You really should talk to your pdoc about this. Something isn't right and they need to know about it. I have had similar things happen and they changed my meds but not after a stint in the hospital first.

I was diagnosed manic-depressive (BPI) in 1976. I hate mania. I was pushed into mania once while using effexor. I recovered, it's all part of the process of self-education.

Seems like you might need a stronger mood stabilizer than lamictal. Call your pdoc. It DOES get better!!! Hugs!

ditto - self educate, remember you have a right to [your] input on your treatment...some doctors seem to want to over medicate from my experience (27 years bi polar)...if you trust your doctor keep him/her informed about what is going on with you,...i recently had a med change after being on two for years, i was changed to lamictal and geodon it was a bit rough (hospital stay) but things are now looking fairly good with continued improvement, just stay [aware] and [communicate] with who ever you need to, to keep on track with your stabilization/treatment. :)

The beginning days of diagnosis can be rough sweetie.. Im so sorry you are going through this.. it can take quite some time to get on the right med 'cocktail"....
As others have said.. educate yourself... you really need to be patient... we are all different and what works for one with this disorder doesn't work for another... please know things will come together... acceptance is also a big part of it.. life may be different but still very worthy...you will get your life back... it's taken most of us time.... big hug for comfort for you... and Welcome... this is a wonderful site with great people.. Jan

yes, SunCloud is right; there is life after diagnosis, and you can realistically have your life back! :)

It may take time, but try not to become discouraged when you feel like you are still waiting.

Glad you have come here. :)

((HUGS)) Hang in there sweetie, it gets easier. I have had BP for 15 years and it took almost that entire time to find the right medications for me. Now I take Lithium, Lamictal, Geodon and Trazadone. I havent been on the few of meds in ages. I owe it to the Geodon. Once I went on Geodon, I became very stable and my ups and downs ceased. Hang in there like I said earlier, it gets better. Just takes time.

i was on anti depressants since my 20's but is was managable than late
2007 2008 it stared getting bad and depakote was started still not great than i got real sick hospital oct 2008 dx BP2 left the hosp drugged and depressed back in hosp dec 2008 same thing no better. no matter what frugs the tried nothing worked i could not function work i just slept,than dec2009 hospital again still good starting feel little better bit slipped again so from jan 2009 to april 2011 i was babrely alive this april i stopped lithium and started topamax i feel better and better everyday no mania no depression almost back starting a job friday.the key iis getting right meds and staying on them take the same time no drinking no drugs sleep yeah right its 4am here and if you read my journal and see how wasw and hear how i am now you know it is possible but you have gothrough the med changes until you get right i wish all the best luck!!!

When I got put on zoloft it sent me hypomanic so my other meds. had to be tweaked, which seemed to do the trick. SSRI's are known for sending people manic. Sounds like you need to discuss things with your p.doc. & get a meds. tweak. It's just a case of trial & error with meds. You'll find the right combo eventually.

Hi, I'm dropping by to offer some support. My personal experience was somewhat similar. I have exhibited symptoms of bipolar disorder since I was about six (including hearing voices and seeing things and depression), but I only began seeking treatment at age 19 (I turn 27 this year). At age 19, I was misdiagnosed with major depression and given antidepressants. I can't really recall which antidepressant I was given but I believe it's an old school SSRI called "Cipram" that pdocs no longer use. I took it for nine months, and in that nine months I experienced a lot of manic episodes and felt extremely suicidal. As a result, I quit medications.

I gave up on seeking treatment for about 6 years because of my great fear of the misdiagnosis (which I didn't know was one back then, I just thought my mind couldn't handle medications). I began reading up on bipolar disorder and got educated since I was 16, and members of a community board I was on back then said I may be bipolar instead. So I kept that in mind.

2 years ago, I had a massive breakdown which threw me back into a psychiatrist's office. Again, I met many psychiatrists who diagnosed me with major depression and was given antidepressants including Lexapro (without mood stabilisers or anti-psychotics). It wasn't until more than a year ago that I was officially medicated for bipolar disorder.

I believe the years of misdiagnosis turned my moods even more turbulent and like you I struggled to achieve a balance (which I believe you claim as "normal"). I am now medicated for bipolar disorder, but I cannot say I am stable. My moods are still volatile. My pdoc has said that it takes time.

I have learned that with this illness, patience is a valuable virtue to have, both patience that should be given to yourself and by others to you.

About your medications, please discuss this with your doctor, so he/she can try his/her best to find the best concoction for you.

OH wow! I feel ya! Sounds like you have some anxiety going on (scared and worried all the time). Unfortunately, sometimes mania comes in the form of anxiety rather than feeling great. I was like that for months! Lamictal didn't work for me. My pdoc put me on Trileptal and within a month, I was back to "normal". It's a little traumatic at first when you feel like you have lost yourself, not sure what's going on with 'you' and having no control over it. I went through all of this in 2007 and I'm getting it back together still. I dove into education on BiPolar and I monitor my moods daily through www.moodscope.com to make sure I don't get to that point again. Work closely with your pdoc and learn your triggers. ((hugs))