Bipolar II will progress to full blown mania

[hell1971]

I have BPII and my depression is the main problem I have, when I go manic it is only hypomania and is mild and except for the spending i am quite productive so I dont see it as a problem. My doctor really wants me to change my medication because of the side effects but what she wants me to go on I dont want to do it because they made me gain alot of weight. She is reducing the meds that are causing the side effects to see if this helps but she is concerned that I will go manic ie full blown. Is this likley considering I only have had hypomania, why would I have a full blown episode? my concern is the depression which is very significant, she is making me scared and I dont know what the right thing is to do.

[hell1971]

I am happy with the meds I have but my doctor who is new is unhappy with the combo my previous doctor gave me, she wants me to reduce and change, I just want to reduce, I have made the first reduction and I can already feel its effects, hypomanic one minute tearful the next. Im soo confused, I trusted my previous doctor and now Im being told hes wrong and im over medicated, I dont know what to think, I just know I dont want to put weight on., that would make me depressed.

[lindahand]

I could be wrong. I am no pdoc, but my understanding is that if you've been bipolar 2 for many years and have not gone manic - chances of it happening are very low unless you do something like add an antidepressant. I know I've read something about that but darn it all I can't remember my source.

Untreated or under treated depression though is really risky because of the rate of suicide. For that reason I would be tempted to change medications. Depending on your drug coverage there are things like Abilify which usually result in less weight gain (but it is pricey). I know I ballooned when taking Ziprexa. But I've been losing too much weight on Geodone. It was great at first, I took off all my Ziprexa weight. But now I am down to a size two when I should be a size 6. I look anorexic and have literally had people ask if I am. I can't get into see my pdoc until Dec. I had an appointment in Nov. but it got cancelled. We are so short of pdoc's here it takes six months to get into see one.

Good luck.