[stocksailor]

Hi everyone, my first post here. My wife (female, 30yo) was diagnosed with bipolar disorder yesterday. We went through her first manic episode last week and it was scary. Her delusion drove her to do very crazy and reckless things. She's been in hospital for about 3 days and been put on Zyprexa 5mg. She still has delusion but she's a lot calmer and I can feel her delusion has started to shake a little. I am here to learn more about this illness and hope to get a glimpse of what to expect for the rest of our life.

I asked these questions to her doctor but he wasn't able to give a clear answer:
1. how long does it usually take Zyprexa to get rid of her delusion after the first manic episode?
2. does delusion go away completely or does it coexist with reality? would she ever be able to tell reality from delusion?
3. do people take Zyprexa for life or only when they feel like a manic episode is coming?
4. how often are the relapses? do the tend to get worse or better?
5. is a manic episode always followed by a depression or not necessarily?

Thank you!

[TheGal]

Hi ... I hope your wife feels better soon! It must've been scary for you, as well.

You ask specific questions about bipolar, so I hope that people who can answer you questions see your post. Otherwise, there is the bipolar section of this forum.

I have major depression with psychotic features and the Zypreza 10 mg I took was pretty fast acting, plus also feeling safe in the hospital helped me. I eventually had other meds added to my regimen for me to stabilize and become functional which took some time and had some ups and downs.

[CANDC]

@stocksailor - welcome to MSF. Sorry you are faced with the challenges of bipolar in your wife. I am a caregiver of my partner with bipolar. It has been quite and adventure to put it in a positive frame of mind or a roller coaster ride like Thunder Mountain.

I hear your questions but like the doctor with more knowledge than I have, I cannot answer. Everyone responds to meds differently. Meds affect brain chemistry. They are not simple like taking an aspirin and the headache goes away.

Sometimes the meds that work initially are supplemented or superceded by other meds. I took the NAMI Family to Family course in my area and it really helped me gain an understanding of how complex bipolar can be. It also helped me see that others were in the same boat as I am and some have even greater challenges they work on.

Feel free to reply to this message and include in your message, @CANDC so I get a mention that you responded to this post. If you care to send a private message by clicking on my name CANDC to the left of this message and click on Send A Private Message.

Hope you get the support you are looking for.