To change medications or not to change medications, that is the question our family has been asking for months now. I know we aren’t alone in this debate and that you readers also have to make these tough decisions. Sometimes med changes are a ‘no brainer.’ When a medication has made things worse or your child is very unstable, there isn’t any hesitation. Change is the clear answer. It becomes much harder when your child isn’t doing bad – but isn’t doing really well either. That is the precarious position we have been in lately. I knew in my gut that the change needed to be made but I kept asking myself and my husband if we would be chasing elusive symptoms and sacrificing what precious stability was in existence.

After debating and waiting, we finally had one of those tip the scale moments. It wasn’t instability that pushed us over the edge. It was a worsening side effect. Once that was factored into the equation, the doctor agreed that the med just wasn’t doing enough to warrant keeping it on board. That coupled with summer vacation made this the right time to make the jump. So we took the plunge two weeks ago. We began the process of tapering one med down and another up while holding our breath and hoping for the best. We have survived some rough transition days and are now beginning to see the light as the new medication starts to take effect.

Like much about parenting a child with bipolar disorder, we don’t know how it will turn out. But I am grateful that we have another med to try. So thanks to all you researchers out there who keep plugging away on our behalf. And just in case any researchers are actually reading this, us moms would really appreciate a genetic test that predicts who will have a positive response to a med and who won’t.

I know, all in good time!

Tracy Anglada