worse	4/5/2006
Q: I'm a 45-year-old, divorced mother of two, and have suffered from bipolar II disorder, PTSD and ... A: . . Having a mother such as the one you have increaes your burden of having to deal with a ...
bipolar	3/31/2006
Q: I have read that people personality disorders should not be institutionalized for many years in a ... A: . . Bipolar Disorder is not a personality disorder and it frequently results in behavior that makes ...
Bipolar and ADHD	3/27/2006
Q: I am taking Depakote (2x500 mg.), Effexor (3x75 mg.), Gabapentin (3x600 mg.), Trazodone (2x100 mg.) ... A: Not knowing your depakoet levcel puts me at a great disadvantage when ti comes to trying to say ...
Bipolar and ADHD	3/27/2006
Q: I am taking Depakote (2x500 mg.), Effexor (3x75 mg.), Gabapentin (3x600 mg.), Trazodone (2x100 mg.) ... A: . . I may be better able to answer your query if you tell me the amount of the reduction in ...
psychotic bipolar disorder	3/27/2006
Q: My 20 year old son was diagnosed with bipolar1 mania with psychotic features. He was also a chronic ... A: . . While there may be data on the average time for the resolution of the psychosis accompanying a ...
psychotic bipolar disorder	3/27/2006
Q: My 20 year old son was diagnosed with bipolar1 mania with psychotic features. He was also a chronic ... A: Unfortunately there is no way I can predict how long your son will remain psychotic. As you mention, ...
Treatment for manic-depression	3/23/2006
Q: Goldberg, Three years ago, I was evaluated by you and your team at the Presbyterian Hospital, in ... A: . . While I was affiliated with the Columbia-Presvyterian Medical center for about 30-years, I left ...
childhood bipolar	3/19/2006
Q: I was just told my son who is 5 years old suffers from bipolar, prior to this diagnosis 2 years ago ... A: . . While I am a psychiatrist and an expeet on Bipolar Disorder I am not a child psychiatrist and ...
Various Bipolar Questions	2/13/2006
Q: Dr. Goldberg, Is there a way that I can locate a Psychiatrist/Psychopharmacologist with experience ... A: Is there a way that I can locate a Psychiatrist/Psychopharmacologist with experience treating mixed ...
Stablization	2/13/2006
Q: When my most severe manic symptoms are apparent I am usually drinking. I can't stand my behavior ... A: . . Theer is no way I can truly answer your question but I can point out that manic symptoms of any ...
Stablization	2/13/2006
Q: For a very long time I've been cycling on basically a monthly basis on average. For the last year ... A: . . I'd try it for about 2 months before bringing the following abstracts to your doctor';s ...
Friend receives ECT : (	2/13/2006
Q: I'm just wondering about Bipolar issues that are dealt with using Electro Convulsive Therapy. From ... A: Sam . . . ECT is usually used to treat mania or depression that fails to respond to other ...
Wife Bi-polar How to help	2/10/2006
Q: My wife although not officially diagnosed meets almost every criteria for the disorder and as she ... A: Robert . . . I wish a had a really good answer to your question but unfortuately I don't. I think ...
Herbal remedies	1/24/2006
Q: I started with a problem of what appeared to be depression at the age of 10 which rapidly grew into ... A: . . I am not aware of any effective herbal treatments for people with bipolar disorder. Please ...
Bipolar medicine	1/17/2006
Q: I have bipolar disorder, and have been diagnosed and treated. I have been really stable for the ... A: Maria . . . Medication (or medications) reduce the probability that someone with Bipolar Disorder ...
Emotionally bankrupt	1/16/2006
Q: I have a 20 year old son has been diagnosed with bipolar since the age of 12. He stopped taking his ... A: . . I think you should stay in contact with the crisis team and discuss with them how an ...
dms	12/11/2005
Q: I have suffered from major depression for more than a year.I think it is a refractory depression.My ... A: . . It is certainly possible that your have a mixed state and that your true diagnosis is a ...
Bipolar wife 5months rapid cycling	12/2/2005
Q: We are up in Canada, so your list won't quite help us. But, the doctor she has seems to be quite ... A: Scott . . . Below are a few abstracts that may give you, and possibly your wife's doctor, some ...
