[purpledaisy]

Hey everyone,

Just curious.

This question is for those of you who are on medication (whether mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, etc.) and feel like you have found that sweet spot with meds that work for you.

Do you still have manic episodes and depressed episodes?

Or does the medication keep you pretty much leveled out.

I realize we're human and that means we'll have joy and sadness, but what about the rollercoasters?

Meds have made the episodes fewer and farther between, but they still come.

[purpledaisy]

Do you feel like they are less severe because of the meds?

I rarely have any hypomania at all anymore, so yes, that is less severe (although that was never that problematic to start with.) The depressive episodes are still pretty severe when they happen, but more than meds, therapy has helped me learn better ways to handle those episodes when they do happen.

[hamster-bamster]

Fewer episodes, milder episodes.

[BuggsBunny]

milder depression (we still haven't found the right combo for my winter depression) and only a little mania in spring. This in contrast to my unmedicated life of full blown manics followed by sui depressions every few weeks or so.

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

I realize we're human and that means we'll have joy and sadness, but what about the rollercoasters?

...all the rides in my amusement park are still pretty scary and dangerous and the crowds push me around and suddenly I find myself lining up for the rollercoaster and soon doing the loop the loops!

meds are like a parachute for me to help manage the freefall in my life but sometimes it just doesn't open thats a bit tricky yep.

I guess the medication helps me to be more careful cos I have to be so careful with what I do.

[BlackPup]

I've been pretty stable for a couple of years. Some mild depression but not much else.

[sugahorse1]

A lot more stable and the depression a lot more under control. If the depression gets too deep, we know it's time to adjust the meds

[wing]

My mood swings are so mild that I can't even call them "swings" anymore. The problem is mixed episodes. They are far less severe, but still come and go. They are much easier to get through, but still no picnic.

[Clinte89]

I have been on meds for only about 8 months and have found that my moods are typically more stable however I have still been fighting with depression and recently had a mixed episode so I know we havent found the right mix just yet and have little hope we will.

[ChristySpirals]

I just started meds a lil while ago and went on a hypomania trip but it didn't last as long. I will say one good thing I've noticed is the anger doesn't stay with me as long, therefore my reactions are not drawn out like before when I could yell about the spilled milk all day. Also the music in my head stopped, same with the chatter. It's left me bored and dull. Oh I was feuding with the crusty old bag next door and even she can't make me angry as much anymore. Funny thing when u sit back and do some inventory on urself lol. Guess the hag will live after all lol

[purpledaisy]

What is the goal of medication then?

To totally avoid episodes?

Or if it isn't possible to totally avoid episodes, is the goal to tone them down?

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.

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.

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

What is the goal of medication then?

To totally avoid episodes?

Or if it isn't possible to totally avoid episodes, is the goal to tone them down?

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.

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.

Hang around here long enough and you realize quite plainly that when it comes to bipolar disorder everything varies from person to person.

Obviously, ideally we would all get to the point that we no longer have episodes but that generally isn't how it goes, particularly at the beginning of treatment. It has taken some of us years to find the right combinations of meds/therapy/diet/whatever to work for us personally.

You probably do need to find a good psychiatrist though. General MD's aren't usually well-versed enough in all the options and interplays between meds to treat bipolar disorder long-term. There are exception to that though as in all things bipolar.

[Resident Bipolar]

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

What is the goal of medication then?

To totally avoid episodes?

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.

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

Or if it isn't possible to totally avoid episodes, is the goal to tone them down?

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').

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.

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.

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.

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 ♥

I was on meds for almost a decade, tons of different combos and the episodes of mania and depression were very consistant the whole time. I finally found some "other" means of coping or just living and honestly I am med free now, but I have not had an episode in about 8 months and for me that is my best track record.

While I realize my path isn't the path for everyone, one thing I do know, is that untill I found better methods of taking care of my whole "being" I didn't have any real improvements. I think mental illness and other illness or ailments of the person Sometimes really does require the persons being to be looked after from all ends. For me meds and therapy just wasnt going to be enough, no matter how hard I tried I was still neglecting other aspects that kept me in that circle.

So wether on or off meds, I think there are parts missing for treatment that we just can't get from a doctor. I wasn't an easy case I have bipolar 1 with psychosis. I felt pretty hopeless, but there is hope and I really believe there are ways to combat this effectively. Finding them tho takes time and perciverence. Ah and more time

[Confusedinomicon]

A good therapist will help you work on creating good habits. I still get symptoms but I havent experienced anything crazy since Ive been consistent with meds.

Ty anika. I wanted to say that but on my phone. XD

[purpledaisy]

So there's no chance in hell of me being "normal" ever again.

Although I never really have been normal.

I was just hoping that once we get this medication thing figured out, I might breeze through my remaining years as a normal person.

...I know it's not the pretty picture PD but from my experience managing bipolar becomes a way of life and having 'episodes' as such, re-assigns what normal is from what it once was or what it appears to be.

it's 'normal' for a person experiencing a bipolar lifestyle to have bipolar mood swings in much the same way as it's 'normal' for a sumo wrestler to eat a horse for dinner.

I guess it's all relative...I kinda know where you are coming from and I don't want to seem like I'm minimising your fears.

It takes ages maybe or can be quick to adjust and find what works but you are still a complete person and have amazing opportunities

[flame78]

This question is something I wondered a little about too. I suppose I was somewhat hoping to someday be "normal" too. But I am grateful to just be where I am now compared to 6 years ago (when I was first diagnosed and was in the midst of a severe manic episode). I've been on medication since then and still have ups and downs.

But I can say that I do think it gets better as each year passes. And now I notice even each month gets better than the last (and there's that one month there's a back slide but I just get back on my feet and get back on track). I went to this great site recently called something like Bipolar Alliance and they have this awesome interactive website called "facing us." It has really helped me just like this forum has helped me see that I need to accept my symptoms and that I'm not alone. So because of all of this I actually do feel more "normal" now.

[flame78]

Originally Posted by dubblemonkey

...I know it's not the pretty picture PD but from my experience managing bipolar becomes a way of life and having 'episodes' as such, re-assigns what normal is from what it once was or what it appears to be.

it's 'normal' for a person experiencing a bipolar lifestyle to have bipolar mood swings in much the same way as it's 'normal' for a sumo wrestler to eat a horse for dinner.

I guess it's all relative...I kinda know where you are coming from and I don't want to seem like I'm minimising your fears.

It takes ages maybe or can be quick to adjust and find what works but you are still a complete person and have amazing opportunities

Nicely put!