Hi,I am Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (Psychiatrist). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia. Will Enhancing Seratonin And Dopamine Levels Help?
I am a certified holistic RN and I do healing work on all levels. I have an 11 YO client with diagnosis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. What is the best medication for him to be on while his brain chemistry is being balanced thru more natural healing work? Would enhancing his seratonin and dopamine levels help? What is the role of norepinephrine in his brain chemistry?
Well first of all it is wrong to diagnose a person with both Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at the same time since both these conditions are mutually exclusive of each other. However a positive thing in providing treatment for both of these conditions is that an anti psychotic medication like olanzapine or quetiapine or aripiprazole works very effectively in both the conditions by lowering the dopamine levels in the brain since excessive dopamine levels in the brain have been considered to have been associated with either of these conditions. So practically speaking use of an anti psychotic drug shall help your client irrespective if he is schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but more importantly i will urge you to get a revision of your diagnosis of the patient since first he is too young to have a diagnosis such as these and secondly the diagnosis is not correct since both these conditions cannot be labelled in the person simultaneously.
Role of norepinephrine and serotonin is limited in such a patient, drugs which may increase their levels in the brain may help in treating depression ( if the person is bipolar disorder) or negative symptoms ( if the person is schizophrenic).
I hope this helps.
Regards.
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Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia. Will Enhancing Seratonin And Dopamine Levels Help?
Greetings ! Well first of all it is wrong to diagnose a person with both Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at the same time since both these conditions are mutually exclusive of each other. However a positive thing in providing treatment for both of these conditions is that an anti psychotic medication like olanzapine or quetiapine or aripiprazole works very effectively in both the conditions by lowering the dopamine levels in the brain since excessive dopamine levels in the brain have been considered to have been associated with either of these conditions. So practically speaking use of an anti psychotic drug shall help your client irrespective if he is schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but more importantly i will urge you to get a revision of your diagnosis of the patient since first he is too young to have a diagnosis such as these and secondly the diagnosis is not correct since both these conditions cannot be labelled in the person simultaneously. Role of norepinephrine and serotonin is limited in such a patient, drugs which may increase their levels in the brain may help in treating depression ( if the person is bipolar disorder) or negative symptoms ( if the person is schizophrenic). I hope this helps. Regards.