BIPOLAR DISORDER
What is it?
Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health identifies Bipolar disorder as a medical condition that causes you to cycle through periods of extreme lows (depression) and highs (manic) that affect how you function. Some people with bipolar disorder experience manic and depressive symptoms at the same time. Some may also experience psychotic symptoms, such as hearing voices or having ideas that are not based in reality. Some people may have problems with movement, ranging from physical agitation to slowness to odd movements.
Symptoms include:
In the high state (called mania or, when less severe, hypomania) you may feel continuously happy and euphoric, or irritable, angry, and aggressive, for at least a week. If this is accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms, you may be in the manic phase of bipolar disorder:
- exaggerated self-esteem or feelings of grandeur
- less need for sleep
- more talkative
- racing thoughts
- easily distracted
- excessive energy
- behaving in a risky way or with poor judgement.
You may be in the low state (called depression) if you have at least five of the following symptoms for at least two weeks:
- loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to be enjoyable
- weight gain or loss
- sleep disturbances or sleeping too much
- feeling apathy or agitation
- less energy
- feeling worthlessness or guilt
- difficulty concentrating
- thoughts of suicide
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call 911 immediately or visit your nearest hospital
Current treatments include:
Psychotherapy and medications, such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants. These kinds of treatments are usually needed throughout your life.
Your doctor may recommend hospitalization if you are behaving dangerously, you feel suicidal or you become psychotic.
If you do not respond to medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option.
If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have had partial or no success with current treatments, you may be a candidate for IV ketamine infusions.
How can IV Ketamine infusions help?
While most studies focus on ketamine as a treatment for depression, there are promising results for other mood disorders. In the case of bipolar disorders, a few recent studies found that ketamine treatments resulted in fast reduction of symptoms, were safe and well tolerated, and patients reported marked improvements.
If you feel this could be a suitable treatment for you, and have questions, contact us. If you would like to be referred by your doctor to the Toronto Ketamine Clinic, you can print out this form for your doctor or forward this link.
The information found on this website is not to be construed as medical advice. Please see a licensed health-care professional for help with your medical condition.