Both unipolar and bipolar mood disorders are recurrent diseases. If one episode occurs, it will probably be followed by others. Your course of treatment will depend on your personal circumstances. Typically, the medication that relieved your acute episode will be used for maintenance therapy. While some physicians prescribe a lower dose for maintenance therapy, new evidence suggests that full dose treatment is more effective.
Most physicians favor continuing the dose already proven effective as long as it is tolerated.
Even when medication is used continuously, an occasional episode may break through this protective shield. While distressing, this does not mean maintenance therapy will fail to help in the future. If episodes become frequent or severe, however, then alternative treatments should be sought. As the patient, you can often help in this endeavor. No one knows better than you the symptoms and the side effects that you are experiencing.