question

[George The Lion]

my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

[Donna]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

I have never heard of a cure but there are much more knowledgeable
people here who can help you with this question. From what I've
learned, this is a life time commitment.

A body can adjust to medication and thus the med no longer works
the way it should so adjustment is then necessary....but this
shouldn't fall into the "constantly" category.

Your daughter is quite fortuante to have you for her father.

Donna

[HoPpeR© trading at 1492¥]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

Bipolar disorder is genetic. It's a predisposition to having
neurochemical imbalances in the brain which causes mood swings.
Medications that help correct these imbalances are the first line of
treatment. There have been studies that indicate repeated episodes of
depression or mania damage your brain in ways that make the next
episode easier. For this reason it is important that a medication is
found that works, and it is continued.

The swings in neurochemicals are triggered by something, stress,
drugs, or some other illness. Eliminating the triggers can play a big
part in recovery. Finding them can be difficult.

There are illnesses that can induce bipolar symtoms. These include
thyroid problems, diabetes, Celiac, Porphyria and VD. There may be
others. Have these checked out.

If your daughter has genetic BP not triggered by the other things
above, the only treatment available that seems to work is medications.
There are many medications and not all work for an individual. You
have to try some out to find a med or combo that works without adverse
side effects. This process can take years. Good luck.

Personally I think lithium should not be the first choice in mood
stabilizers, but it is with a lot of pdocs. Question the doctor about
what is available, why he choose the ones he did and what are the
alternatives. Being proactive and educating yourself is the key to
controlling the illness.

Be well,

HoP

The preceding message represents personal opinions
and/or advice that may prove incorrect or harmful. But then maybe not.
Feel free to disregard.

------- Words have no Warranty ------
------- No View without Merit ------
..

[HoPpeR© trading at 1492¥]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

Bipolar disorder is genetic. It's a predisposition to having
neurochemical imbalances in the brain which causes mood swings.
Medications that help correct these imbalances are the first line of
treatment. There have been studies that indicate repeated episodes of
depression or mania damage your brain in ways that make the next
episode easier. For this reason it is important that a medication is
found that works, and it is continued.

The swings in neurochemicals are triggered by something, stress,
drugs, or some other illness. Eliminating the triggers can play a big
part in recovery. Finding them can be difficult.

There are illnesses that can induce bipolar symtoms. These include
thyroid problems, diabetes, Celiac, Porphyria and VD. There may be
others. Have these checked out.

If your daughter has genetic BP not triggered by the other things
above, the only treatment available that seems to work is medications.
There are many medications and not all work for an individual. You
have to try some out to find a med or combo that works without adverse
side effects. This process can take years. Good luck.

Personally I think lithium should not be the first choice in mood
stabilizers, but it is with a lot of pdocs. Question the doctor about
what is available, why he choose the ones he did and what are the
alternatives. Being proactive and educating yourself is the key to
controlling the illness.

Be well,

HoP

The preceding message represents personal opinions
and/or advice that may prove incorrect or harmful. But then maybe not.
Feel free to disregard.

------- Words have no Warranty ------
------- No View without Merit ------
..

[HoPpeR© trading at 1492¥]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

Bipolar disorder is genetic. It's a predisposition to having
neurochemical imbalances in the brain which causes mood swings.
Medications that help correct these imbalances are the first line of
treatment. There have been studies that indicate repeated episodes of
depression or mania damage your brain in ways that make the next
episode easier. For this reason it is important that a medication is
found that works, and it is continued.

The swings in neurochemicals are triggered by something, stress,
drugs, or some other illness. Eliminating the triggers can play a big
part in recovery. Finding them can be difficult.

There are illnesses that can induce bipolar symtoms. These include
thyroid problems, diabetes, Celiac, Porphyria and VD. There may be
others. Have these checked out.

If your daughter has genetic BP not triggered by the other things
above, the only treatment available that seems to work is medications.
There are many medications and not all work for an individual. You
have to try some out to find a med or combo that works without adverse
side effects. This process can take years. Good luck.

Personally I think lithium should not be the first choice in mood
stabilizers, but it is with a lot of pdocs. Question the doctor about
what is available, why he choose the ones he did and what are the
alternatives. Being proactive and educating yourself is the key to
controlling the illness.

Be well,

HoP

The preceding message represents personal opinions
and/or advice that may prove incorrect or harmful. But then maybe not.
Feel free to disregard.

------- Words have no Warranty ------
------- No View without Merit ------
..

[HoPpeR© trading at 1492¥]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

Bipolar disorder is genetic. It's a predisposition to having
neurochemical imbalances in the brain which causes mood swings.
Medications that help correct these imbalances are the first line of
treatment. There have been studies that indicate repeated episodes of
depression or mania damage your brain in ways that make the next
episode easier. For this reason it is important that a medication is
found that works, and it is continued.

The swings in neurochemicals are triggered by something, stress,
drugs, or some other illness. Eliminating the triggers can play a big
part in recovery. Finding them can be difficult.

There are illnesses that can induce bipolar symtoms. These include
thyroid problems, diabetes, Celiac, Porphyria and VD. There may be
others. Have these checked out.

If your daughter has genetic BP not triggered by the other things
above, the only treatment available that seems to work is medications.
There are many medications and not all work for an individual. You
have to try some out to find a med or combo that works without adverse
side effects. This process can take years. Good luck.

Personally I think lithium should not be the first choice in mood
stabilizers, but it is with a lot of pdocs. Question the doctor about
what is available, why he choose the ones he did and what are the
alternatives. Being proactive and educating yourself is the key to
controlling the illness.

Be well,

HoP

The preceding message represents personal opinions
and/or advice that may prove incorrect or harmful. But then maybe not.
Feel free to disregard.

------- Words have no Warranty ------
------- No View without Merit ------
..

[Rob]

Post by George The Lion
my daughter has bipolar,first episode two years ago,was in
college,straight a student,was on 4 medications including lithiuum,this
was determined after 21 days in the hospital.she was fine for a
year,then they tried taking her off the medications,she was still doing
good,then took her off lithiuum and had another episode,28 days in the
hospital,a mess,tried all kinds of drugs,when she was released after we
demanded her release,we went to her original doctor and he dropped all
medications prescribed by the hospital.she is doing good again and the
medications are working.my first question,do people ever fully recover
and eventually need no medication and how long can you go without an
episode if you take your medication or does the medication have to be
constantly adjusted.

If she is Biploar, she will need to be on meds the rest of her life
most likely, unless they find a magic bullet that is.
And yes, she will need to adjust her meds as time goes on. Even if she
gets set on some that work ok, time will come when one of more will
loose effectiveness, and need to be altered. That might throw others off
that she is taking, and maybe not. All this stuff is hard to tell, and
much of it is just plan trial and effort for now.

Hope that answers what you needed.


Best of luck,

Rob