[tc2012]

Does anynone know if bpd "peaks" out in 20's? My son has beeen struggling for years. When her turned 24, he had a severe manic episode. He has been different since. (Psychosis)
He has been seeing a Dr. and is taking Depakote, which has stabilized his moods. Recently started taking Latuda, but hasn't had positive results.

Thanks!

[venusss]

It can in some cases. I mean, teenager years and adolescence are difficult for everybody, so they probably can make a existing disorder much worse.

Some people even grow out of BP. Others get pretty stable and are able to deal with it much better with time.

[tc2012]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

It can in some cases. I mean, teenager years and adolescence are difficult for everybody, so they probably can make a existing disorder much worse.

Some people even grow out of BP. Others get pretty stable and are able to deal with it much better with time.

He has been taking Latuda for about 3 weeks. He has been asking me if he has life insurance, he has never mentioned that before. I think that medicine is making him worse, he is more depressed. I cannot help him.

[venusss]

It's likely medicine can at times make one worse.

In order to help your son, it's important to realized medicine is ONE OF the things not THE ONLY thing that aid recovery.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by tc2012

He has been taking Latuda for about 3 weeks. He has been asking me if he has life insurance, he has never mentioned that before. I think that medicine is making him worse, he is more depressed. I cannot help him.

Latuda is an antipsychotic - a newer one. Psychosis in bipolar, unlike in schizophrenia, is mood-dependent, which means that stabilizing moods would in many cases remove psychosis as well. In other words, if he has been taking a mood stabilizer that did stabilize his moods, he might be OK without added antipsychotics. If the medicine makes him feel worse, and, if he verbalized a quasi suicidal intent to you for the first time while on the new medication, this needs to be reported to his psychiatrist ASAP as a possibly dangerous side effect. I do not know if you are can talk to the psychiatrist, but if you can, ask to justify the need for an antipsychotic.

[Nightside of Eden]

I'm sorry to not be able to reassure you, but unmedicated Bipolar disorder typically worsens with age (though there are exceptions, but statistically it's not the norm).

Meds can help a lot but they have to be the RIGHT meds. Depakote had a similar dysphoric effect on my fiance, so it's very possible your son is experiencing the same thing and needs a different mood stabilizer. Depakote is also one of the more physically dangerous drugs to be on long term. Is your doctor adding Latuda in the hopes of eventually replacing Depakote with it? While technically classed as an atypical anti-psychotic, Latuda and all the other anti-psychotics also have mood stabilizing effects and are often prescribed as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder. You should find out what your son's doctor's intentions are in the longer term, since there are many choices out there which might be better for him.

[outlaw sammy]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

It can in some cases. I mean, teenager years and adolescence are difficult for everybody, so they probably can make a existing disorder much worse.

Some people even grow out of BP. Others get pretty stable and are able to deal with it much better with time.

Sorry, but no one grows out of BP (bipolar disorder). As a matter of fact, it tends to get worse in some people like me. While it's true that we BP's can "get pretty stable," don't count on it lasting. Today's magic psychotropic remedy may bomb several years later. I know because I've been dealing with the symptoms of this illness for forty-three (43) years now.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by outlaw sammy

Sorry, but no one grows out of BP (bipolar disorder). As a matter of fact, it tends to get worse in some people like me. While it's true that we BP's can "get pretty stable," don't count on it lasting. Today's magic psychotropic remedy may bomb several years later. I know because I've been dealing with the symptoms of this illness for forty-three (43) years now.

I am unmedicated and as I said in other post, meds are just a part of the overall story. If you count on meds to keep you stable, then yes, they will stop working and you will crash. If you employ other means as well, chances are you will thrive.

And to say no one grows out of bipolar is quite exaggeration.

Evidence is contrary

Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog: Some Teens and Young Adults May Grow Out of Their Bipolar Disorder

Do I Have to Take Medicine Forever? | Bipolar Beat (coming from pretty pro-med and "medical model is the way" blog)

Young Adults May Outgrow Bipolar Disorder -- ScienceDaily

[Nightside of Eden]

Originally Posted by outlaw sammy

Sorry, but no one grows out of BP (bipolar disorder). As a matter of fact, it tends to get worse in some people like me. While it's true that we BP's can "get pretty stable," don't count on it lasting. Today's magic psychotropic remedy may bomb several years later. I know because I've been dealing with the symptoms of this illness for forty-three (43) years now.

I wouldn't want to make an absolute statement like no one EVER grows out of Bipolar. I'm sure it has happened a few times. But you should never count on it, because there's no doubt it's very rare.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

I'm sorry to not be able to reassure you, but unmedicated Bipolar disorder typically worsens with age (though there are exceptions, but statistically it's not the norm).

.

I'd say rather "untreated" than unmedicated. And if you just throw meds on it, and do nothing else... you may consider it pretty much "untreated", since you are just adressing symptoms and trying to balance it all. Overmedicating can be bad too. APs are known to cause brain shrinkage, so if they are used willy willy and for no reason, they can be part of why your disorder is getting worse with age.

