Hi everyone,

Just a quick question.

My sis-in-law takes meds for bipolar yet she still has a lot of mood swings etc.

She is on quite a few meds. Triliptal (sp?) Ablify(sp?) and Lamitcal.

I read here that people still have major episodes.

I thought medication was supposed to help.

Just has me baffled why she would still be "swingin" around when she's on meds.

Thanks!

[nothemama8]

Oh sweet purple petals, meds are only able to help, when cycle starts I have to cut back on my Wellbutrin (depression meds) and take Seroquel (helps me sleep), I'm a rapid cycler , talking here helps alot too
Angie

[Zorah]

Hi Petunia,

We have 2 cousins with bipolar & also 1 close friend.

It has been our experience that they all have huge mood swings despite the meds.

Thanks guys,

I never knew this.

I just thought cuz they called them "mood stabilizers"

well-- that they'd stabilize your moods!

[darkeyes]

Well, coming from one that has been there, and done that,plus family members with major episodes and "recovery"
maybe that the person(s) who are not responding to meds and/or therapy is not receiving proper care or perhaps is not compliant, is the problem?
Sure meds are a major help, but if one is non compliant or is not getting care from one who really does not fit the title of a pdoc. then not much progress will be aquired. (sp?) sounds like either the pdoc is not up on Bipolar care or the person is non compliant.
Another big factor, is if those around the person are ignorant, will be a huge factor in progress or lack of progress.
One can not always blame the meds or pdocs.
Just my personal opinion and "real" experience in this matter.

DE

One can not always blame the meds or pdocs.

I wasn't blaming anyone. I simply asked a question.

if one is non compliant or is not getting care from one who really does not fit the title of a pdoc

Maybe she isn't compliant. She does see a p-doc who fits the title.

if those around the person are ignorant will be a huge factor in progress or lack of progress

I'm around her. I guess I need to learn more so I won't be a factor in her lack of progress. I started by asking a question about meds.

Just my personal opinion and "real" experience in this matter.

You're right. I don't have any "real" experience in this matter.

[darkeyes]

Also, AD's if prescribed with mood stabilizers can create problems.
Truth to the matter is, mood stabilizers is key, not AD's with it, if the person is truly having swings.
Once "true" bipolar has been DXed and mood stabilizers have been prescribed, and by a knowledgble (sp?)pdoc the need for AD's is less likely, unless the pdoc is uncertain with their DX.
I'd suggest the person mentioned gets a more adequete (sp?) evaluation or switch to a more qualifed pdoc to be given the DX of Bipolar.

I'd suggest the person mentioned gets a more adequete (sp?) evaluation or switch to a more qualifed pdoc to be given the DX of Bipolar

She is seeing a qualified p-doc. Not sure why you are assuming p-docs not qualified or that she didn't have a more adequate evaluation. She has been given a "true" DX. She is in therapy as well.

Once "true" bipolar has been DXed and mood stabilizers have been prescribed, and by a knowledgble (sp?)pdoc the need for AD's is less likely, unless the pdoc is uncertain with their DX.

She is not on Anti-depressents. I don't why you assumed that either.

Maybe it will just take time for them to get the dosage etc worked out.

So the bottom line as far as I can tell is that you think because s-i-l is having mood swings, yet she's on meds that she is non-compliant and/or the p-doc is inadequate?

So if mood swings happen while you're on meds, being compliant and seeing a good p-doc and been DX'ed with "true" BiPolar...it must be something else.

I'll make sure I tell her.

[Merlin]

Even once a person has been stabilized on the meds, though your sil may still be in the med trial stage and not truly stabilized, it is still possible to have breakthrough episodes of depression, mania, or mixed. This can be caused by environmental factors such as stress, sleep, or sunlight. Additionally as time goes on the body reacts differently to the meds and dosages must be changes or meds may be changed, added or removed, altogether. I hope that this might help.

i'm on lamictal, wellbutrin, prozac and a thyroid med. i still have mood swings. i don't know of anyone who doesn't have them. it's such an indvidual thing and the meds work so differently on us that it's like a crap shoot to me........ xoxoxo

[sniffles]

hiya hun,
just thought id respond to this post. i suffer from bipolar as well, and i found that even though i was on lamictal, seroquel, protonix, depakote er, abilify, and hmmm....can't think of the last one, that i still had some swinging. i suffered a severe allergic reaction to lamictal, so that was stopped, as was the seroquel, because it shot my blood sugar levels through the roof. right now im not on anything. i sill swing, but not as bad. i hope this helps. im here if you need to talk.
sniffles

