A question for people taking medication

[rBoulet]

This question is for the people taking medication for their bipolar. Do you still have deppresive and manic episodes? And if you do, how long do they last?
I'm asking because my psychiatrist always asks if my dose beds to be raised in my mind. I'm not sure if medication is supposed to make the episodes go away totally, or just make them less of a problem.
Mine used to last anywhere from a couple weeks to a few months. Now they last half a day to a couple weeks. Is that what's it's supposed to do? I know that means it's working though.

[UnpredictableOne]

Hi I've been taking medication for bp for a few years now and I've always had breakthrough symptoms. The medication I'm currently taking has been the best combination for me. It's worked for nearly 3 years now and I'm very happy with it after a couple years of trial and error with others. Still I have periods of hypomania and depression, however nothing compared to the extrememely scary high manias I had without my meds or the terrifying lows I used to suffer. For example if I were to go off of my medication I would very quickly manifest psychotic symptoms that would begin with mania and escalate fairly quickly into paranoia then into full blown manic state. This lets me know that although I still become hypomanic at times for weeks at a stretch unfortunately, the medication is still working to maintain some semblance of balance for me. I only go so high and the most helpful part is I am must better at recognizing it now, which may be more experience than meds but I'm not really sure-maybe a combination. Anyway I can also become depressed on meds but it's manageable, I can still think rationally when I'm taking my meds whereas without them the depression overwhelms me to the point of becoming irrationally depressed without the ability to see any hope at all. So no it isn't a cure all but it definately makes a huge difference! I hope this helps you :)

[paranoid_cataclysm]

When I told them I still have symptoms of schizophrenia they told me with all mental illnesses the medication doesn't make it go away entirely and instead makes life survivable and then I asked someone who is really knowledgeable on here and they told me the same thing.  The optimal thing to do is go to therapy as well and learn how to cope with the left overs.

[heidchen]

My doctor has always told me that the goal of medication is to simply reduce the number and intensity of episodes, but that it won't eliminate them.  You should still expect to have a few battles here and there, but the trick is to find the right medication or combination of medications.  I have been fine tuning mine for years and finally found the right combo.  Regarding the dosage - I get really bad side effects and so I frequently have to tell my doctor I can't do more than what I am taking, even though he would like to increase the dosage.  When you can't take as much meds, sometimes you need to increase the pyschotherapy to compensate.

Good luck!

[rBoulet]

Thanks for the answer! I was killing myself not knowing if that was how medication was supposed to work or if I needed even more! I don't think i could take more, it makes my fans shake so much as it is, among other things lol.

[godmother2010]

I have a friend who suffers from bi-polar and she has told me that despite the dose she is taking she can still has deppressive and manic episodes that can last up to half a day to a week and she was also told by her psychiatrist and mental health nurse that the medication is working but won't make the episodes go away competely. So what you are going through is normal. But my friend has told me to tell you that if you still have any concerns to speak to your psychiatrist.