Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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abielle
abielle
Could bipolar meds cause side effects mimicking a.d.d.? Or, could it be possible that I have it and just can't separate the two. I have had severe attention problems for many years, but I have been on so many meds that whole time that I can't tell which came first.
Any ideas?
Any meds that could help? I am going to see my pdoc on Thurs, and I want to be able to talk to her about this. My work life is suffering incredibly. I can't pay attention to ANYTHING. I take vitamin supplements to help, but it just isn't enough.
It is getting so bad that I start walking in a certain direction, and the forget why or where I was going.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know from my own experience that the bp affects my being able to focus. Have been that way since I was a little girl. Stuggles all through school with it an still do. I take meds and they make me feel like I'm walking around in a fog most of the time. Your pdoc should def. be able to answer your questions.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was always an excellent student and employee and never had trouble with memory or focus until the onset of the full blown BP1 in my late 20's and early 30's. Now I am on disability and can't even work at all.

I hope your pdoc can answer some of this for you on Thurs., but write it down, 'cause if you are like me, you'll forget when you get in there.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I feel like any antipsychotic I try lowers my IQ about 20 points and kills my short term memory. I think the only one that doesn't do that is very low amounts of abilify (from what I heard but I can't take that drug as it makes me manic). I also had cognitive problems on higher doses of Depacote. Usually if there is a tiny chance of a drug giving you a cognitive problem, then I have problems.

Drugs that don't mess with me cognitively are Lithium, Lamictal, Antidepressants. But that doesn't fix my mania.