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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Grace4me on December 17, 2004, at 11:32:01
My son, who is 18, has had much hyperactivity, some minor depression, and a regular basis of rage episodes. He could not function in the classroom environment because it brought out all his insecurities and rage. His hyperactivity prevented him from being able to be quiet or sit still. In the last year we had taken particular notice that the rage would occur about every 3 to 4 weeks. We could sense it about 2 days before it would manifest. He had been diagnosed with ADHD, but medications never worked. He recently was seeing a psychologist, trying to figure out why he would go into these rages and get to the root of his insecurities. He was placed on Zoloft as a trial and 7 days after taking it he went into one of the deepest depressions I'd ever seen him in. After 2 days in bed he went into a violent uncontrollabe rage - tearing his bedroom up, breaking 3 wood rocking chairs on the porch, cracking his windshield with his fist, putting his head through the sheetrock in his bedroom wall. My father called the police during the episode - he kicked the glass out of the police car, tried to rip the sink off the jail cell wall, started pulling the ceiling squares off the jail cell ceiling. They of course had him transported to mental health and from there to a hospital. He was diagnosed with cyclothymia. He returned home from the hospital on December 13, 2004. This is all so new to us. My son, is a wonderful young man in between the episodes. In between the rages things seemed so normal (besides hyper, but this had been there since childhood), you would almost forget about the rages. As he has gotten older the rages have become more destructive and that is why we had him see the psychologist. Do the symtoms I have mention above sound like cyclothymia to those of you who have it. Do any of you experience the rage? If this diagnosis is correct, it has brought a sense of relief. We understand things we had not understood for years. One of my great concerns is, during all the ups and downs my son has been through, he has become a daily user of marijuana, drinking on weekends, and some cocaine use. I worry how this will effect the cyclothymia if he continues. I also wonder will cyclothymia most likely turn into full blown bi-polar even if he is being treated now? Right now he is on Seroquel. I understand that this is not a long term drug, though it does seem to be working. His next appointment is on January 4 and they will probably try him on Lithium. I guess I just needed to express my thoughts to some of you who understand. Any feedback you can give or information, I would be grateful. God bless and have a blessed holiday season
Posted by Ritch on December 17, 2004, at 13:46:10
In reply to My son recently diagnosed - Cyclothymia, posted by Grace4me on December 17, 2004, at 11:32:01
> My son, who is 18, has had much hyperactivity, some minor depression, and a regular basis of rage episodes. He could not function in the classroom environment because it brought out all his insecurities and rage. His hyperactivity prevented him from being able to be quiet or sit still. In the last year we had taken particular notice that the rage would occur about every 3 to 4 weeks. We could sense it about 2 days before it would manifest. He had been diagnosed with ADHD, but medications never worked. He recently was seeing a psychologist, trying to figure out why he would go into these rages and get to the root of his insecurities. He was placed on Zoloft as a trial and 7 days after taking it he went into one of the deepest depressions I'd ever seen him in. After 2 days in bed he went into a violent uncontrollabe rage - tearing his bedroom up, breaking 3 wood rocking chairs on the porch, cracking his windshield with his fist, putting his head through the sheetrock in his bedroom wall. My father called the police during the episode - he kicked the glass out of the police car, tried to rip the sink off the jail cell wall, started pulling the ceiling squares off the jail cell ceiling. They of course had him transported to mental health and from there to a hospital. He was diagnosed with cyclothymia. He returned home from the hospital on December 13, 2004. This is all so new to us. My son, is a wonderful young man in between the episodes. In between the rages things seemed so normal (besides hyper, but this had been there since childhood), you would almost forget about the rages. As he has gotten older the rages have become more destructive and that is why we had him see the psychologist. Do the symtoms I have mention above sound like cyclothymia