building tolerence to drugs?

[chaz5848]

is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

[Strawberry]

Post by chaz5848
is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

Yes it is very common for people to build up a resistance against the
meds so they dont work .Go back to your doc and tell him/her they dont
seem to be working anymore.

[acoftil]

Post by Strawberry

Post by chaz5848
is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

Yes it is very common for people to build up a resistance against the
meds so they dont work .Go back to your doc and tell him/her they dont
seem to be working anymore.

I think we are over simplifying this issue. A type 1 diabetic is dependant on
insulin to live, but does not ever develop a tolerance to the medication. The
word, "resistance" is a layman's term with no definition when it comes to
medication and tolerance issues.

Many things happen during a person's life. We know that life events can bring
changes to our bodies and our minds, which in turn can lead to permanent changes
in our brains. Thus, one reason why a medication could loose it's effectiveness
and require a medications change. This is the reason I've had to increase my
lithium dose this year--and I'm sure glad I did so. :)

Additional trauma could trigger (or kindle) (both layman's terms for now)
another underlying mental or medical issue that could require an increase or
change in medications.

Given the status quo (of any individual), it is even possible to reduce
medications no longer needed. (for example, I no longer take 3
anti-depressants, I only use two now).

The key for me is, is the medication working at all? If so, would an increase
help? Or maybe an add on medication (such as Neurontin for me) would work
better? Or maybe the current dose is as perfect as one can expect? The only
way to know is trial and error.

<waves at other guinea pigs out there>
Nancy
Just knockin' around the zoo. (James Taylor)

to email me, remove the Z

[Otenkiya]

Post by chaz5848
is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

Absolutely. Almost all the time, the body will eventually adapt to
whatever drug is being pumped into it...that's when it's time to either
change the dosage, or change the drug itself.

-Erica

[Sue Bilstein]

On Tue, 01 Aug 2006 10:55:40 -0400, Otenkiya <"erica.rosalle AT gmail

Post by Otenkiya

Post by chaz5848
is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

Absolutely. Almost all the time, the body will eventually adapt to
whatever drug is being pumped into it...that's when it's time to either
change the dosage, or change the drug itself.

Not "whatever drug". At any rate, I've been taking lithium for 16
years and it still works fine.

[Otenkiya]

Post by Sue Bilstein
Not "whatever drug". At any rate, I've been taking lithium for 16
years and it still works fine.

I misspoke, although I'd still say that the body has the tendency to
adapt to whatever you throw at it, eventually. The lithium that has
been working for you for 16 years *might* eventually lose its
effectiveness. Unlikely, but possible.

-Erica

[Sue Bilstein]

On Wed, 02 Aug 2006 12:21:09 -0400, Otenkiya <"erica.rosalle AT gmail

Post by Otenkiya

Post by Sue Bilstein
Not "whatever drug". At any rate, I've been taking lithium for 16
years and it still works fine.

I misspoke, although I'd still say that the body has the tendency to
adapt to whatever you throw at it, eventually. The lithium that has
been working for you for 16 years *might* eventually lose its
effectiveness. Unlikely, but possible.

I'm more worried that my kidneys will give out. They are OK at
present, but long-term lithium is not so good for them.

[Sue Bilstein]

On Wed, 02 Aug 2006 12:21:09 -0400, Otenkiya <"erica.rosalle AT gmail

Post by Otenkiya

Post by Sue Bilstein
Not "whatever drug". At any rate, I've been taking lithium for 16
years and it still works fine.

I misspoke, although I'd still say that the body has the tendency to
adapt to whatever you throw at it, eventually. The lithium that has
been working for you for 16 years *might* eventually lose its
effectiveness. Unlikely, but possible.

I'm more worried that my kidneys will give out. They are OK at
present, but long-term lithium is not so good for them.

[acoftil]

Post by Sue Bilstein
I'm more worried that my kidneys will give out. They are OK at
present, but long-term lithium is not so good for them.

Liver function is how they keep track of your dosage of several medications, not
just lithium. Liver function is an indicator of kidney function.

Did I get that right? <g>
Nancy
Just knockin' around the zoo. (James Taylor)

to email me, remove the Z

[On the Road to Damascus]

Post by acoftil

Post by Sue Bilstein
I'm more worried that my kidneys will give out. They are OK at
present, but long-term lithium is not so good for them.

Liver function is how they keep track of your dosage of several medications, not
just lithium. Liver function is an indicator of kidney function.
Did I get that right? <g>

Pretty much wrong. Liver function measures damage to your liver from
ongoing inflammation. Some drugs may have an adverse effect on your
liver so the liver function (enzyme levels in your blood) will need to
be checked. Just because the levels are mildly or moderately elevated
does not necessarily mean the drug must be discontinued. The liver can
heal from almost all damage.

There is pretty much no relationship whatsoever between the liver and
kidney function.

The dosage of your medication is kept track of by what you are
taking...but how that translates into actual blood levels may be of
interest. I think that is what Nancy is referring to, but liver
function tests will not tell you that. Of course, both tests could be
ordered at the same time...

Post by acoftil
Nancy
Just knockin' around the zoo. (James Taylor)
to email me, remove the Z

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[On the Road to Damascus]

Post by chaz5848
is it possible that over time a drug can lose it's effectiveness?

Some will, some won't. Tolerance develops to the benzos, but not to
mood stabilizers. However if your bipolar worsens, the mood
stabilizers can fail or need to be increased. That will not happen if
the bipolar was adequately stabilized in the first place, but that can
be extremely difficult especially if it was not treated until it
reached an advanced state. Rapid cycling and mixed states predict a
poor prognosis. If bipolar is caught early enough and treated well it
will normally not progress.


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