Often maximum therapeutic levels necessary in bipolar disorder? The cyclical nature of manic depression has lapses of 3 to sometimes years of "episodes". A daily dose inevitably has an effect on the heart, skin, brain, and especially the kidneys. Once again, I have mentioned before that Dr. Mogens Schou took into consideration the deleterious effect of lithium on the kidneys at a chronic pace and suggested "lithium holidays" to allow kidney clearance. This prophylactic treatment for mental illness may be based on the assumption that once a bipolar always a bipolar, every day, and once a schizophrenic always a schizophrenic every day, once a melancholic, always a melancholic everyday. By analogy, current medical treament may also be applied to headaches treated with *Tylenol* for example: once a headache always a headache, and yet this type of OCT is not given on a prophylactic ideology. I wonder if it is not possible to give meds to bipolars and other mentally ill patients, during only phases of mania, hypomania, depression, psychotic states, etc. and thus spare the chronic and cumulative adverse effects on the body that daily drug can have on the body and mind
Chronic prophylactic treatment in psychiatric meds, especially lithium. Is a daily dose necessary?
Question posted by mmmousemaid on 10 May 2021
Last updated on 10 May 2021 by WildcatVet
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I take my Bipolar meds on a daily basis to prevent manic/depressive episodes rather than trying to treat them when they occur. Granted it may be a theory for Bipolars with few episodes over years but a majority of us have more frequent mood swings. For instance, I'm rapid cycling with episodes every few weeks with no "normal" periods.
Also, although some improvement might be seen in about five to seven days the full therapeutic level may not be reached for as long as several weeks in most cases. (I'm referring to lithium here and it's likely comparable for other mood stabilizers.)
For me, prophylaxis isn't a viable option. I have been on medication for well over thirty years and fortunately my frequent routine work-ups have always been well within normal limits.
Related topics
therapeutic, depression, bipolar disorder, lithium, dosage, chronic, disorder, treatment
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