Dave
Part one. I am not sure if the information I have will be of any use to you and your husband but my hopes are that it will, here goes. I have Bipolar/mixed, the reason I have the mixed label is because I cycle from feeling up or great to very low with out really knowing why or when. I was diagnosed with this after I had spend 8 months basically in bed and not wantin to very much of anything. The reason I had the delay in my diagosis was because I was to stubborn to seek medical help and I was worried that the Doctors might find somthing wrong in my head, after all I was not crazy or anything! I finally went to my primary Doctor and he sent me to the VA. (I am retired miltary) The VA did a interview then set me up to see mental health clinic. I was not a quick fix but the Doctors and my results on different types and or doses finally started to work. I have been on meds now for over 3 years and still every once in awhile I have to change type or dose. I started out on Depakote at 500mg and over time was increased to 1500mg. I also take Qetiapine fumarate at a level of 200mgs. The Quetiapine must be a newer medication because some doctors don't know what it is.