Bipolar Type II Support Group

I don`t understand the medication process, say you are feeling goood on your meds , then you take a swing downwards , is the pdoc suppose to up your meds? then what happens if upping the meds make yu feel better but bipolars are suppose to swing back and forth aren`t they? so what happens if you swing down wards again, does the pdoc just keep upping you rmeds? or are we suppose to eventually get the right meds and never have a depressed state? i just don`t understand this part ?

Thanks, jenn

The ups and downs may not ever go away, but their severity or frequency can be reduced.

Your doc won't raise and lower your meds every time you go through a cycle. The goal is to find a med combo that overall makes the experience of bipolar better. Maybe not gone away, but better; less extreme. This can take time to find the right combo. Hang in there!

I hate it when docs say to be patient, it is not them that are going through this. The important thing is that you are in treatment. It is good to track your meds, side effects and duration/severity of any symptoms. Right now my med is working, I may need to adjustment as I start getting into the work search and doing work free or paid. I am working on upping my coping skills so I don't stress so easily since that sets off my symptoms more. Once you have been on the med long enough for it to be working and no side effects then you can know if you need more, different... Write concerns/needs down to tell pdoc when you go in so you can advocate for yourself.

This is definitely a good topic to bring up. I often wonder myself the same thing. I've found lately, though, it's finding the right med cocktail that will help the most. I think I've finally found one after more than a year of trying. Don't give up. Like Samadha said, working on coping skills with a therapist helps a lot too.

I was just wondering this same thing! I had an appt. yesterday and told her I was feeling real down, every spring is real bad for me...it's my cycle time i guess. I've been on Prozac and Seroquel xr since Nov. or Dec. and been pretty stable. if I have mania it doesnt' last as long at all, and usually i clean and organize...so I don't mind it at all. But the depression that leads up to my cycles are real low, and last weeks. so this was our 1st experience w/tweaking my meds to overcome it. seems to be working so far. but it's only been 2 days, Wellbutrin immediate release and I immediately feel better? maybe. I just hope it doesn't make my mania go out of control. I tried it in the past, but not with the antipsychotic. hoping the cocktail is good.

I was stable for almost two years with my medications and had no ups or downs that were significant. My doctor tried weaning me off of Lamictal and I got depressed. I'm back on Lamictal now, and am just about stable again. It does get better.