Question about Bi Polar

I am kinda new to this Diagnosis, I was in denial about it for a while, What I wanted to know is being on meds keep you from manic episodes? Do people ever have mania while on meds? My 2 manic episodes happened while i was off meds, so just curious if it can happen on meds.

depends on the meds and doses and person mandy.

you can go manic on meds

you can go manic off meds.

If you go manic on your meds, they aint working.

I've found that as long as I'm on a mood stabilizer and never touch an anti depressant I do not have hypo/mania. However, I do have severe depression episodes at times. Which disappoints me...I'd much rather be hypo (but not full manic) than depressed. I spent the better part of The last six weeks hypo. It was great. But I have also been off meds.

You can always have breakthrough episodes regardless of meds because sometimes they just don't work anymore, especially if you experience an environmental stressor.

Yes, but it isn't as bad...but I have only been on the "right meds" for a short period of time. Meds only help you control the emotions from the mood swing, not prevent it completely from happening. Or so it would seem based on what I felt so far.

Like others have said, you can go manic while on meds, but that shows they aren't working.

For me, I was on antipsychotics for my schizophrenia, and the doctors assumed they would work as a mood stabilizer, too. Actually, the antipsychotics ended up MAKING me depressed, but they didn't realize that. They then put me on antidepressants to fix my depression, and those made my mood wildly unstable, to the point that I started rapid cycling and had a very bad mixed episode (agitated depression with obsessive thoughts).

They realized that for whatever reason, my body doesn't process antipsychotics as mood stabilizers, so they put me on lithium instead. It's been working pretty well so far. :P

EDIT: I should also say that I have bipolar 2, so I've only ever been hypomanic. I've heard from some people with bipolar 1 that they stop having manic episodes and major depressive episodes, but they still sometimes have hypomania or depressive moods.

Definitely have experienced mania on meds. Sometimes I have to take an additional antipsychotic along with my other meds to bring the episode under control. I'm doing well on my current "cocktail" though and haven't had any mania or hypomania since October, which is good for me as I'm rapid-cycling. I did have a depressive episode right after the manic one, but that was relatively short-lived and I've been good ever since then.

All I know is, my life was a mess before I found out what was wrong with me and started on medications. Some people do just fine without them, and I envy those who can; but I know if I'm to live any semblance of a normal life, I have to be medicated. Yes, it's disappointing to still have mood episodes when I'm taking several different kinds of drugs to control them, but they're not as severe or as prolonged as they once were, and for me that makes taking meds worth it.

I have to disagree with Supanova that your medication isn't working if you go manic while taking them. That's a too simplistic way of seeing things. Sometimes your psychiatrist will start you on a low dose, to see if you are experiencing side effects and/or to let your body get used to the medication. For example, I have BP2, and I experienced hypomania while on a low dose of Trileptal. However, if the medication works (and I know that mine is stabilizing me), your manic and hypomanic episodes should subside (or become more manageable).

I haven't experience mania when on meds but when off my meds yes.

If you go manic on meds, your meds get changed - doesnt that tell you they arnt working?? On the right meds long term stability is sustainable, some need minor tweeks. On the right medication (when you find it) you should not have major mood swings, if you do, you're on the wrong meds or misdiagnosed.

Thanks everyone, I was just curious I am on Lithium that I take 3 x a day and it seems to be working well, I do get a little down but not full on depressed like in the past.

Like an idiot I stopped taking my meds and that's when I went manic. Fortunately I'm more stable now and hoping the meds will help keep me in balance.

Oh honey bless your heart! I feel for you! You may be in for an E-ticket ride if the meds don't work! I don't want to scare you so please don't panic. I just remember when I first got diagnosed I was so thankful that there was a name for what I was going though. I thought they could just put me on meds & I'd be normal. What I DIDN'T expect was a bunch of trial & error drugs that didn't work. And so I'd stay true to form and give up for months or years, and get tired of dealing with it and go get help again. I'm about to start meds again after about 5 yrs. off so we'll see how that goes. I hope you have better luck than I did finding what works for you! But if not, DON'T GIVE UP ! I felt like a guinea pigfor a long time. My Dr put me on every new drug that came out it seemed like. But here I am, 20yrs later starting all over. You have to have the heart of a fighter to beat this thing & I'm in your corner!

I have had quite a rollercoaster ride when it comes to meds. I agree that, if you are still having issues, it doesn't necessarily mean your meds aren't working, they just not be to the correct levels yet. And sometimes it takes awhile for your mood to stabilize.
Unfortunately, after MANY trys on just about every anti depressant out there, we found out that they all make me manic (which isn't uncommon for bipolar patients), so anti-depressants aren't an option for me.
It's really all trial and error, unfortunately, because everyone reacts to everything differently, and what can be a life saver for one, may be terrible for another. It just takes time.