to those of you who have it. Do any of you experience the rage? If this diagnosis is correct, it has brought a sense of relief. We understand things we had not understood for years. One of my great concerns is, during all the ups and downs my son has been through, he has become a daily user of marijuana, drinking on weekends, and some cocaine use. I worry how this will effect the cyclothymia if he continues. I also wonder will cyclothymia most likely turn into full blown bi-polar even if he is being treated now? Right now he is on Seroquel. I understand that this is not a long term drug, though it does seem to be working. His next appointment is on January 4 and they will probably try him on Lithium. I guess I just needed to express my thoughts to some of you who understand. Any feedback you can give or information, I would be grateful. God bless and have a blessed holiday season
Hi, I've been diagnosed with bipolar since I was twenty and all those things you relate do sound familiar. My mood cycles every two to three weeks or so. I have periodic rages that are also difficult to control. The incident with the Zoloft was pretty extreme! Antidepressants can induce worsening behavior like that. I'm very sensitive to their effects as well. I used to get into fistfights with my father and have had the cops called one me a couple of times when I was that age. Have lost a job or two due to them as well. I've had symptoms of bipolar in early childhood. Nowadays it would have looked like ADHD I'm sure. I wouldn't worry too much about the illness escalating. The thing that helps more than anything else is to avoid stuff that will set off episodes. The substance abuse should decline somewhat and not be as much of a factor if his doctor makes good medication choices and your son is compliant with taking his medication. The substance abuse often is self-medication to relieve symtpoms. I hope you have a good holiday season as well!
Posted by aazospiro on December 17, 2004, at 16:27:11
In reply to Re: My son recently diagnosed - Cyclothymia » Grace4me, posted by Ritch on December 17, 2004, at 13:46:10
I cannot begin to stress enough how powerful serotinergic drugs are and how unpredictable the response to the SSRIs can be. I also, and TOO OFTEN!! , have seen how Prozac & COMPANY can cause severe aggressive and suicidal behaviour in many patients.
I honestly think that they are grossly overated and that we've just on the tip of the iceberg concerning these adverse reactions.
I wont be at all surprised if your son has an extremely favourable response to a low dose of a psychostimulant, especially if its a slow release/ extended release/ controlled release formulation.
The only 'fly in the chardonay' is his past history of alcohol/ marijuana/ cocaine usage.
Goog luck to you both.
God bless.
Posted by HappyGirl on December 17, 2004, at 18:09:54
In reply to My son recently diagnosed - Cyclothymia, posted by Grace4me on December 17, 2004, at 11:32:01
Hi:
The rage in your description is a part of Bipolar symptoms, ... it's called 'dysphoric mania.' Cyclothmia is a kind milder form of Bipolar, however it sounds to me like your son's case is much MORE like 'real' Bipolar.There are roughly two different kinds of Bipolar, ... one is Bipolar I which has 'full-blown' mania including some psycho. episodes while Bipolar II has hypomania which is milder form of mania, but still a lot of 'problematic,' particularly 'dysphoric/mania' episodes you already observing in your son.
First off, your son at age 18 needs med. combo. consisting of a mood-stabilizer, anti-depressant and plus anti-psycho.med. such as Seroquel, Zyprexa and few more APs. In my guess, ... his pdoc. first trying a weaker form of A.P., Seroquel, then, if this won't help his 'dysphoric/rageous mania, then the next must Zyprexa.
As far as 'street-drugs,' such as Cocaine and 'pot,'.... most of pdocs. are hesitant to see those who are using them, because it makes things/Bp complex on the top of 'already' complexity of Bp med. rx. However, in my personal knowledge, self-medication among younger generation is nothing new to pdocs. However, try to pursade your son NOT use those 'drugs' before/during seeing his pdoc.
In my suggestion, as for the Mom with Bp son, try to educate about Bp as much as you can, ... through here, Internet, reading books and even local mental support group. It's a lot of 'work' involved in your part, however unfortunately, this is a 'real' fact regarding any serious form of mental illness, such as Shizo. and Bipolar.
Please keep us posted your son's prognosis including any questions you have now and in the future.
H.G.
This is the end of the thread.
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