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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by mistermindmasta on April 19, 2004, at 23:07:39
I've pondered this for a while and am just curious to gain some feedback...
Some people who are bipolar or cyclothymic cycle between depression and hypomanic very very quickly, sometimes only in hours.
Then there are people who, genetically, have extra sensitive adenosine receptors.
Might certain forms (a small minority of people i would guess) of rapid cycling bipolar be caused by caffeine in individuals that are very sensitive?
Imagine this: Every day, at random periods in the day, someone spikes your bottle of water with a decent dose of ... methampthetamine, street dosage, plenty enough to make you hypomanic. Clearly this person would feel periods of elation followed by periods of letdowns, and wouldn't even know what caused it. Therefore, diagnosis: bipolar II, ultra rapid cycling, whatever... doesn't matter.
Do you think there are people that don't even know they're drinking caffeine (root beer? tea? other random drinks?) who experience ultra rapid cycles? Just wondering because I am so sensitive to caffeine, and I am aware of this. However, if I had no idea how strong i react to caffeine, I might consider myself bipolar II rapid cycler, based on how i get hypomanic and then experience letdown.
Interestingly, kava, which is thought by some to act as a calcium ion flux inhibitor (similar to anticonvulsants like lamactil, used for BP II), works incredibly well in eliminating my ultra strong sensitive to caffeine. I don't get the post caffeine let-down. Even not on caffeine, my mood is far more stable. Possibly the inhibition of calcium flux inhibits excitotoxicity and allows nerve growth, thus allowing me consistant moods and cognition?
I don't know... just some thoughts. Any comments?
Posted by Jackd on April 20, 2004, at 4:45:45
In reply to Ultra rapid bipolar b/c of caffeine?, posted by mistermindmasta on April 19, 2004, at 23:07:39
Damn, I've noticed the same things as you in terms of caffeine and mood. I though I was super cycling until I realized it was just that I was drinking coca cola at random intervals in the day... and yep, the Lamictal sort of eliminated this to some extent. People that are "mood-reactive" are warned against drinking caffeine. I'm quite sensitive to the stuff myself.
Posted by mistermindmasta on April 20, 2004, at 11:11:57
In reply to Re: Ultra rapid bipolar b/c of caffeine?, posted by Jackd on April 20, 2004, at 4:45:45
> Damn, I've noticed the same things as you in terms of caffeine and mood. I though I was super cycling until I realized it was just that I was drinking coca cola at random intervals in the day... and yep, the Lamictal sort of eliminated this to some extent. People that are "mood-reactive" are warned against drinking caffeine. I'm quite sensitive to the stuff myself.
Right on, that's interesting that your story jives so closely with mine.I wonder if the caffeine induced glutamate release causes excitotoxic damage. A new study just released shows that ppl with bipolar have unusually weak protection from excitotoxic factors. Possibly caffeine is one of these excitotoxic factors (but not in normal ppl), via glutamate release? This makes perfect sense that anything that inhibits that Ca (2+) flux from glutamate release [Lamactil, Carbamapazine (forget the spelling)] might inhibit this damage. Generally speaking, I would assume that people who are bipolar are sensitive to other dietary stressors that normal people with normal excitotoxic damage protection do not experience. Alcohol withdrawal causes neurodegeneration via upregulation of NMDA receptors, and this might be more pronounced in bipolars. I am extremely sensitive to alcohol, as well.
Bipolar ppl might have genetics that decrease glutamate uptake, thus allowing high concentrations of glutamate and higher probabilities of neuron damage.
I wonder how that one glutamate inhibitor (riluzole... spelling?) would affect people with bipolar.
Posted by T_R_D on April 20, 2004, at 14:35:40
In reply to Ultra rapid bipolar b/c of caffeine?, posted by mistermindmasta on April 19, 2004, at 23:07:39
Caffeine (coffee but not tea) wigs me out! The last time I had some I think I had a simple partial seizure which I have suffered from in the past. Freaky.
Posted by smokeymadison on April 21, 2004, at 18:52:55
In reply to Re: Ultra rapid bipolar b/c of caffeine?, posted by T_R_D on April 20, 2004, at 14:35:40
i am an ultrarapid cycler. my psychatrist told me to lay off the caffeine (i drink like 12 cans a day) and nicotine (i smoke half a pack a day). she said that any of the "ines" cause more cycling. haven't had much luck doing that, though.
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