Patient Anonymous: Just Another Head Case

Hi Canageek. You’re the first person to comment on this Page!

Yes, I have lots of information on Biphentin. It is the exact same as Concerta (that is Extended Release Ritalin/Methylphenidate.) They are identical pharmacologically. However, there are some slight differences.

Biphentin comes in a capsule form with little balls in it. Concerta is an almost cylindrical pill as you know, having been on it. Inside that, is a sort of chalky substance? Thus, that makes for (again) a slight difference in how they are metabolized. Granted, not much.

Also, the dosage levels are different. Biphentin doses are equally distributed by 10mg. Concerta is not, and for some reason, that makes no sense to me. It stops its equal dosage levels at 36mg. It starts at 18mg and progresses from there in 9mg increments up to 36mg. Then it doubles right up to 54mg! Again, this makes no sense to me.

The reason I switched to Biphentin, is because I wasn’t quite getting the best results, I thought, at 36mg of Concerta. Merlin #2 was hesitant to bumping me all the way up to 54mg and that I could well understand! So, we went with 40mg of Biphentin that would just give me an extra little “push.”

Now, I have gone back to Concerta as I am not working and the stoopid guvmunt drug plan I am on will not cover Biphentin. It covers all other ADD meds but not Biphentin! I know. Another thing that makes no sense to me.

So…yes, Concerta probably worked better/longer for you because it is Extended Release Ritalin. That would be my guess, but everyone is different, our brains are different etc… That is also where the side effects of the non-ER Ritalin may have caused you issue, as well.

I have only been on the non-ER Ritalin once for a few days while in hospital. I couldn’t tell much of a difference as it was just a few days, but I suspect the ER form would work better for me.

Any other med questions, just let me know!

Oh, you asked how is it working out? OMG! My Stims have been an absolute blessing! They really help me so much. I can finally read (at least a bit better) as I had just lost all ability. I love books, so that was a total heart breaker.

I have no side effects from them, either! Awesome.

Hi Jon. So nice to meet you and welcome to my blog. I do have to laugh a little bit at the Search Term, and how you arrived at this Page and found me: “lamictal lab rat”! Sorry, I just love that.

However, not to take away from the serious tenor of your comment here. I do want to talk about you, as well as your son. I have no problem with that, also.

I’m not sure how much you know about Lamictal but it’s a pretty complicated Anticonvulsant. Well, all meds are and we are all different (my typical speech…) but Lamictal has to have its slow titration due to everyone getting up in arms about “The Rash” and SJS (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome), that yes, can be fatal but is rare.

If the Lamictal is causing you some problems, let me know what they are in greater detail and maybe I can help? I’m not a M.D. as I always say (and this goes for your son as well), but I am always very happy to offer my thoughts.

I agree with you also, so much, about genetics even though we don’t have any concrete proof…yet!

I have some strong feelings re: children and psych meds as well. It’s a real issue! Health reasons as children’s brains have not fully developed yet, ethical reasons for how can anyone know results or efficacy? Ethical, meaning conducting research and studies! How many parents do you think would volunteer up their children for drug studies? Well, some do–see below.

Personally… In my personal opinion, you are the primary caregiver, so it is ultimately up to you to make the decision. I would say the same to any other parent–or primary caregiver. You are responsible for this child.

I am not a parent. I have no children. Again, this is only my personal perspective. If I did, then I would not want to put my child on any psych meds unless:

a) A very good diagnostician had seen them, and a firm and excellent workup had been done (or maybe more than one diagnostician etc…)

b) Based upon the above, a diagnosis was made clear.

c) It was illustrated (either with or without the above), that the child would benefit, or really needed the medication to aid them. As in, whatever is/was going on was impairing their functioning.

That last point, I believe, is very important. This is why. Although we seem to be talking about Bipolar here, which is a Mental Illness, it shares a lot of traits with AD(H)D–which is a Developmental Disorder. The distinction is that you are born with a Developmental Disorder–it is not genetically laying dormant to be “triggered” like Bipolar often is. I have both.

Anyway, far too many times, parents will be far too quick to put their children on meds to make their lives easier. It is NOT about the parents’ lives–it is about the children’s lives!

As far as the med Strattera, as mentioned above, it’s kind of an odd one. It is used for AD(H)D, but pharmacologically it is basically an Antidepressant. I have found a study done where the lowest child’s age within it, was actually six years old.

As far as the “maintenance” part of the study, which would mean that your child would take it long term, it really didn’t tell me too much. Basically, “statistically” in the double-blind tests, those not on placebo did better. The age group was also between six and 15 years old.

Bear in mind, this is used as an AD(H)D med. If there is any suspected Bipolar diagnosis going on (and that has not even been confirmed?) Strattera may end up being prescribed “off label.” I see where you are from (don’t be scared, I am only saying this to try and help), so I do not know how physicians work where you are. I don’t know how amenable they are to working with off label procedures. And just to reassure you, I am in Canada–it’s on my about page so there’s a bit of quid-pro-quo re: locales!

So, I know this is getting a bit long here but I do feel this is very serious. It sounds to me like you’re not even sure yet what is exactly going on with your son, and putting the cart before the horse. Perhaps if you think there really is something going on, you might want to consider my “Option a)” up there, and then move forward.

If it were me (again, just me talking), I wouldn’t start tossing pills into my child unless it was absolutely necessary and certainly for the right reasons.

Please come back to my blog with any other questions, or email me if you want to talk about anything else.

Take care,
PA

Oh, yes! As far as my list? Well, it is pretty “impressive,” isn’t it? In part, it is long because I was originally mis-diagnosed in the first place, regarding the Bipolar. I also have my other comorbidities? ADD, Epilepsy, Migraines? I am a chronic insomniac too! For the Asperger’s and the PTSD, no meds for that! I have a very complicated brain!