Bipolar Disorder - Why One Medication May Not Work

Typically, people with bipolar disorder require a combination of medications that you take at the same time. Why? Because the medications treat different aspects of the disorder. The main four phases that we target in treating bipolar disorder are Acute depression, Acute mania, mixed states and the maintenance phase.

And acute means it’s the active state that you're in and it's relatively recent. maintenance phase is the in between episodes when things have stabilized.

Not all of the medications work for every phase. So you could be put on a medication because you're manic and then once that mania goes away you can have a depressive episode pop up because that original mania drug isn't doing a good enough job keeping your depression away.

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[shireenrahimi]

I’ve been navigating the mental health system for 12 years now. It took 12 years to get the correct diagnosis. I’ve learned more about my condition in the last few months watch your videos than I have in doctors offices. It’s obvious you do these videos more for passion than clout. I wish young ppl like me found more doctors like you that genuinely want to help guide their patients to the right kind of care. Thank you, Dr. Tracy.

[Emma-lkut]

such a helpful video. I’m bipolar and I wish doctors explained medication like this. 💖

[jeffvarley]

I love it how you listed the drugs on the screen. The video was interesting and as usual you were being selfless so thankyou for that. As a whole thankyou for bringing this video to us.

[leonsoul]

this is legit the best mental health video ive seen. doctors dont do a good enough job of explaining this. and google is questionable sometimes. thanks for the info

[dogmonday]

I can so relate!!!! Honestly the thing that has helped me the most is adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families. How many of us have had trauma as children, who knows. Man I pray for healing for all.

[carolinegemming]

Dr Tracey - thank you for informative videos. I’m newly diagnosed with Bipolar 2 (48 years old) and I am able to understand and accept my diagnosis faster because of your help.
My best wishes and blessing for you and those you love ❤

[Lauren-usju]

I wish they'd go back to calling bipolar disorder manic depression. It's annoying how people throw the word bipolar around like it's a joke. My bf also has bipolar and he does. I feel like manic depression is a more accurate term for the disorder anyways.

[TheShiningDino]

Your videos have been very helpful for me - I'm trying to support my older sister who has decided to get back into treatment for bipolar because of a depressive episode. She's been struggling with this disorder since I can remember. She's had better and worse years (sometimes being misdiagnosed, sometimes being on medication etc) but this period is especially hard for her being a single mother and having been fired from her dream job almost a year ago. I've talked to her and she agreed to go to her previous psychiatrist with me and possibly start therapy to help with her relationships and routines. I would love to see a video on how loved ones should and shouldn't talk to people with bipolar disorder.

[momoshiggles]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I just learned so much. You are amazing. Why aren't more doctors like you? They don't educate me with respect. I've gained almost 100 lbs from meds. They don't provide dynamic treatment. You're a gift to the bipolar community. ♥️

[Kung]

You are way better at explaining things than my psychiatrist

[jmitch]

Dr. Marks, I can't thank you enough for doing everything you do on this channel. For example, just from this one video you've helped me to understand what has been a mystery to me for many years. My adult daughter has been diagnosed with several mental health illnesses and I recognize some of the medications you talked about that she takes or has taken. You explain things better than anyone and in a way that's easy to remember.

[leafyveins]

I really appreciate Dr. Marks' approach. She feels quite clinical but not cold at all. She has a warm way about her and the term "nerves of steel" comes to mind. I appreciate the sense of balance here.

[ricardoveiga]

You are the most charming and persuasive shrink that I've ever known.

[lindseymiller]

This was so helpful! I was newly diagnosed with BP with comorbid BPD and found that my mood stabilizer helped for a little while then I began constantly swinging from hypomania to depressed sometimes within days. Now I know that I will need something to combat the acute symptoms with the maintenance medication. Thank you so much!

[MsGipsigurl]

Im ADHD and bipolar 2, I wish I'd had this information years ago. Diagnosed in 2009 and have been on so many different medications! Just found Abilify works for almost everything, but not deeper depression and am still trying to find the right one for that. This was very helpful! I'm in Canada so I'm not sure if they're all available here but this is a great start. Thank you!!

[KimPosteryournewpenpal]

Thank you for this. I'm always trying to learn more about bipd for my friends to understand them better 🙏 your videos are so easy to digest.

[DustyWahlen]

Thank you for covering all of the medications. 20 years of being a guinea pig and never had anyone explain what I'm taking before.
Again, thank you for your videos, you're is the 2nd channel I ever saw on YouTube, many moons ago. 😊

[Funkbass]

Dr. Marks, I was recently diagnosed with BP2 after having MDD for the last 3 years, over an existing ADD diagnosis. I just wanted to thank you for your videos. Your videos, and your attention to those who reach out to you, it gives the rest of us hope and empowers us to be able to advocate for ourselves. Because of your videos, I was better equipped to have a dialog with my shrink that eventually led to the BP2 diagnosis. Just, thank you. Not everyone that’s in the medical field should be in the medical field, but it’s clear you’re meant to be!

[virginiagirl]

Dr. Tracey can you do a video addressing working and bipolar? I am trying to find a job but am afraid I will repeat my pattern of unreliability because I don’t know what mood I will be in. I am on meds after years off because of no insurance. Thank God my community now has community health. But, I am still scared! I really need a job and I want to be a good employee.

[Blissfullydull]

Hello Dr Tracey, I've been following your videos and just wanted to say thanks for your kindness, I can see you have a pure heart, my wife's schizofrenic and I suffer from ptsd (former military /cop) God bless you and thank you again.