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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Will Concerta Help Increasing Concentration In A Bipolar Patient?

i have a four year old daughter who was recently diagnosed bipolar and we have tried her on depakote sprinkles, zoloft, clonadine with no good results. She is having behavior problems at school not listening and very defiant she also can not concentrate when doing everyday things like eating. do you have any suggestions? would concerta help?
Fri, 12 Dec 2014
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello

Thanks for asking

It is very difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder at 4 years age. A psychiatrist find it very confusing in discriminating ADHD with childhood bipolar disorder. She is on sodium valproate, sertraline, clonidine with poor response. She is still having symptoms like not listening to other, defiant behaviour, poor concentration etc which are mainly symptoms of ADD. I would like you to consult a psychiatrist for re-evaluation. Yes as per my opinion if she is not showing response then concerta or methylphenydate can help. The drug is amphetamine drug and it helps in controlling symptoms of aggression and inattention. But the drug carry abuse potential. You can consult her psychiatrist for that.

Thanks
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Psychiatrist Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

She has bipolar disorder and is on Divalproate sodium, Sertralie, Clonidine etc drugs. She has not shown improvement and have behavioural symptoms like not listening to anyone, defiant behaviour, poor concentration etc. Such symptoms could occur due to ADD (attention deficit disorder) but proper evaluation is needed to differentiate bipolar from ADD.
Concerta is an amphetamine drug and it can help more if such symptoms provided she is having these symptoms because of ADD. If the symptoms of poor concentration, defiant behaviour are due to bipolar then I am afraid the drug would not prove much useful and the drug has abuse potential also. Proper mood stabilisation is needed in such case. She is already on Divalproate and her symptoms will improve. If symptoms persist the consult her psychiatrist again for evaluation.

Thanks, hope this helps you
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Will Concerta Help Increasing Concentration In A Bipolar Patient?

Hello Thanks for asking It is very difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder at 4 years age. A psychiatrist find it very confusing in discriminating ADHD with childhood bipolar disorder. She is on sodium valproate, sertraline, clonidine with poor response. She is still having symptoms like not listening to other, defiant behaviour, poor concentration etc which are mainly symptoms of ADD. I would like you to consult a psychiatrist for re-evaluation. Yes as per my opinion if she is not showing response then concerta or methylphenydate can help. The drug is amphetamine drug and it helps in controlling symptoms of aggression and inattention. But the drug carry abuse potential. You can consult her psychiatrist for that. Thanks