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Gabitril

Gabitril is a drug manufactured by Abbott Laboratories for treating chemical imbalances in the brain, resulting in epilepsy and other disorders. The billions of nerve cells found in the brain work to provide the body with messages via chemicals. These messages are what tell the body to cough, walk, breath, and so on. The chemical responsible for maintaining normal brain function is known as GABA. As GABA is released and binds with another cell in the brain or is reabsorbed by the body, overactivity of the brain function is eliminated. However, when a person does not have enough GABA, the brain becomes overactive. With Gabitril, the level of GABA is increased, which means it can bind to other nerve cells, producing normal activity within the brain.

The legal term for Gabitril is tiagabine hydrochloride or tiagabine HCI, which is available in 2mg, 4mg, 12mg, and 16mg tablets. This anticonvulsant drug is most beneficial for people with partial epileptic seizures although it does have other uses. For example, it can be used to retrain chemical activity within the brain to use healthy pathways for people who have suffered a stroke and in some cases; it can diminish the effects of Bipolar Disorder.

For this drug to work at optimal level, a patient will be prescribed between 32 and 56mg daily. Because Gabitril must remain at a certain level within the body, it is crucial for full effectiveness that the medication is taken on schedule, preferably in the morning since it tends to work better at this time of day. In addition, doctors will generally require that blood be drawn every month or two to monitor levels. Gabitril is a good choice in that the side effects are minimal and it does not interfere with other drugs.

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This Week's Bipolar News

Overeating and substance abuse are similar disorders
Los Angeles Times
People with bipolar disorder have higher-than-average rates of obesity and substance abuse. But McIntyre found that the obesity rate in bipolar patients was ...

Club stoush bowls out member
The Advertiser
A MAN suffering from bipolar disorder and depression has been barred from membership at a Sydney bowling club after a clash over club bylaws.

Mom abandons 18-year-old under Nebraska safe-haven law
Richmond Times-Dispatch
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Police say a woman has abandoned her 18-year-old daughter at a hospital, saying she can't control the girl, in what may be the latest use of Nebraska's unique safe-haven law. The woman told officials at BryanLGH Medical Center West that her daughter, who was adopted, is bipolar and has a learning disability, Assistant Police Chief Jim Peschong said today.

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Featured Article:

Romancing Your Spouse

"Romancing your spouse?" Ok, I can already hear you yelling at me! I know, it's a strange concept, but hear me out. Some of the longest-running marriages have lasted because of this very concept.

You may be thinking that this has nothing to do with Bipolar Disorder, but it does. Even the best of marriages has some strain on it - the pressures of day-to-day living, at the very least. However, Bipolar Disorder puts additional pressure on your marriage because of the issues you have to face in dealing with the disorder, whether you are the survivor or the supporter.

No matter how long you've been married, the suggestions in this article can put some "spark" into your marriage. And if you've only been married a short time, putting these suggestions into place now can help ensure a long, happy, healthy marriage (of course, you will still have to do some hard work yourself to make that happen as well!).

Click here to read the entire aritcle

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