[StillLeftBehind]

I am one month into a pdoc saying that I am type 2 BP. He though I was rapid cycle BP but has decided type 2 is a better fit. Based on what he is telling me I see myself as a rapid type 2 more than anything. He has got me on 20 mg citalipram and 300 mg seroquel xr( cause 3 separate occasions I have seen stuff and done stuff that I either don't remember or is not real). The XR helps with sleep also(I was getting 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night for the last several years). I still feel more down(like something is very very wrong and I am going to die)sometimes rather than being all energized(although the other day my co-workers asked if I had taken my meds and asked that why am I either a 10 or a 1 instead of a 6 when it comes to mood). Is this the way I am gong to live the rest of my life(but it is better than before the pdoc)? I am unsure how to ask or if I should ask for a change to my medication. Or even if I should change. By the way my primary put me on 40 mg of citalipram 3 months ago but the pdoc changed it to 20 two weeks ago. I am unsure of what to think of what to do. Any help would be great

[MudCrab]

Welcome, StillLeftBehind. My suggestion is to print your post for your treatment team. It appears you might benefit from some adjustments.

it all takes time... time that we feel that we don't have. hang in there cuz it's a long ride

[OutlawedSpirit]

I agree with Dan, it is definitely a long ride. I, myself, am going on 5 months into treatment and we are still adjusting meds. Before Christmas we thought I was finally stabalized, but then a lot of stressful situations presented themselves, and it feels like we are back to square one. My pdoc said that when stabalizing meds, it's not enough to feel okay, when everything is going okay, you have to be able to handle the change and the stress as well. In the end, though, I think it is worth it. My mom once said to me that there is not magic pill to make all of life's problems go away, but what she doesn't realize is that we aren't looking to make life's problems go away, we are simply looking to be able to handle life's problems. So just hang in there, we are here if you need us.

[StillLeftBehind]

OK...stay calm and hang in there. That's a tall order but I am sure I can work my way though it. Printing off the post is a good idea. I feel better simply talking about what I am going through. Thanks for responding to my post and to be honest I would have felt fine with someone saying simply that things will get better. I don't know anyone in R/L that understands or can relate to what I am going through. I don't mean to sound like a whiner but this is real and I am in over my head and I can't seem to get a breather of air.

You may feel a little over your head right now, StillLeftBehind, but with your pro-active help, you will get much better in just several months.

Read some of the posts here on diet, etc., what foods to avoid and which ones
to rely on may give you a good start in managing your feeling tone.

Take care.

[BipolaRNurse]

Sometimes it takes months, even years to get the "bipolar cocktail" right. FWIW, I'm almost a year into it, and only recently have I settled into a stable mood. Please give the meds time to work, and your pdoc the time to adjust them per your individual needs. It's different for everybody. Best of luck.

[sugahorse1]

You were only dx'd a month ago. Give the meds some time to start working. Citalopram is an SSRI - these can take up to 6 weeks to start working.

We're here to offer you support. It's not an easy path, but It can be done