Hypo/mania lasts for several weeks or until I call my pdoc, who promptly deals with it by adjusting one or both of my APs. One summer long ago I was manic for the entire season, I just didn't know I was bipolar at the time. So I went unmedicated...it wasn't pretty.

My depressions, on the other hand, tend to last for months and are not amenable to med changes for the most part. My last severe one (the one that landed me in the hospital) required major increases in my Lamictal and a small uptick in Zyprexa. It didn't take away all of the depression but it did end the suicidal ideation.