Quote:
Originally Posted by purpledaisy
What is the goal of medication then?
To totally avoid episodes?
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Primarily the goal of medication when it comes to managing bipolar disorder is to
reduce the impact that the condition has in the daily life of the sufferer.
In the majority of situations it isn't possible to completely remove bipolar symptoms...and therefore medication is something that helps to reduce two of the following things: the severity of episode and the frequency in which episodes occur.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purpledaisy
Or if it isn't possible to totally avoid episodes, is the goal to tone them down?
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It definitely isn't the same for every patient. I think I heard somewhere that "every person suffering from Bipolar Disorder is different".
As I said before, it's almost certain that in a large percentage of cases, the goal IS to reduce the severity (as you put it to 'tone them down').
Quote:
Originally Posted by purpledaisy
If you're on meds and still have episodes, is that a sign that your meds aren't right? Or is it something that can't be avoided? Or does it vary from person to person?
Thanks for the responses. This is pretty interesting.
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It really depends. Everyone is different really. If the aim of your particular care plan (including medications) is to reduce the severity and frequency of episodes only...even if the medication is doing its job correctly, episodes will occur.
To determine if a medication change is needed, the prescriber must know what severity and frequency of episodes you are experiencing whilst taking the medication (including various other factors). If you're still experiencing episodes but not to a severity which changes your daily life to an extreme and if episodes aren't occurring nearly as frequently as they would normally...then the medication the majority of the time, is still doing its job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purpledaisy
My regular MD had me on 20 mg of Celexa only, which left me in depression. She doubled Celexa, which knocked me into mania. Then she added Abilify and I'm on my fourth day of taking it. Too soon to figure out if we're on the right track.
Meanwhile, she's calling to try to get me in to see a pscyhologist because she thought she might get me in faster than if I call on my own. Apparently it's difficult to get in to see psychologists and psychiatrists around here.
But I'm hoping I will soon be able to see a therapist regularly.
This question about finding the right meds and possibly still having episodes really had me concerned, though.
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It nearly always takes time to find the right combination of medication. Celexa (Citalopram) is an antidepressant...this group of medication can both make depression worse and (in bipolar patients) cause mania/hypomania.
The reason your MD has now added Abilify is that it has mood stabilizing properties. Adding a mood stabilizer (usually medications from the antipsychotic group) helps to control Celexa (an antidepressant) which will hopefully prevent both decline into depression and stop the medication from causing mania.
It
will take time and a lot of trial-and-error to find the perfect combination of medications. However...that isn't to say that you won't still experience slight symptoms of your bipolar once your medication has been sorted out. The aim is primarily to reduce the severity of episodes and the frequency of occurrence.
When you finally get to see a psychologist, therapy will help the medication to do its job. Here in the UK, medication is used as one of the last resorts: with therapy being used first.
It's not an unknown fact that in a large number of cases, a perfect balance between therapy and medication is the best way forward.
Hope that helps.
RB ♥
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Bipolar life has it's ups and downs
Currently experiencing slight relapse into depressive episode but overall stability for almost a year!