Bipolar wife 5months rapid cycling	12/2/2005
Q: I have been having the most horrible time trying to help get my wife (28yrs old) stabilzed. We have ... A: Scott . . . Rapidly-cycling bipolar disorder is difficult for the family and for the doctors ...
seroquel	11/20/2005
Q: I was diagnoised as having major depression and put on a combination 225 mg anafranil and 20 mg ... A: . . I have no idea what was in the mind of the psychiatrist who started you on Seroquel. While ...
bipolar, genetics	11/14/2005
Q: I recently found out that both my fiance and I have relatives with bipolar disorder. His father's ... A: . . Whilr there is growing understanding of the genetics of mood disorders I am not aware of any ...
Bipolar??	11/13/2005
Q: I was wondering how a person is diagnosed as being bipolar. Is bipolar the same thing as having a ... A: Lisa . . . The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made by a psychiatrist who after an interview sees ...
bipolar disorder	10/30/2005
Q: I was wondering if you could describe to me the most common effects of bipolar disorder in everyday ... A: . . Wheh depressed people are withdrawn, without energy, interest, motivation, concentration, or ...
Am I bipolar?	9/24/2005
Q: I've noticed not too long ago that my mood can switch from high to low in a split second, and not ... A: . . Rapid changes in mood, as if a switch were flicked, are more common in bipolar than unipolar ...
Lithium Toxicity	9/23/2005
Q: Greetings, I have Bipolar Disorder, I take Lithium to manage it and I was wondering about a few ... A: . . Lithium toxicity is usually defined as a state in which the lithium blood level is dangerously ...
Trileptal	6/26/2005
Q: I am a rapid cycling bipolar woman who is 48. I have been through a few meds over the ... A: . . I use a lot of Trileptal in my practice and while a few pts have developed tremors at high ...
anxiety	6/21/2005
Q: i have a question about whether i have an anxiety problem that can/should be helped with medication. ... A: People with bipolar disorder who also have an anxiety problem often do better when gabapentin ...
rapid cycling/hard to treat bipolar	6/21/2005
Q: My girlfriend is bipolar and is currently in the midst of a relapse. She was first hospitalized ... A: It is often possible to totally block episodes of bipolar disorder. To accomplish that usually ...
rapid cycling/hard to treat bipolar	6/21/2005
Q: My girlfriend is bipolar and is currently in the midst of a relapse. She was first hospitalized ... A: There is evidence that the more manic or depressive episodes you have, the more likely you are to ...
lithium related	6/4/2005
Q: Doctor: Can you tell me why the kidneys are watched closely in lithium treatment? And if creatine ... A: Lithium can decrease kidney function. Measuring the creatinine level in the blood is the best way to ...
Treatment resistant depression	5/29/2005
Q: I am 54,I have taken over 35 different anti-depressants and combinations of other drugs that are ... A: . . I have not heard of a Nardil patch, but there has been talk of a selegeline patch. Selegeline ...
switching drugs	5/25/2005
Q: Doctor; My mom has been on lithium for several years, she is now 65 and her blood work for her ... A: . . I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I was out of town at a psychiatric meeting. ...
bipolar disorder...I have a few questions	5/17/2005
Q: I have a few questions and any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have some ... A: The answers to your querstions are available on the Web. You might start by reading the material at: ...
Please advise, Bipolar Isolation in a friend	5/13/2005
Q: Recently, one of my friends has gone into a period of deep isolation. He doesn't take phone calls, ... A: . . Not knowing your friend there is no way I can give you specific advice. In general it is a ...
suggested reading?	4/28/2005
Q: Goldberg, I am bipolar and have problems connecting my thoughts with my feelings. I'm experiencing ... A: . . While you might find the workbook at: ...
lamictal + valproic acid	3/12/2005
Q: What is the interaction between lamictal and valproic acid? I'm told that depakote more than doubles ... A: . . While there is no doubt that valproate can seriously increase the plasma levels of lamotrigine, ...
Rapid cycling/"normal" personality	3/7/2005
Q: BACKGROUND:My 44-yr-old daughter has been ill for 20+ years; is bipolar, primarily depressive. In ... A: . . There is no way that I can answer your question. Without examining your daughter at various ...
Bipolar meds & pregnancy	3/6/2005
Q: I'm taking Lithium 300mgx4/day and concidering getting pregnant soon.Is it harmful to unborn child? A: . . There is no simple answer to your question. Here are a few abstracts from the medical ...