I have been stable for 4 years now on Abilify, Lamictal, Concerta, Provigil & Xanax except for one winter where I got depressed & had to add Wellbutrin & used a light box. My dx is bipolar I. I got off the Wellbutrin when spring came. I do have some SAD tendencies. Right now I'm hypo-manic, but not bad enough to change the meds (according to me--see doc in a week). I feel very good, but am not sleeping much & spending more than usual. So I guess I've had a couple swings in mood, but mostly on an even keel. The depression was very bad, but the Wellbutrin snapped me out of it. It took a year of experimenting to get me on the right combo of meds. I was lucky to have a doc that LISTENED to me, my side effects & whether things were working or not. I want the highest quality of life possible. I "fired" one doc because he refused to take me off Depakote & try something else even though I was clearly still depressed. I had arrived in a mixed state & since I wasn't so agitated on the Depakote he thought that was good enough.

I do have a friend who does well for a couple months & then gets manic or depressed & has to have her meds adjusted. I don't know why I have remained relatively stable. I have made my environment as low stress as possible--working only part-time at a not very demanding job, being married to a supportive husband, exercising, doing things I enjoy, staying away from people who trigger me (some family members) & having a structure to my day.

Everyone is unique in how the meds affect them.

[darkeyes]

Okay, I get what you are talking about, and the rest who have replied also.
Pet, I feel some defensive vibes, but please know what I replied had no intentions to upset you, and apologize for it.
For the others, yes, we are individuals and have individual treatments, some treatments work and some don't.
Bipolar may not always be black and white, or cut and dry.
At the same time, let it be known that one can have more disorders than just Bipolar, some overlap or just very similar to Bipolar behaviour(s) taking expertise to determine which is one or the other or several.
When this is the case, several meds/treatments may be necessary.
In general, key meds for Bipolar are basically mood stabilizers, while "additives" may be included or not.
No rule written in stone, I was just stressing the first target pdocs take, then according to what type of episodic behaviour one has, other meds follow.
Final point to my reply, is y'all have to do what y'all deem necessary, if y'all are fortunate to work with the pdocs,have communication(s) with them, this is great.
If the results/outcome of treatment is hazy,not working within what the person's pdoc expected (but expectations are never black or white, either) I am trying to suggest a 2nd opinion or another pdoc be sought out.
Last apology from me, if my reply was mis-read or taken with defense, the reply wasn't meant that way.
I apologized, sincerely, if that is not enough, I do not know what to say.
Take care,
DE

((((((((( for healing and understanding )))))))))))

[darkeyes]

fayerody, rather Bipolar or not, we are all targets for "mood swings".
Besides, Bipolar and meds., we have hormonal ingrediants and RL events, that can have a huge impact on "swings".
Having Bipolar just may intensify things.
Okay, maybe I'm not swinging up and down like "Tarzan", but I feel if I strayed from the meds my pdoc prescribed, I may have fallen into the huge pit.
Take care,
Roe

It's all good, DE.

Thanks everyone.

I understand a little better now.

[Rebound]

You should be congratulated. Keep asking questions. It isn't everyday that people go out of their way to understand.

It can be very much harder for some to acheive a symptom-free state than others may do. I do just as well with no drugs at all as on any of the ones I have tried up to now. On the other hand it does my heart good everytime I see someone post here that they feel better, however short- or long-lived a condition that turns out to be. A stable, long term course of medication is often the best path to that. I wish you both all the best.

Thanks for droppin' in

[darkeyes]

hey, that is cute, "friction is a drag".

[crazymusiclvr]

A lot can contribute to someone having some I call them "episodes" while being on medication. It is different for every individual.

Many factors can contribute. One being, are they on the right combination of meds. It can take people months to years to find just the right combination. I hit the jackpot and i'm very greatful because I take 3 and it was the right combination. Only took me 6 months to become stable. Another factor is are they taking their meds like they should. Another thing to keep in mind is even if a person is stable for months on meds, they will probably need their meds adjusted every so often so it is important that they see their doctor as needed.

From your position, I would say just stay supportive, ask your family member often how they are feeling and be encouraging and remain positive. You sound like a very caring person.

~Lia
crazymusiclvr@aol.com

[nothemama8]

Petunia, I have a friend who is Bi-polar and when she cycles, whoa stay away from her she's nasty, says the meanest stuff, me I get irritable but not to the nasty stage, as Rebound said keep asking questions
Angie

[darkeyes]

Imagine adding some PMS, and hot flashes in with that, yikes, can be a very nasty combo, eh?

[nothemama8]

she was my partner , we were co-cordinators at a drop-in-center and she told our boss to go to He**, ended up in hospital now blames everyone else for losing her job and that was 7 years ago