Bipolar depression type 1 - medication

[oofahdoofah]

Hi, My friend is being treated for bipolar depression type 1, which they’ve had for years. They currently take:

Olanzapine
Diazepam
Sodium valproate
Lithium

I’m not sure of the doses. It’s kind of working for them (work in progress) but it seems like a lot of medication to me?

I realise there will be a lot of variation, but I’m curious if this medication regime is fairly typical. I don’t want to raise it with my friend directly as medication is a bit of a thorny subject. My friend is more manic than depressive, but also gets anxious and depressed.

Thanks.

I would trust your friends psychiatrist. Getting meds right takes time and is really just trial and error. If they seem to be working then it's all good, whether it's one med or twelve.

Thanks for your reply. Totally agree and definitely not doubting the Psychiatrist! I suppose I am looking for a sense of what's typical.

Seems fine.. could maybe reduce with the aim of stopping the benzodiazepine in time.