Anesthetic and Depakote	3/6/2005
Q: Goldberg, I have bi-polar disorder and had back surgery earlier this week. Prior to surgery I ... A: Debby . . . Many of my patients taking Depakote have had surgery and there have been no ...
antidepressants and mania/hypomania	2/3/2005
Q: I am a 66-year-old woman with Bipolar II disorder. My first episode, a severe depression, occurred ... A: . . The best estimate is that between 20% and 25% of people with Bipolar disorder who take ...
Bi-Polar??	2/2/2005
Q: I am 39 years old and a victim of child abuse (hitting and sexual). I have struggled for years with ... A: . . There is no way that I can make a diagnosis on the basis of information contained in an email. ...
Bipolar Disorder Question	1/29/2005
Q: I know that it is nearly impossible to diagnos someone online, but I just had a question. For the ... A: . . The quickest way to get a preliminary reading on the question of your having a disorder in the ...
Is my girlfriend bipolar	1/8/2005
Q: DR Thank you for your dedication. I have been seeing a woman for 3 + years now, she is very pretty ... A: . . it is impossible for me to accurately make to make and unethical for me to even try to make a ...
Add/ Bipolar?	11/11/2004
Q: Dr. Golberg, I recently went to a psychiatrist because I felt I had add. The doctor told me that ... A: . . There is no way I can determine if the doctor's diagnosis is correct or not. If the 5 mg/day of ...
bipolar disorder	11/3/2004
Q: My bipolar husband, blames me for his illness and everthing else when he is having a depressed ... A: As you have discovered, living with someone who has less than adequately treated bipolar disorder ...
caffeine	11/3/2004
Q: Goldberg, I am bipolar. I have just quit drinking caffeine a week ago (i used to drink sevaral cups ... A: . . I tell my patients that up to about 200 mg per day of caffeine is not likely to make any ...
Bipolar Disorder II	10/29/2004
Q: Goldberg, After many years, of medical tests, antidepressants and being told that "nothing" was ... A: 1. Are physical symptoms part of Bipolar Disorder (ie. muscle pain, nausea, lack of appetite, ...
Lamictal and breast feeding..possible?	9/22/2004
Q: Is it possible to take Lamictal and continue breast feeding? I am BP I, and have a 6 mon. old ... A: . . Lamictal (LTG)is a drug that remains in the body for at least 24-hours after it is taken . . . ...
Bi-Polar while pregnant	9/19/2004
Q: I am bi-polar and have currently found out that I am pregnant. My psycologist had me go off of my ... A: . . I am not sure why a psychologist would offer you advice regarding medications. It turns out ...
bipolar	9/17/2004
Q: I had a doctor who told me I had symptoms of bipolar and borderline personality disorder. I am ... A: . . I can only encourage you to get in touch with your doctor and get back on medication. It will ...
7 year old with Bipolar Disorder	9/14/2004
Q: We have a 7 year old son who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I have home schooled him ... A: I wish I could help you with the problem you are having with your son but I am not a ...
prognosis	8/9/2004
Q: I was recently diagnosed with BPI, after a severe manic episode in which I became psychotic for a ... A: Have you come across any people who only have a couple of episodes in their life, or who get by on ...
bipolar medications	7/27/2004
Q: Goldbert, I have a few questions about medications and thought processes. i hope you don't mind, ... A: I have a few questions about medications and thought processes. i hope you don't mind, there are a ...
Bi Polar Disorder/Alternative Treatments	7/23/2004
Q: I am a 30 year old female. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 6 years ago. I was given ... A: . . People who have a rapidly cycling version of bipolar disorder generally do best when taking ...
my anger	7/21/2004
Q: sometimes my mother but not nearly as bad. it is causeing a lote of problems with my marriage and i ... A: Crissy . . . I'm not sure why you are venting your anger toward your husband more thant towards ...
Effects of Dilantin	5/28/2004
Q: Dr. Goldberg, do yoy believe in the positive effects of Dilantin (Phenytoin) on mood disorders, ... A: . . While Jack Dryfus advocates the use of Dilantin for many disorders he provides no evidence that ...
could my child be bipolar??	5/11/2004
Q: My 14 yo daughter is beautiful, smart, funny and happy most of the time. She has been cutting ... A: . . AS you realize the behavior of your daughter is unusual. There are a number of conditions that ...
Bipolar and Socio/Psychopathic	5/9/2004
Q: I have a close relative, 60 year old female with bipolar, diagnosed three years ago. She ... A: Sue . . . Many thanx for your kins words. I greatly appreciate them. People with Bipolar Disorder ...
