2006-11-16 01:25:43 · 8 answers · asked by plenymo 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
how do you know when you "get it right"?
2006-11-16 01:36:53 · update #1
It can vary enormously. Some people find the right treatment quickly, other have to try a few before they find the right one!
2006-11-16 01:30:31 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You know when you get it right because you have relief from your symptoms. It is not going to make everything all better. I've been working on "getting it right" for 13 years and have found that my moods will still shift but the intensity and how long it lasts and the frequency is decreased significantly when I am on a good combination of medications.
It can be really frustrating. There is a LOT of trial and error. And something can work for a while and then lose effectiveness and the search begins again.
My advice is, keep track of any medication you try. Write down how effective it is for you and any side effects you have from it. It can help pinpoint which direction you and the doctor should go with trying new meds. (ex: do SSRI's trigger manic episodes for you?)
2006-11-16 14:07:40 · answer #2 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sheesh...when will folks understand this.
Bipolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain. True Bipolar sufferers can not battle the illness without medicine. There have even been studies of brain of Bipolar individuals and they are different than normal brains.
Anyway, it can take awhile. I think the younger you are, the harder it is to get stabilized. Keep trying and give it time. Depending on what Bipolar diagnosis you have, there are frontline drugs (Lithium=Bipolar I; Lamical=BipolarII, etc) and other drugs that are added to help stabilize the moods.
Don't give up. Good luck!
2006-11-16 04:09:33 · answer #3 · answered by riptide_71 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to say some people can get it right the first try, some have to try a few different types. The most important thing is to not give up, I finally found relief and when you feel it its like an enormous weight has been lifted from your shoulders. I also think counseling along with medication is extremely helpful. Best Wishes!
2006-11-16 01:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by Just Thinking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being faced with the Bipolar myself, I found that none of the meds actually worked, only acted as a mask. I wasn't able to function mentally and physically. I found my mental state was best controlled through diet and exercise. When I feel that anxious anxiety that Bipolar brings on, I try to walk and burn off the tension. Herbal teas have also been very helpful for the relaxation effect. Try some Kava Kava Root tea. Its a natural herb, safe, non-addictive and a lot cheaper than scientifical medical means.
2006-11-16 01:53:02 · answer #5 · answered by VISUAL ILLISIONS 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
On average, I'd guess several years, and some people never manage it. Some people get stable, then the meds poop out on them. I've been lucky in that the first med I went on was Lamictal, and that's worked really well for me. I've had a couple of changes to the other meds, though - I have been switched from amitriptyline to olanzapine, and that seems like a good combo for me.
Ask others at http://www.crazyboards.org as between them the inmates there have tried just about every combo going.
2006-11-17 00:57:10 · answer #6 · answered by Random Bloke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is different. There are so many combinations of medication out there available...some people get lucky and find their correct mixture right way...others (like me) spend years trying to get it right.
2006-11-16 01:36:13 · answer #7 · answered by Zelda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son is 24 and has recently been diagnosed with bipolar. He is seeing a GP but has found that he is not really qualified to treat this disorder and i think he would be better off seeing someone who specialises
in this field... problem is.. we cant afford to pay ridiculous consultation fees... Is there help out there for this kind of thing
thanks
2015-04-22 03:32:40 · answer #8 · answered by Pamela Joubert 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