The combination of psychotropic meds and alcohol often make for a serious toxic condition, I've read. And I assume that can be considered by physicians as a "toxic" state, as use of caffeine for those sensitive to it can cause "toxic" symptoms and even brain damage in patients with or without bipolar illness.

I believe that hospitalization is called for in such cases, and I believe that based on all that I've read about uses of those two things in bipolar patients who attempt to self-medicate and are sensitive to alcohol and caffeine and (likely) possibly prescribed medications.

I've tried to find the treatment techniques, including iv use at psychiatric hospitals for in-patient treatment, but haven't been able to gather any information pertinent to it. I'd really like to know from someone who has served beside doctors when ordering procedures for use in in-patient treatment and, more especially, if patients are often put back on the same medications they were taking before entering the hospital. (I rather doubt it, personally, knowing what I know about side effects of psychotropic meds.) The fact that one psychiatrist gave up a career in psychiatry (and then wrote a book about his experiences) because of side effects of medications and how they affected his patients has long ago stirred me to be so alert to these meds.

(Off the subject: Just today I read that Celexa has been given warnings for its use by the appropriate government agencies. It should not be used for dosages higher than 40 mg. because it can cause serious heart arythmias. It's these side effects that get to us so badly for some of us.)

I have read that orthomolecular treatment for psychiatric conditions often involves so much chemistry analysis long before initiating corrective measures that, before doctors can really treat the illness, they must get the diet straightened out; and that after doing so, they find that the patient may need drastically reduced medication or may even be considered safe (in some instances) without psychotropic meds. I wonder if psychiatrists undergo that kind of analysis when in-patients are given treatment. It seems to me that it would be called for in this day and age.

I hope that BipolaRNurse also sees your thread, Coco.

The question you ask, Coco, is one that is of tremendous value in helping to make people aware of the need for more up-to-date treatment choices for in-patient care. Orthomolecular psychiatrists have the edge on treatment in hospital care, in my view. Question is can everyone afford that?