Bipolar Disorder, how do you know?	5/4/2004
Q: How do you know if you have Bipolar Disorder? From previously reading the other questions that you ... A: . . It is quite possible for someone to have Bipolar Disorder and not know it. The only way eb be ...
Hi I need some advice. I've...	4/30/2004
Q: I need some advice. I've been depressed for four years and have been on every medicine. Nothing ... A: . . Nobody has been on all medications even one at a time and certainly no one has been on all the ...
new meds	4/27/2004
Q: I have a 10 year history with depression (an eating disorder, cutting and three suicide attempts ... A: . . Seroquel comes in tablets as small as 25 mg and as large as 300 mg. It is unlikely that 25 mg ...
Bipolar/ADHD/Alcoholic	4/17/2004
Q: My husband has been diagnosed in the last 2 years as having Bipolar Disorder and ADHD (more so ... A: . . io think the first thing for you to do is to learn ads much as you can about bipolar disorder. ...
treatment for bipolar disorder in adolescents	4/8/2004
Q: My 12 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with BPD. The psychiatrist is going to start her on ... A: . . While the combination of a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant is one approach to the ...
treatment for bipolar disorder in adolescents	4/7/2004
Q: My 12 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with BPD. The psychiatrist is going to start her on ... A: . . I do not like to prescribe depakote for women, especially young women. Depakote can have ...
Lithibid long term effects	3/31/2004
Q: A friend of twelve years was recently put on lithibid after having a nervous breakdown. Along with ... A: It is impossible to know for how long someone will have to take lithium. Some people take it for a ...
what do i do	3/20/2004
Q: i have been diagnosed bipolar, also have ebv and fibro. i am so confused dont know where to turn. ... A: . . Whether you do it through a clinic or through a private doctor you should see a psychiatrist ...
lithium related	3/12/2004
Q: Doctor: My mother takes 750mg of lithium daily and her family doctor placed her on an ace inhibitor ... A: ACE inhibitors are known the increase lithium levels by over 30%. In many individuals this is ...
bi polar legal problems	3/11/2004
Q: My husband suffers from bi polar and attention deficit disorder, I believe that perhaps low self ... A: . . I know little about sexual misconduct, but can tell you that when many people are manic, they ...
Son with bipolar	2/8/2004
Q: My 18-year-old son was diagnosed with bipolar, hospitalized in 11/03 with attempted suicide and ... A: . . it is my practice to discontinue antipsychotic medication, such as Zyprexa, as soon as possible ...
Pregnant Bipolar patient	1/29/2004
Q: I am a 24 yr old woman who was diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder and Panic ... A: . . I discourage my patients who take lithium and who become pregnant to take lithium during the ...
beta blocker mania?	1/22/2004
Q: Doctor: I was wandering for my mother if the drug toprol is given to slow a faster than normal ... A: Beta-blockers have not generally been thought of as drugs that destabilize people with bipolar ...
getting help for a bipolar partner	12/3/2003
Q: My friend is bipolar. He was institutionalized for a few months when he was very young, and also as ... A: . . Lost of people who have mood problems are irritable and easily angered. if all such people were ...
Have you seen these symptoms before?	11/22/2003
Q: Have you seen people with anxiety/panic disorder "move up" to Bipolar disorder? Can the depression ... A: . . It is not unusual for anxiety to precede the onset of bipolar disorder. See the abstract below. ...
lithium reduction	11/7/2003
Q: My mother is presenly on 750mg of lithium a day however her creatinine has risen a little, can you ... A: . . Without knowing your mother's age and total medical situation it is impossible to say anything ...
difficult daughter	9/27/2003
Q: I have a 14 1/2 year old daughter who my wife and I have had huge difficulties with for the past ... A: . . It is hard to find truly qualified professionals to care for someone with a hard-to-treat mood ...
medication/ lab results	7/13/2003
Q: Doctor: My mom age 62 has been on lithium since 1991, her present dose is 750mg a day, one ... A: With a creatinine around 1.6 it very well may be necessary for your mother to come off of the ...
Husband bipolar and irratic	5/23/2003
Q: My husband has been in and out of therapy, on and off medication for almost 4 years now after an ... A: . . If your husband is truly within the bipolar spectrum, he should be in a mood stabilizer such as ...
bi polar yes or no	4/7/2003
Q: dr. goldberg, my 21 yr old daughter has been recently diagnosed bi polar,but i read this can be ... A: . . It is not unusual for people with Bipolar Disorder to reduce or stop their medications and for ...

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