Medical, Hypermania / Manic-Depression treatments

John Stur
#1 / 4

Hypermania / Manic-Depression treatments

A friend of mine has just been `sectioned' (made an involuntary
patient) for Hypermania (like Manic Depression, but swinging between
high and neutral rather than high and low) and has been put on large
doses of the tranquillizer Haloperidol, which makes her feel very low
for some time (months) after withdrawal from it (she's had it before;
previously she's felt better after manic periods if they were left
untreated). Her doctors have not offered her anything other than this
drug treatment; is there anything? She is desparately unhappy with her
present treatment, but involuntary patients in the UK have their legal
rights heavily restricted, and certainly have no say in accepting
treatment -- they are held down and given injections if they will not
take the medication themselves.

Could someone reply quickly? I am trying to arrange for her to see the
consultant with me present (as she is too sedated to ask questions
coherently herself) some time in the next week or so.

--
__John When asked to attend a court case, Father Moses took with him
a leaking jug of water. Asked about it, he said: "You ask me to judge
the faults of another, while mine run out like water behind me."

John Sturdy Telephone +44-223-873837
Harlequin Ltd, Barrington Hall, Barrington, Cambridge, UK

Tue, 06 Aug 1996 21:31:34 GMT

Rebecca Dray
#2 / 4

Hypermania / Manic-Depression treatments

Quote:

>A friend of mine has just been `sectioned' (made an involuntary
>patient) for Hypermania (like Manic Depression, but swinging between
>high and neutral rather than high and low) and has been put on large
>doses of the tranquillizer Haloperidol, which makes her feel very low
>for some time (months) after withdrawal from it (she's had it before;
>previously she's felt better after manic periods if they were left
>untreated). Her doctors have not offered her anything other than this
>drug treatment; is there anything? She is desparately unhappy with her
>present treatment, but involuntary patients in the UK have their legal
>rights heavily restricted, and certainly have no say in accepting
>treatment -- they are held down and given injections if they will not
>take the medication themselves.

>Could someone reply quickly? I am trying to arrange for her to see the
>consultant with me present (as she is too sedated to ask questions
>coherently herself) some time in the next week or so.

I wish I had information to give you. I'm curious, though, as to why your
friend was involuntarily made a patient. I'm not familiar with autonomy
laws in Britain, but that obviously seems like a gross violation of her
personal autonomy rights.

******************************************************************************

(a.k.a Organic Lass of the LNH) | Silliman College, Yale University

"Welcome to All Things Scottish. If it's not Scottish, it's CRAP!!!!!"
- Saturday Night Live
******************************************************************************

Thu, 08 Aug 1996 06:20:55 GMT

Robert O'Conn
#3 / 4

Hypermania / Manic-Depression treatments

Quote:

> A friend of mine has just been `sectioned' (made an involuntary
> patient) for Hypermania (like Manic Depression, but swinging between
> high and neutral rather than high and low) and has been put on large
> doses of the tranquillizer Haloperidol,

This may be an unpalatable answer but it's a fact. YOU do NOT know what her
diagnosis is. The doctors didn't tell you, unless you're her closest
relative. First, I belive what you're referring to is known as hypOmania,
not hypERmania. Second, if she DID have that disorder she'd, in all likely-
hood be put on lithium carbonate, or lithium combined with something else,
unless there are other medical reasons that contra-indicate it. Haldol is
certainly NOT the drug of choice for that illness. So, she COULD be
suffering from something else about which you haven't been informed.

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Thu, 08 Aug 1996 14:25:06 GMT

Jeff
#4 / 4

Hypermania / Manic-Depression treatments

Quote:

>A friend of mine has just been `sectioned' (made an involuntary
>patient) for Hypermania (like Manic Depression, but swinging between
>high and neutral rather than high and low) and has been put on large
>doses of the tranquillizer Haloperidol, which makes her feel very low
>for some time (months) after withdrawal from it (she's had it before;
>previously she's felt better after manic periods if they were left
>untreated). Her doctors have not offered her anything other than this
>drug treatment; is there anything? She is desparately unhappy with her
>present treatment, but involuntary patients in the UK have their legal
>rights heavily restricted, and certainly have no say in accepting
>treatment -- they are held down and given injections if they will not
>take the medication themselves.

>Could someone reply quickly? I am trying to arrange for her to see the
>consultant with me present (as she is too sedated to ask questions
>coherently herself) some time in the next week or so.

>--
>__John When asked to attend a court case, Father Moses took with him
> a leaking jug of water. Asked about it, he said: "You ask me to judge
> the faults of another, while mine run out like water behind me."

>John Sturdy Telephone +44-223-873837
> Harlequin Ltd, Barrington Hall, Barrington, Cambridge, UK

I have heard of patients who are cyclothymic(sic) being put on thorazine
to bring them down (e.g. if they are severely insommniac) then put on
lithium.
Certainly she should talk to a reputable psychiatrist but some psychopharmacologists
i have spoken to regard treatment as much an art as a science.

Jeff

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are solely my own
and not that of IBM

Sun, 11 Aug 1996 01:04:42 GMT