Bipolar Type II Support Group

is it possible to have both bp 2 and adhd? my pdoc says no. before the bp2 diagnoses, I believed I had adhd due to my lack of concentration racing thoughts, depression, lack of motivation, anger mood swings, etc. He also diagnosed me with pmdd. I am going to see him on saturday and I am not sure I want to take topamax anymore, he has me on a low dose but it seems I am very sensitive to it and I have side effects already. what are good meds to try that will help combat all the anger and moodswings? also is it okay to ask to try a medication? I am afraid of sounding like a drug seeker. thanks again!!!

Absolutely some on here are being treated for both.

The way Topamax reads, it sounds like a mood stabilizer. Miss Stacey can confirm or deny that, she's on it. If that's the case, there are plenty of other options--Abilify, Lamictal (I'm taking), lithium carbonate (I'm taking), and lots more. I think Depakote is, also. Talk to your doc. From what I was reading about the Topamax, it's not really 100% effective anyway. And there are many more out there that ARE effective. Talk to your pdoc about switching, and it couldn't hurt to do it asap, so you can start getting some relief.

Patrick

I had similar thoughts about my distractablility, ruminating(obsessive thoughts) - leading to compulsive tendencies. I posed my "OCd" type symptoms/"other possible co-morbid diagnosis symptoms with my doctor. She stated that some of these symptoms can go hand in hand with my bipolar diagnosis. She without hesitation said that, not even entertaining the possibility of me needing in another diagnosis.

That actually gives me piece of mind to not have another label put on me - cause some of those "other symptoms" can be attributed to my bipolar condition.

I suspect that since elementary school, I had the ADD traits when learning - back then they just called it daydreaming. I think that's why my grades were marginal in school - and I didn't really enjoy it much.

As far as the medications that I take and how they work with these symptoms, I try to explain clearly to my doctor what I am struggling with.

If I am concerned with these "other symptoms", I express my concerns - pose questions with her about it.

My doctor is a good listener, proving feedback when I need it.

I wouldn't want to guess what another person needs on here, other than say what works for me. I think my doctor responds to clear questions, maybe specific questions of a medications and it's side effects.

I was really worrying about being on the Celexa that was started - month and a half now. Even though I had a brief(15 minute visit) yesterday, I felt satisfied with my doc's answers/response to my inquiry. I am

very grateful that I have a well informed, experienced doctor with mood disorders and that had her as my doc. since 1993. The main shortcoming with her is that she has so many patients, that I almost have to remind her of changes in the past - and how changes in my meds, have affected me since the last visit.

I was stable on medication for years, and recently issues I had noticed I suspected might be related to

my medications. I feel I am heading in the right direction. I think eating right and see that I am getting enough/not too much sleep can help me a lot

with the ADD like symptoms.

Best of luck! I hope my sharing helps you.

Post edited by: duallydiag, at: 03/02/2010 09:18 AM

Post edited by: duallydiag, at: 03/02/2010 09:25 AM

Post edited by: duallydiag, at: 03/02/2010 09:29 AM

It's for siezures used off label for migraines which is why I take it, now some pdocs use it off label for Bipolar Disorder but the effectiveness is questionable. Since I was taking it I asked if I could just up my dose and try it she said she would never rx Topamax for BP for that reason. I have also read it has not been one of the more effective treatments just like Neurontin. The more effective treatments are Depakote ER, Lamictal, Lithium, Tegretol, Zyprexa and that's just to name a few.

I used Topamax about a year ago for migraines and it worked wonders for them, but I do not really remember it doing anything for my mood, but I did not have the same stress that I do now. However, I do remember having tingling in hands and feet, dry mouth, constipation, lost 30lbs (that was great), lost hair (not great), was completely stupid (really not great). I posed those concerns to pdoc and he said the dose (100mg/daily) was too high for me and tht I am sensitive to the med and wewill start slow that is why I am only at 15mg daily right now. I am already experiencining numbness in toes and heels. I have to say, and I don't know if it is because the dose is so low, it is doing nothing for my mood. I am still all screwed up. I hope the Yasmin, which I just started will help with the PMDD. I just want to feel better!! Oh and I took the trazadone last night and I felt groggy today, but I think it is because I took it too late. I took it at about 9:45pm and I was up by 6am and I think I need more sleep than that. I did have racing thoughts for a bit, but i fell asleep quicker than usual.

I have bipolar II and ADD; both diagnosed by several different doctors. Your pdoc is wrong on that count. My mood stabilizer (absolutely necessary for bipolar) is Lamictal, which I take with Abilify and they work well together for me. I recently started Vivanse for my ADD, although there are other (some cheaper) ADD meds out there. I found it was better to stabilize the bipolar mood swings first, then when I was stable, I could tackle the ADD. (ADD can be somewhat controlled with coping strategies; bipolar sufferers almost always need medication as it is a chemical imbalance in the brain.)

I wouldn't worry about being seen as a drug seeker; after all, you're not asking for narcotics! Bipolar meds don't make you "high"; just the opposite, they stablize your moods so you don't feel at all like you're on drugs. Most ADD meds, however, are stimulants, some are controlled substances, so the doc has to be very sure you have ADD. You might want a second opinion. (but I hope you don't have it, fingers crossed!) Anyway, get the bipolar stabilized first. It may take some time to find the right combo of meds for you, so be patient.

Jeni, you are so right about that. I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2 and ADD also. You can definately have both. The thing is it's crucial that bipolar is treated before ADD. If the bipolar is not treated first, the stimulant prescribed for ADD can make the bipolar worse. This is what happened to me, I got treated for ADD and was doing well for a while, then all hell broke loose. This was years ago. Bipolar 2 can be confusing to diagnose and I went through years of frustration. I was tried on antidepressant after antidepressant and was miserable. Finally my doctor prescribed me depacote by itself, nothing else and I began to feel a profound change. I now can take my ADD medication again which is dexedrine and the two work well in tandem. I am able to focus with the stimulant and the depacote evens everything out. But I cannot have the stimulant without the depacote.