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During a (hypo)manic phase, the bipolar may have a tendency to overuse toxic substances, most notably alcohol, but also other drugs to maintain or increase the state of euphoria and feeling of spiritual well-being.
On the one hand, risk taking behaviors markedly increase, and on the other hand, alcohol or other drugs can modify the effects of medications and increase the sensitivity to drugs and alcohol and result in dependency.
In effect, for example, the shift to alcoholism can be rapid.
If you consume or start to excessively and/or regularly consume toxic substances such as alcohol or other drugs, see your physician as soon as possible.
By speaking honestly to your physician without holding anything back or feeling ashamed, you will facilitate the care and treatment of your abuse or addiction problems. Your physician will keep everything in confidence, sworn by medical secrecy. Your physician is there to help you, not to judge you.
For your information, there is an important link related to the sex of the person, within bipolarity and alcoholism : alcoholism is three times more frequent with bipolar men and 8 times more frequent with bipolar women than in the general population, which should lead systematically to evaluation female alcohol abusers for bipolar disorders.
** Reader information : This section is mostly inspired of real-life experiences, and was written by the editorial staff of the Mood Institute, exclusively composed with patients - The members of the Medical and Scientific Committee are regularly asked to provide an advisory opinion - Last update
: 10/01/2011
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