When's the BIG advance in treatment coming?

[Guest guest]

I've heard/read that a big breakthrough is coming in 5-10 years time. Anyone else following the cusp of research? Got any links?

Sorry if this is in the wrong area.

I'm just thinking this would help me have more hope. (fyi- No, I'm not suicidal.) Thus, the request for information.

btw, A cure would be great, of course! But then, that goes without saying...

Dx: I suspect BP II, with occasional anxiety and OCD, though I don't really want/need to know the details. And my p-doc is ok with that. I just keep taking the meds; they help a lot.

[december_brigette]

Hi Guest:

you arent going to learn anything until you register to be a member.

db

[AirMarshall]

Three years ago George Washington University (GWU) hosted its Second Annual Bipolar Conference, and the presentations were available by internet for two years.

Dr. Husseini Manji, the head of the NIMH laboratories gave an enthusiastic presentation on the their current avenues of medicine research. He outlined 20 different chemicals/mechanisms many of which show promise. Unlike any of our present medications, all targets are at the sub-neuron level. They are teasing out the mechanisms within the neuron, which they have known for well over 20 years is where the problems lie.

Our present medications all work on the exterior of the neurons and synapses, and use comparatively vast quantities of the medication in hopes that a small portion will get through and have have the desired effect within the neuron. The consequence of this shotgun approach is lots of undesirable side effects. The anticipated advantage of these new medications is that they will be highly specific to particular mechanisms within the neuron, and thereby will have significantly lower side effects while being more effective.

While Dr. Manji was infectiously enthusiastic, he did not give any specific dates. Some of the drugs he mentioned are already undergoing experimental testing. My guesstimate is that it would take probably 10 years to see new drugs on the market. I figure it takes about 6 years for formal Stage I, II and III approval trials. Once the inner workings of the neuron is deciphered the drug advances should be rapid across the board.

Take heart, better drugs are coming. I have reviewed the psych meds and categorized them elsewhere. I'm was astounded to find that over half the psych meds have been discovered since I was in college, and I'm 48 yo. Advances can be rapid.

a.m.

[Velvet Elvis]

Generally advances aren't made in large increments but rather in small ones. Sometimes new drugs aren't that much better than ones that have been around for 20 years. I'm skeptical of any drug that offers a huge new advance.

you might find this interesting:

http://www.neurotransmitter.net/newdrugs.html

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your replies.

Sorry for my impatience. Reading it the next day I can tell I sound a *little* annoying.

fyi-I did register.

My first posts their replies made me want to be a member. So, thank you very much all for that.

In peace...