Meds can help, but almost never on its own.

[Mickey4333]

"And to say no one grows out of bipolar is quite exaggeration.

Evidence is contrary

Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog: Some Teens and Young Adults May Grow Out of Their Bipolar Disorder

Do I Have to Take Medicine Forever? | Bipolar Beat (coming from pretty pro-med and "medical model is the way" blog)

Young Adults May Outgrow Bipolar Disorder -- ScienceDaily" __________________


I really wish you were right and I am very sorry but I disagree. If diagnosed properly with BPD, you will have it your whole life. Maybe some people are in remission (I once went 10 yrs without symptoms) and maybe some people get missed diagnosed so they "lose their symptoms". AND you cant always believe what you read, especially if the articles are from a "blog". Scientific research (where they do, or report on, trials) is what I try to get my info from. NIMH is an excellent informational website:

NIMH » Publications about Bipolar Disorder

Good luck and I am sorry if I sound to confrontational.

I think Bipolar presents differently in each person and needs to be treated individually. I had a very difficult teen years with a calm down in my twenties, but when I got mid-twenties things flared up again. I'm trying to say that there is no charted direction that Bipolar takes. I hope your son finds a combination of treatments, whatever is right for him, that helps.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Mickey4333

"And to say no one grows out of bipolar is quite exaggeration.

Evidence is contrary

Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog: Some Teens and Young Adults May Grow Out of Their Bipolar Disorder

Do I Have to Take Medicine Forever? | Bipolar Beat (coming from pretty pro-med and "medical model is the way" blog)

Young Adults May Outgrow Bipolar Disorder -- ScienceDaily" __________________


I really wish you were right and I am very sorry but I disagree. If diagnosed properly with BPD, you will have it your whole life. Maybe some people are in remission (I once went 10 yrs without symptoms) and maybe some people get missed diagnosed so they "lose their symptoms". AND you cant always believe what you read, especially if the articles are from a "blog". Scientific research (where they do, or report on, trials) is what I try to get my info from. NIMH is an excellent informational website:

NIMH » Publications about Bipolar Disorder

Good luck and I am sorry if I sound to confrontational.

I don't believe all I read. Hence why I discount many of the doom and gloom information out there

I just wanted to present this point of view, because it's interesting and it might have some merit.

[Mickey4333]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

It's likely medicine can at times make one worse.

In order to help your son, it's important to realized medicine is ONE OF the things not THE ONLY thing that aid recovery.

Very well said, VenusHalley!!!

[Nightside of Eden]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

I'd say rather "untreated" than unmedicated. And if you just throw meds on it, and do nothing else... you may consider it pretty much "untreated", since you are just adressing symptoms and trying to balance it all. Overmedicating can be bad too. APs are known to cause brain shrinkage, so if they are used willy willy and for no reason, they can be part of why your disorder is getting worse with age.

Meds can help, but almost never on its own.

I'm at a loss as to what other treatments there are. I've already tried herbs that are supposed to help (they had some helpful effects on my ADD, but did absolutely nothing for my moods). Diet and exercise do absolutely nothing for my moods. Therapy makes me significantly worse.

I'm not even sure the meds are helping hugely right now, since I'm getting depressed again, but so far they're the only thing to make even a short-term difference.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm only going to respond to op:

My sons psychiatrist told us his teen years are going to be one big mixed episode during puberty. Boys don't stop puberty until 20 and the brain stops developing at age 25.

I was treatment resistant until about 23 but as I grew older I was no longer treatment resistant.

Psychosis does take a lot out of you and changes you. It tears yourself esteem down, makes you confused, and almost traumatizes you. A lot of times I have to do brain activities to get back to myself.

Meds or no meds both myself and my husband our bipolar has changed. I feel for the better. My psychosis has changed it's no where near as long or as dangerous or violent. MY husband no longer hasn't had psychosis in over 12 year with or without meds.

One of my therapists when I was younger told me " you'll be found dead in a ditch" ( I refused to go to her after that) and honesty if not for alternative school I don't feel I would be as well as I am.

If you asked my parents myself and my siblings would never lived outside the criminal justice system as adults. Not one of has spent any time in jail. 2 of us are married with child(ren) and my other sister has found a job that her mood issues aren't an issue.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Nightside of Eden

I'm at a loss as to what other treatments there are. I've already tried herbs that are supposed to help (they had some helpful effects on my ADD, but did absolutely nothing for my moods). Diet and exercise do absolutely nothing for my moods. Therapy makes me significantly worse.

I'm not even sure the meds are helping hugely right now, since I'm getting depressed again, but so far they're the only thing to make even a short-term difference.

Imho spirituality and having some aim in life are a big one (although I am struggling with it majorly at the moment).

Right kind of therapy should help.

I think it's overall, complicated picture. I believe the only one that can help you is you. You gotta find your own way. Counting on external things will backfire. (yes, that includes counting on places to save you).