Priority 6 from the Bipolar PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What are the best ways to manage the side-effects of medication (including weight gain, problems with thinking and memory, and emotional numbness)? (JLA PSP Priority 6)
Overall ranking	6
JLA question ID	0041/6
Explanatory note	Not available for this PSP
Evidence	None identified
Health Research Classification System category	Mental Health

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	For full examples, see Category ID T5 on spreadsheet. Many medications cause weight gain or even hyper tension this is a big concern to patients and very difficult to control, hence stopping treatment. Why isn't this addressed as a real issue causing major problems. ~ How do you work around treating other ailments of say a physical nature when taking Lithium. To explain, many medications for example anti inflamatories or dietetics can not be used while on Lithium and yet are required for certain conditions such as water retention or injury. ~ Does lithium treatment almost always lead to kidney failure and other kidney problems in later life? If so what steps can be taken to prevent this damage? Is there anything that could be done to guard against this from occurring? ~ Why do people report they feel numb or false on medication? ~ I appear to be experiencing memory loss, a side-effect of Lamotrigine. Is this permanent even if I don't continue taking it? ~ Why are treatments prescribed but nothing done about the side effects such as weight gain?
Submitted by	Patients x 28 ~ Carers x 11 ~ Health Professionals x 2 ~ Others x 2

Extra information provided by this PSP

Original uncertainty examples

For full examples, see Category ID T5 on spreadsheet. Many medications cause weight gain or even hyper tension this is a big concern to patients and very difficult to control, hence stopping treatment. Why isn't this addressed as a real issue causing major problems. ~ How do you work around treating other ailments of say a physical nature when taking Lithium. To explain, many medications for example anti inflamatories or dietetics can not be used while on Lithium and yet are required for certain conditions such as water retention or injury. ~ Does lithium treatment almost always lead to kidney failure and other kidney problems in later life? If so what steps can be taken to prevent this damage? Is there anything that could be done to guard against this from occurring? ~ Why do people report they feel numb or false on medication? ~ I appear to be experiencing memory loss, a side-effect of Lamotrigine. Is this permanent even if I don't continue taking it? ~ Why are treatments prescribed but nothing done about the side effects such as weight gain?

Submitted by

Patients x 28 ~ Carers x 11 ~ Health Professionals x 2 ~ Others x 2

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0041
PSP name	Bipolar
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	363 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	14 June 2016