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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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On Tegratol And Epitec For Biopolar. Having Back Pain And Headache And Worse Than Before. Advise?

My mother is currently on tegratol and epitec 50mg for biopolar. We always thought that she suffered from depression, but now the docter say she is biopolar. She is on the meds for almost 6 months now. I am very very worried about her. She is very aggressive - towards life and people around her. There is always something wrong - backpain or headache. I don't always know if she is telling the truth. Since she started with the new meds she had vertigo twice! She is very moody - she can cry, be angry, be rude - all in 30 minutes. The bottomline is that she is MUCH worse than before. I really want to help her, I am desperate! She is mean towards everyone!! So I don't know if I must consult her psychiatrist? She doesn't listen and I think that would make her very mad, but what can I do to help?
posted on Fri, 5 Jul 2013
Twitter Fri, 5 Jul 2013 Answered on
Twitter Sat, 6 Jul 2013 Last reviewed on
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  User's Response
If your mother is having behavioural changes of late - such as aggression, being irritable or having mood swings - it can be emotionally tough for you. She may not be doing it deliberately, but is suffering from probable mental illness.
You may consult a psychiatrist if you have not already done so as it will help to reach a diagnosis (based on your history and also the doctor's interview with your mother).
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Psychiatrist,  Dr. Anjana Rao Kavoor's  Response
Hi,

I went through the available patient history. It's possible for a patient of depressive disorder to develop Bipolar disorder. The risk persists throughout the course of the illness. Here apart from suffering from depressive symptoms the patient can episodically have symptoms like increased activity, talkativeness, elevated or irritable mood, aggression, extreme moodiness etc. That is what your mother is likely going through right now. The right medication are mood stabilizers that she is on currently i.e carbamazepine (tegretol ?dose) and lamotrigine (epitec 50).

Carbamazepine can cause side effects of dizziness. Your doctor will be able to help out with that. You have not mentioned details of when the drug was started and over how many days or the dosage here.

If she is much worse then she is acutely symptomatic and she needs to be taken to her psychiatrist before worsening of symptoms. She will get mad about it since she is ill and has no insight into it. You will have to take up that responsibility to take her for treatment.

I hope this helps,
Dr A Rao
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On Tegratol And Epitec For Biopolar. Having Back Pain And Headache And Worse Than Before. Advise?

If your mother is having behavioural changes of late - such as aggression, being irritable or having mood swings - it can be emotionally tough for you. She may not be doing it deliberately, but is suffering from probable mental illness. You may consult a psychiatrist if you have not already done so as it will help to reach a diagnosis (based on your history and also the doctor s interview with your mother).