There is a lot of discussion surrounding the issue of bipolar depression medication, and whether it is the right thing to do. If you are one of the millions of people out there who are presently suffering from bipolar disorder, then this is a topic that is going to be of great importance to you.

If you are bipolar, once you have determined the causes of bipolar depression, what your doctor will probably first suggest is that you start on bipolar depression medication. Now most of the bipolar patients who start taking medication find that the medicine helps them to feel better, and at least gives them a more balanced tone and helps them from feeling so high or low all the time.

However there are certain questions about bipolar depression medication as well that you may be interested in, because some medications offer more unfavorable symptoms and side effects as a result of a person taking them, than benefits.

This is why it is so important that a person weigh out the risks and benefits of a medication before starting on it, and your doctor will work through this with you. If you do decide to start on a bipolar depression medication, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind.

The Selection

The first step will be to learn about the different types of medication that are available for treating bipolar disorder, and working with your doctor to find the one that seems as though it would work best for you. This will depend on a few different factors including your age, the state of health you are in, and whether you have any existing health problems.

Give it Time

When you are taking any sort of bipolar depression medication, you need to give it time. At first you may experience some side effects that are not at all fun, but these are only temporary and should go away over time. Most medications take up to six weeks to offer full results, so give it time to work and do its job.

Don’t Stop Taking it

One of the biggest mistakes that bipolar patients make is they stop taking their medication abruptly. It is important that you never do this, because it will do you much more harm than good, and can be permanently damaging. Especially if you have been taking the medication for an extended period of time, this means that your body will have become accustomed to it and so you will go through withdrawal if you stop suddenly.

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Besides stress (one of my favorite topics) the other broad category that affects the health of my patients the most is allergies.  There are different types of allergic reactions.  This article will focus on the symptoms of common food allergies and how you can find out if you have them.

Let’s start with the type of food allergy you are likely to be most familiar with:

• The immediate type reaction.  This type of food reaction can be very severe and occurs because the immune system is overreacting to a substance that it perceives as being a hostile foreign invader, but that is usually safe for most people. Certain immune receptors (IgE antibodies) bind with certain foreign proteins in foods (allergens) and cause certain immune cells (mast cells) to release histamine.  This powerful messenger causes inflammation and other detrimental effects such as a narrowing of the windpipe.  This type of allergic response can be related to eczema, hay fever and, most seriously, asthma as well as anaphylaxis which can lead to shock and death.  People who are aware of these type of food allergies often will carry an epi-pen or an inhaler.  But if you eat a food and your lips or tongue feels tingly, or you have trouble breathing, you are likely allergic to it.  It is best to stay away from that food.  The most common food allergies in this group in decreasing order of frequency include:

1. egg
2. fish
3. shellfish
4. nuts
5. peanuts

Immediate type allergies can be tested by a skin prick test or a blood test.

The next type of allergy is less familiar, although incredibly common, to most people and it is called:

• The delayed type sensitivity. These common food allergies can take up to 72 hours to actually present themselves as symptoms.  This makes it hard to know what food is causing what reaction.  The most common food allergies of this type are (in decreasing order of frequency):

1. milk
2. chocolate
3. wheat
4. citrus
5. food colorings

Delayed allergies are mediated by another chemical in the immune system called IgG antibodies.  The IgG antibodies form complexes with allergens and these complexes are deposited into tissues anywhere in the body which can cause a wide array of symptoms.

Digestive symptoms can include: gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, ulcers and heartburn.

Mental / emotional symptoms can include: anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, insomnia, confusion, inability to concentrate or decreased memory.

Skin symptoms can include: acne, eczema, hives, itching or rashes.

Other symptoms can include: bed wetting, chronic bladder infections, yeast infections, chronic or recurrent colds and flus, headaches, migraines, hayfever, asthma, fatigue, joint pain, painful periods or infertility.

As you can see these allergies can cause a number of effects in the body - things many people live with on a daily basis. The good news?  You don’t have to live in discomfort!!  Methods of testing include various elimination and challenge diets, blood tests and stool tests.  If you suspect you might have one of these common food allergies talk to your Naturopathic Doctor or licensed health care professional about discovering your allergies.

Naturopathic medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health.  Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease.  Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.

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