[99fairies]

Sorry for posting again. I just want to know how long a mixed episode usually lasts? I'm going on 3 weeks now and I'm so frustrated.

[Wild Coyote]

I think the length of a mixed episode varies. I have been in a mixed episode for several weeks now. Maybe others will respond and will enlighten us?
My heart goes out to you!

WC

[~Christina]

I was mixed for about 3 months once it was hell. But that’s the longest I ever had.

Mine normally last about 2-3 weeks

[Pookyl]

My mixed episodes last varying times. It usually takes a temporary increase in Seroquel to break the episode. Worst case scenario I end up IP.

[DarkVapor]

Can y'all define exactly what a mixed episode is? Forgive my ignorance.

[Moreta]

One time I had one last like 8 months. I don't get mixed episodes often. Usually it's 2-4 weeks when I do now since I have saphris as a PRN.

[99fairies]

Dark, A mixed episode is when you feel manic and depressed at the same time. For instance, I had a great day yesterday, but I woke up at three this morning and couldn't stop crying and cleaning at the same time. It's hell.

My opinion may be unpopular, but I think that meds *typically* determine how long a mixed episode lasts. Like, the faster you find a solution (med wise), the faster the episode will go away. Of course, sometimes the episode will go away on its own after maybe anywhere from a few weeks to several months, but that means you're waiting it out, and you never know how long *that'll* be. (Sorry that my opinion doesn't really help your situation, and I know it can be frustrating m, but that's my personal opinion on the answer.)

But yeah, mine last about 2-3 weeks because I get a med change. Otherwise, I had one for like 6 months prior to starting meds... and it only lasted 6 months because I started meds that stopped it.

So I think instead of trying to think about "how long will this last?", because it's really individual dependent, try to think about, "what can I do to mitigate symptoms for now? exercise? coloring? going out to the beach with my kids?" etc etc

[99fairies]

My pdoc is trying very hard to get me out of this episode. I do as much self care at the hospital as I can. I've been on 3 different meds in the hospital that had hopes of squashing this episode, but nothing is working yet. Yesterday the hallucinations turned dark... Satan and demons, that sort of thing. It scares the **** out of me.

[DarkVapor]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

Dark, A mixed episode is when you feel manic and depressed at the same time. For instance, I had a great day yesterday, but I woke up at three this morning and couldn't stop crying and cleaning at the same time. It's hell.

99fairies; thank you for the explanation, I thought it might be something similar to rapid cycling which I find to be exhausting and mind shattering, but I wasn't sure. I sincerely hope it doesn't last any longer for you. Does it get triggered by anything that you are aware of? I mean the mixing. I suppose if you woke up in the middle of the night with depression than it doesn't necessarily mean something external, maybe subconscious dreams triggering. On the upside, I'm glad you had a great day yesterday.

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I was mixed for about 3 months once it was hell. But that’s the longest I ever had.

Exact same. O.M.G. hell.
And like bluebicycle mentioned, it was a med increase that pulled me out. I might have pulled out earlier if I hadn't been away from my psych provider and too much of a mess to remember that she'd told me to do that(!) (She knew I was heading into a potential perfect storm. I discounted it. Ooops.)

[Wild Coyote]

Seroquel usually pulls me out of a mixed episode fairly quickly. Trouble is: I cannot have it due to the QTc interval prolongation associated with it. Other meds may eventually work; yet, it is taking much longer.


WC