[liveforsummer]

I'm wondering just that.
What's the longest you've ever felt stable after being diagnosed and either on
or off meds?

[wildflowerchild25]

Six years, off meds. Looking back I can recognize that I had some episodes but nothing serious enough to warrant getting help.

[Sunflower123]

Honestly, I feel like the first time I've been stable has been the past 3-4 weeks when my doctor put me on a new med cocktail because of my daughter's moving away. All these years on meds and I've never felt stable. I've had some situational depression (my friend) but I'm clear headed. That's why I'm so happy for you.

I don't really know. I was reasonably stable for about 8 years. (Give or take a couple years) I had ups and downs which could be considered episodic but I was functional and didn't cause problems for others or anything too bad for myself. I wasn't stable in a classic sense but not symptomatic enough to require immediate intervention. I was med free and still believe being so was in my best interests at that time. I would be very happy to return to that state of being, even if it meant I needed to drink once a week to keep from going off the deep end entirely. I know too much now to return and I feel the knowledge I now have is both beneficial and detrimental.

[Travelinglady]

On meds I have been stable for around seven years. I hope it continues.

[BipolaRNurse]

With a couple of minor episodes of depression and hypomania, I've been mostly stable for over two years on meds.

[Teddy Bear]

4-5 years

[Nammu]

Me too, my past record was 4-5 yrs. now I've been stable about 4 1/2 yrs and hope to keep it up for much longer.

[Guiness187055]

Now that I am back on meds after a 14 year hiatus about 4 months.

[*Laurie*]

I feel like I'm more stable on meds, but I don't feel like I'm ever truly, dependably stable.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I count relatively stable as stable for me as it's as good as it gets. That is about a year after starting clozapine. It ended in June when we tried to get me to a lower, more tolerable dose. No more summer med decreases for me.

[Woolly Bugger]

It's hard to say. Last time I was really manic was in 2008. After that, I had some minor bouts with mania, balanced with equal doses of depression, from time to time. I did not do well in 2010-2011 and got fired from my job. Since then, though, I've been solid. I think the environment I am now in has helped me. The short answer, then, is six years. With medication. Usually. Sort of.

[Goals2017]

After my diagnosis about 2 years med free. I've never been stable on meds so far and starting to forget what being stable feels like..

[Wander]

I can only recall being truly stable for a few months at a time on and off meds. Talked to my pdoc today about going off meds to see how i really am but he wants to wait until at least summer if i have been stable for a few months before then. I hate being on meds and wonder if they work at all.

[Goals2017]

Originally Posted by Wander

I can only recall being truly stable for a few months at a time on and off meds. Talked to my pdoc today about going off meds to see how i really am but he wants to wait until at least summer if i have been stable for a few months before then. I hate being on meds and wonder if they work at all.

Wander I feel you 100% I have yet to find any success with meds and have only seen them effect me negatively cognitive wise and personality wise

[UpDownAround]

I have not been truly stable in about 25 years, unless moderately depressed with substantial head fog is stable. I can put up a pretty good facade in that state. But my answer is 0 days.

[Gabyunbound]

I little over 2 years and counting, with two minor bouts of depression that I'm not even sure were bipolar-related. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've managed to stay stable through the stress of moving across country and starting a new job. I think this bodes well. I attribute it to a cocktail I found that was finally 'it:' Abilfy, Lamictal, Seroquel (mostly to sleep), propranolol for the side effects of the Abilify and anxiety and klonopin. I think it's the Abilify-Lamictal-Klonopin combination that has done it.

I was very unstable for over 10 years prior. I had been on antidepressants, which didn't help, and Wellbutrin which sent me into a hypomania then mania episode. Sometime later I was diagnosed Biploar II and put on Lamictal, which helped with the depression, but not the hypomania. Then I was diagnosed with Bipolar I after a full-blown manic episode. That's when I was put on AP's and I haven't had one since. I consider myself very lucky. It took way too long, with way way too much unnecessary suffering, but I finally made it there. And then here, where I am now, so appreciative of the fantastic pdoc I had in Boston.

[bioChE]

I've been stable for two years, thanks to a cocktail prescribed by the Mayo Clinic. My secret sauce is the combination of Latuda and Lamictal. Since then I've dealt with a few minor depressions and have dealt with them using a Lamictal increase and the use of amino acids. Hopefully the stability continues.

[UpDownAround]

My psych NP tried latuda with my lamictal but I got the seemingly common anxiety reaction to latuda. I have the greatest respect for people with anxiety disorders after that. Sitting in my first meeting with my new boss answering questions with an air of confidence when I just wanted to crawl out of my skin was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

[SvanThor]

It says it in my signature.

[HarryKovert]

12 years between my last episode and my current one

[Wild Coyote]

It's been a long time since I was stable for a period of 1 year. That was 15 years ago now. I seem to get increasingly ill with age. No reprieve these days.


WC

[liveforsummer]

Hugs everyone for responding. I guess I've really learned that anything goes.
Day 7 of stable and really hoping this continues

[Guiness187055]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

It's been a long time since I was stable for a period of 1 year. That was 15 years ago now. I seem to get increasingly ill with age. No reprieve these days.


WC

My doctor says bipolar gets worse with age especially if one does not take meds.

[gina_re]

Surprisingly, the four years I was in college while I was working full time.
This was when I first began Trileptal. It worked so well in the begining.