Alec Featured Video 1 Story Transcript
In addition to medication, you may better manage mood swings with a comprehensive approach that includes talk therapy, building a strong support network, tracking symptoms over time, and making healthy choices a habit. Your support system may include friends, family, or patient support groups who can help you stay consistent with your overall treatment.
My Mood Matters from VRAYLAR features articles, tools, and videos designed to help you reach achievable wellness goals as part of a comprehensive treatment approach to managing your bipolar I.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Graphic:
Preparing for Your Appointment With Your Doctor
Dr. Cerulli
The most important thing in the doctor patient-relationship, in my opinion, is trust.
Graphic:
Dr. Theresa Cerulli Psychiatrist
Dr. Cerulli
It's the ability for the patient to not only have trust in me as someone who can provide them information, educate, try and bring my knowledge forward, but in me trusting them that they're sharing enough information for me to be able to help make good decisions with them.
Dr. Cerulli
Gather as much information as possible between visits to then share with your doctor during the visit.
Dr. Cerulli
Take notes about what you're experiencing, what symptoms are still there, if any. What side effects are you getting if you've tried a medication? Keep a list of your current medications prescribed by any physician and any over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements that you are taking. It's extremely important for your healthcare provider to know all of the medications.
Dr. Cerulli
One of the things you don't want to forget to tell your healthcare provider is any of the side effects you may have been experiencing, even if you're not currently getting those side effects. So in other words, by the time I see patients back on that 4- to 8-week follow-up visit, some of the earlier side effects may have resolved, but I still want to hear about them.
Dr. Cerulli
You may want to download the symptom tracker to help keep track of how you're feeling between visits. Print out this tool and bring it with you to your appointment so that you don't have to worry about remembering everything during that appointment.
Dr. Cerulli
Most importantly, I want patients to understand that it is not their fault. Many people still experience symptoms of depression even when they're taking an antidepressant. It's empowering to be able to say what you need – to speak up and to be heard.
Dr. Cerulli
Some patients think of symptoms of depression are limited only to those feelings of sadness: “I feel depressed, I feel sad.” It is indeed a mood disorder, but depression can manifest in many ways. Affecting your sleep, appetite, energy levels, your ability to concentrate.
Graphic:
Individual patient experiences may vary. Not all patients may experience these symptoms.
Dr. Cerulli
So depression is not only a mood disorder, but a mood disorder that has very physical symptoms and also sometimes cognitive symptoms.
Dr. Cerulli
In general, you want to give your antidepressant 4 to 8 weeks to find out if it's working or not working. At the 4- to 8-week follow-up appointment, if you see, if you've seen some improvement but are still experiencing symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor about whether an add-on treatment might be right for you.
Graphic:
AbbVie logo
Graphic:
© 2023 AbbVie. All rights reserved. US-VRAA-220130 02/23