When I became manic (psyotic) the first (and thank God the only so far) time, the hospital gave me Haldol (this was 1993). All the pdocs kept me on it until last year I got a new pdoc who put me on Lithium and Lamictal. I have tardive dyskinsiea (spelled wrong) and bouts with akaesia (also spelled wrong). I am glad I am off Haldol. Now the Lithium screwed up my thyoid and I'm in the middle of getting I guess you would call it hormone replacement. That hasn't been any fun either.
Anyway, now I am not on an antipsycotic. I do not want to be on one, either.
Thankfully my pdoc is ok with that.
I was told I am a type 1 bipolar. But I am different than the bp's here. I don't get depressed-I get suidical. And the time I was manic I had no control of my behavour I remember bits of what I did. Oh, I never want to do that again! But see I've went years and not had any bp problems.
I did when I went from Haldol to Lithium. But I've been ok since I talked to the pdoc in the hospital and she gave me a antidepressant. I feel lucky. I understand what others go through.
And it's a shame they can't find better drugs for us.