New bipolar disorder treatments tested

[TZ]

Scientists are testing seasickness patches and other surprising options in a challenging search for new ways to treat the crushing depression and uncontrolled mania of bipolar disorder.

Also called manic-depression, it's an illness that can rip careers and marriages apart and drive people to suicide. And it's so complex and mysterious that researchers haven't developed a medication specifically for it since lithium, more than half a century ago.

Yet bipolar appears in various forms and severity in about 1 in every 25 American adults at some point in their lives, according to a major study published in May.

Current medicines help, but often fall short.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_on_he_me/treating_bipolar

I posted this in GD as well but thought you guys would appreciate seeing this. I know I in particular find it relevant....

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Wow.

Just flat Wow.

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2. funny how many drugs designed for other diseases get new uses

Thanks for posting this.

Anti-convulsants originally designed to treat epilepsy and seizure disorders are now used to treat bipolar disorder.

Many of the atypical anti-psychotic drugs are also used to treat bipolar disorder too.

Even good old lithium (which is just a mineral, like iron or sodium) was used for other purposes.

Brains are weird organs.