What meds/treatments work for bipolar disorder?

I have bipolar disorder mixed/ rapid cycling, with psychotic -in both directions -features. It's been worse since having kids and a husband. What can I take or do to get myself under control? I'm out of touch with my body and mind, just need to live somewhere in between high and low. I guess I'm just now realizing what it is, after a hospital stay last year for a bad reaction to a prednisone shot. I'm on lithium, celexa, trilafon (just recently started temporarily), and adderall (for adhd). My psychotic features (either direction) weren't controlled by the lithium - is that possible? What really works?

LOL I'm obviously looking for answers from people who know something about this topic and not everybody on yahoo answers qualifies as it's mostly teenie boppers - but apparently, there are a lot of us nuts on here!

Usually, bp with psychotic features is treated with an anti-psychotic (of which Trilafon is) and a mood stabilizer of some sort (i.e. Lithium, Depakote). Tegratol (an anticonvulsant) is also used as a mood stabilizer as is Geodon (an anti-psychotic). Another anti-psychotic that has been used as a mood stabilizer is Zyprexa. Lamictal (an anticonvulsant) is often used to help combat the depressive side of bp. Usually, a person with bp is never placed on an SSRI (such as Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft) because SSRI's tend to send a bp'er into manic episodes. Stimulants are also avoided as a rule, because of the same thing. Out of your meds, I see two that might help (Lithium and Trilafon) and two that undo any help the first two might provide (Celexa and Adderall).

I was diagnosed bp1 in 1987 and have taken/tried over 32 different medications. I'm also a former psych major and medic. Currently, I'm taking Lithium, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Lexapro (an SSRI which initially made me hypomanic), Ativan (when needed), Lunesta (to help me sleep), and a heap of other meds, mainly allergy related. In other words, I know a great deal about bp and it's medications.

I have bipolar mixed with psychotic symptoms. I was recently hospitalized for this. I'm on risperidone which is an atypical antipsychotic, trileptal which is a mood stabilizer, lorazepam for anxiety, and paxil for the suicidal thoughts. I'm able to work and so far am doing well on this combo. However what is working for me may not work for you. Contact your doctor. At least the voices aren't there anymore.

My answer would be meditation. But meditating while taking drugs can cause insanity.

If I were you, I would get off medication and meditate (when high: sit still, contemplating, when low: do chores/work, go walking, preferably in nature, but all in quietness)
I realise I am not you, and neither have authority to advise you.

Hope you come up with a workable solution.

Different things work for different people. I've never heard of the combination you are taking being prescribed in that order. You must realize I am no psychiatrist. I do know a number of people with the disorder. Bi-polar disorder is more common than a person may think when they first experience it. For as long as I can remember I have had the pleasure of enduring the hardship that it brings. Without medication, I don't think, a person would not be able to function normally. I am not at liberty to discuss my conditions or medication. However; if you didn't know I have it, I would be the only one who does provided we would be the only two people present.

Two drugs I recommend....

Seroquel - Makes you feel drugged in the beginning but stabilizes your mood. Once your body adjust it will still make you sleepy so I would suggest taking it in the evening. Downfall - I gained a lot of weight. From what I hear a lot of people experience weight gain.

Depakote - Great mood stabilizer and only side effect I had was constipation.

Hi,
Check out the article below. It gives some great tips for living with bipolar.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

yes it's possible. lithium helps control bipolar, not the psychosis. so i'm guessing the other stuff you're on is to help the psychosis along with the bipolar.

I have bipolar. You will have to see a doctor and he will go over the meds he thinks are right for you only he can do that.
Differnt meds work for differnt people.

go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_dis... find you symptoms then find the right treatment. then talk to your doctor.

I have bipolar too. I am on Lamictal, Seroquel,Paxil and clonopin. I feel pretty even most of the time...more depressed than anything. You could ask your psyciatryst about these drugs.

you shouldn't be askin on Y!A becausea lot of the time your answerer's dont know wtf they're talking about. Talk to a doctor because only they would know which treatments would be best control your disorder

you should be talking to a psychiatrist about this.

Go to the doctor, because people really can tell if you have it undercontrol or not

zyprexa

dont its just a way to make doctors rich. meds are not good

talk to a doc

medhelp.com

I am not a dr or anything but this is just my advice.I think,that you are under a lot of pressure raising children as any parent would be and being married can also cause some stress to an extent.The first thing I always tell people are these three:1)Foundation of Life2)Food is the source to healing 3)Spirituality
The way you think has a lot to do with how you see life.Many people with Bipolar have rapid cycling.You may want to consider taking antidepressents with mood stabilizers.Other things you can do is find God and attend a church.It helps with the way you think.Also the other things you can do is Bipolar diet:
http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-die...
There also herbs such as drinking tea that relaxes your nerves as well.

Right now I am taking Depekote and plus I have diabetes and I have insomnia real bad. I am waiting to see how Depekote works for me since I am agoraphobic ( I isolate myself and I don't get out but 2 or 3 times a month)and don't like to be around people at all. I just feel like everyone is saying something about me or how I look, I forgot what that disorder is. So, I wish I could tell you what really works for all of us, but I guess it is just our own chromosomes. I have a racing mind, sometimes really down, to the point of suicide and I can't get to the middle of high and low either. I just want you to know you are not alone. I wish we could give each others' emails so we could talk. I wish you all the best and I really hope your meds work for you or that the doctors can find some that will. The mind is a very strange thing to me. I do know that that talking to someone helps. Therapists do help if you find one you click with.