Wednesday, October 28, 2009
by Tara Peyman, ND
Zyprexa (olanzapine) is a medication often used to treat bipolar
disorder, and can also be used for schizophrenia and acute manic
episodes. This medication may be helpful to reduce severe symptoms, but
it may not be necessary for everyone. Many people who are taking
Zyprexa, or similar medications such as Abilify or Seroquel, may be
able to taper off of this medication under the supervision of a
naturopathic physician with an expertise in psychiatric conditions.
People taking Zyprexa run the risk of developing potential problems
because of this drug, including high blood sugar which can progress to
diabetes, high cholesterol, and increased risk of death from stroke.
There are multiple side effects from Zyprexa which can be troubling for
some patients, such as weight gain, difficulty concentrating, and
increased fatigue.
Zyprexa increases GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) activity and
decreases the activity of some types of serotonin and dopamine. For
people with depression, but not mania, this can cause a feeling of
dulled emotions and even lower motivation. Most people with depression
already have weight gain and fatigue, and don't need to increase those
symptoms with a drug like Zyprexa.
You may feel like you need a drug to control your symptoms. However, I
have used individually prescribed homeopathic medicines to completely
control the symptoms of severe depression, bipolar disorder, and
debilitating anxiety or disorder. Homeopathic medicine works with your
body to balance your neurotransmitters and improve your mood.
Homeopathy can also safely treat physical symptoms, whether these
symptoms are related to your mood disorder or another health condition.
Many patients also benefit from specific nutritional or botanical
medicine protocols to improve health.
The first step in successful treatment of any health concern is a
proper medical diagnosis. Many people may have been told that they have
bipolar disorder, depression, or another illness, but there is in fact
an underlying chemical or hormonal imbalance causing their symptoms. It
is vital to have a complete workup, and appropriate laboratory testing
to rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms. With an
accurate diagnosis, natural treatments can begin.
Homeopathic medicine can be used in conjunction with medications, or to
help you taper off of medications safely over time. This will help to
control symptoms and help you to return to a truly natural state of
emotional and physical health.
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Dr. Tara Peyman offers a free 15-minute phone consult to get details on how she can help you.
Call to reserve your appointment:
Tempe, Arizona: (480) 456-0402
Mesa, Arizona: (480) 985-0000
Tara Peyman is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the state of Arizona.
Her expertise is treating depression and anxiety with natural medicine.
She has also developed comprehensive, naturopathic programs for weight
loss, diabetes and smoking cessation. She practices at East Valley
Naturopathic Doctors in Mesa (480.985.0000) and in Tempe
(480.456.0402). Visit her website for more information.