Posted by petters on January 31, 2002, at 1:49:53
In reply to Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » petters, posted by Ritch on January 30, 2002, at 23:46:21
> > > > Just stepping into your conversation, if you don't mind, with a question.
> > > >
> > > > Why is it so hard to differentiate between bipolar II & ADHD? I'm not disputing anyone's comment about it but truly don't understand why the difference can't be seen. Is it that some people have very clear-cut differences & others don't? For myself, it's as different as a horse from a zebra. Please educate me.
> > >
> > > Hi IsoM,
> > >
> > > The fuzziness with the diagnosis is that BP-II's do not experience psychotic mania. Also people with ADHD have mood swings, irritability, impulsiveness, restlessness, distractability as part of their symptom complex. When BP-II's are hypomanic or depressed they can have great trouble focusing and concentrating (distractability). Also, there are "inattentive" ADHD people that are depressed (couch-potatoes). There is just a lot of overlap with the symptoms. I was dx'ed as BP for about 20 years, then it got switched to ADHD. Then it got switched to social phobia/panic. Now, it is all three. I have a nephew who looks and acts a lot like me and he is ADHD and is on Ritalin and doing fine. The real test is to give someone who is BP-II a low dose of a stimulant and see what happens (IMO). Give it a week or so and see how they are doing. If they are quiet and focused and sleeping normally, you could consider ADHD in addition to or instead of BP-II. If they get hypomanic and develop chronic insomnia and their distractability gets *worse* one might rule out ADHD. I would like to get to the bottom of it for sure. I still think I have both.
> > >
> > > Mitch
> >
> > Hi Mitch...
> >
> > Have you ever tried Effexor for ADHD, or perhapes for bipolar depression? New studies show promising result regarding ADHD and Effexor.
> >
> > Sincerely...//Petters
>
>
> Hi Petters,
>
> Yes, I have tried Effexor and it did help somewhat with attentiveness. But, the Effexor aggravated my bipolar cycling and caused hostility. Adderall had an anticycling effect, but made me anxious...
>
> MitchHi Mitch...
Have you ever consider adding a moodstabilizer like Lamictal or even better for your anxiety, Neurontin. What I try to say if you have some sign of bipolar it will be very correct using this stratergi. Some researcher means that ADHD symptom is in fact a form of bipolar disorder and nearly allways need treatment with moodstabilizer.
Sorry for my bad spelling. Not from U.S
Sincerely...//Petters
poster:petters
thread:92098
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/92325.html