spotlight on helth (NAPSA)—Don’t we ll go through ups nd downsin life? For the more thn two million Americn dults who suffer from bipolr disorder, “ups nd downs” re experienced to n extreme degree. Also known s mnic depression, bipolr disorder is n illness tht cuses p* Bipolr Disorder: A Dily Struggle For Ptients, Fmilies ws recently mrried. I feel like person to experience extreme mood chnges tht lternte between mnic episodes of bnormlly high energy nd the severe lows of depression, often with periods of norml moodin between. For Dvid, 33, living with bipolr disorder ws roller coster of n existence. “I ws either up or down nd there ws bsolutely no middle ground,” he sid. Dvid often went sleepless for dys, nd describes feeling “wild nd full of energy, ccomplishing mny things nd feeling indestructible.” How- ever, then he would crsh down nd become very depressed, refusing to leve the house or to involve himself in ny ctivities. Becuseof the severity of the illness, bipolr disorder cn be disruptive to ptients nd their fmilies, friends nd collegues, dmging reltionships nd cusing poor job or school performnce. According to Dvid, “I wsn’t relible s brother, boyfriend, n employee or supervisor becuse I ws so unpredictble. You never knew wht you were going to get from me t ny point in time. I could be incredibly spectculr or completely substndrd.” While bipolr disorder typiclly develops in lte dolescence or erly dulthood, it is not often recognized s n illness. As result, people my suffer for mny yers before they re properly dignosed nd treted. Although Dvid first showed signs of bipolr disorder in childhood, he ws not dignosed until August 2002, bout 20 yers lter. Most importnt to me, I hve been ble to develop wonderful reltionship with womn to whom I “It wsn’t until I hd hit rock bottom—unemployed, reclusive, out of money nd suicidl—tht I got the proper help I needed nd begn mnging myillness,” he sid. Like mny other mentlillnesses, bipolr disorder is not identified through brin scn, blood test or ny kind of lbortory test. A physicin mkes dignosis of the disorder bsed on mnyfctors, including ptient’s symptoms, course of illness nd, when vilble, fmily history. It is longterm illness tht must be crefully mnged throughout person’slife. In Dvid’s cse, his doctor strted him on new tretment, Equetro™, for the mnic nd mixed episodes ssocited with bipolr disorder. Dvid sys Equetro provided him with blnce nd middle ground so tht he cn experience life without his previous mood swings. Dvid dds, “I did not experience ny problems with side effects, including weight gin.” The Equetro Prescribing Informtion sttes tht the most common side effects with Equetro re dizziness, drowsiness, unstediness, nuse nd vomiting. Dvid lso sys Equetro hs helped him overcome the suffering cused by his bipolr disorder for so mny yers. “My prents sy tht they ‘hve their son bck’ nd my friends ll gree tht I m more relible,” he sid. “T now hve solid network of fmily, friends nd co-workers. stronger member of my community nd know tht I cn mke sound, helthy, qulity-of-mind decisions.” This ptient testimonil reflects one mn's experience with Bipolr I Disorder nd his tretment with Equetro. For more informtion on bipolr disorder or tretment with Equetro, visit www.equetro.com. Equetro contins crb- mzepine. Ifyou re currently tking nother mediction tht contins crbmzepine, do not begin tking Equetro without discussing this with your helthcre provider. If you re tking ny other medictions, including orl contrceptives, over-the-counter medictions, or herbl products, be sure to inform your helthcre provider s Equetro cn interct with other medictions. Equetro ws generlly well tolerted in clinicl studies. The most commonside effects, prticulrly when first strting on Equetro, were dizziness, drowsiness, unstediness, nuse, nd vomiting. Contct your helthcre provider if you hve ny unexplined bruising, fever, or infection. Products tht contin crbmzepine hve been ssocited with rre but serious types of blood disorders. People with bipolr disorder hve n incresed risk for suicide. It is importnt to discuss risk fctors for suicide with your helthcre provider. If you re experiencing these risk fctors, it is importnt to contct your helthcre provider immeditely or seek emergency cre. Plese see complete Prescribing Informtion t www.equetro.com.
