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CHRISTIAN
SINGLES
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CHRISTIAN
DATING ADVICE
CHRISTIAN SINGLES : GUIDE TO
ENDING LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION Cont.
Lithium has for many years been the treatment of choice for bipolar
disorder, as it can be effective in smoothing out the mood swings common
to this disorder. Its use must be carefully monitored, as the range
between an effective dose and a toxic one is small. If a person has
preexisting thyroid, kidney, or heart disorders or epilepsy, lithium may
not be recommended. Fortunately, other medications have been found to be
of benefit in controlling mood swings. Among these are two
mood-stabilizing anticonvulsants, carbamazepine (Tegretol®)
and valproate (Depakote®). Both of these medications have
gained wide acceptance in clinical practice, and valproate has been
approved by the Food and Drug Administration for first-line treatment of
acute mania. Other anticonvulsants that are being used now include
lamotrigine (Lamictal®) and gabapentin (Neurontin®):
their role in the treatment hierarchy of bipolar disorder remains under
study.
Most people who have bipolar disorder take more than one medication
including, along with lithium and/or an anticonvulsant, a medication for
accompanying agitation, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. Finding the
best possible combination of these medications is of utmost importance
to the patient and requires close monitoring by the physician.
Side Effects
Antidepressants may cause mild and, usually, temporary side effects
(sometimes referred to as adverse effects) in some people. Typically
these are annoying, but not serious. However, any unusual reactions or
side effects or those that interfere with functioning should be reported
to the doctor immediately. The most common side effects of tricyclic
antidepressants, and ways to deal with them, are:
Dry mouth—it is helpful to drink sips of water; chew sugarless
gum; clean teeth daily.
Constipation—bran cereals, prunes, fruit, and vegetables should
be in the diet.
Bladder problems—emptying the bladder may be troublesome, and
the urine stream may not be as strong as usual; the doctor should be
notified if there is marked difficulty or pain.
Sexual problems—sexual functioning may change; if worrisome, it
should be discussed with the doctor.
Blurred vision—this will pass soon and will not usually
necessitate new glasses.
Dizziness—rising from the bed or chair slowly is helpful.
Drowsiness as a daytime problem—this usually passes soon. A
person feeling drowsy or sedated should not drive or operate heavy
equipment. The more sedating antidepressants are generally taken at
bedtime to help sleep and minimize daytime drowsiness.
The newer antidepressants have different types of side effects:
Headache—this will usually go away.
Nausea—this is also temporary, but even when it occurs, it is
transient after each dose.
Nervousness and insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking often
during the night)—these may occur during the first few weeks;
dosage reductions or time will usually resolve them.
Agitation (feeling jittery)—if this happens for the first time
after the drug is taken and is more than transient, the doctor should be
notified.
Sexual problems—the doctor should be consulted if the problem
is persistent or worrisome.
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