Some physicians will actually offer you the medications at their office at a very much reduced price. (I think they may sell the pharmaceutical's free samples to patients in financial distress.) You could let your doctor know about this; his help is available in many instances.

It is all such a mess, isn't it? Try some helpful home methods, such as diet changes and:

1. You can reduce the symptoms of bipolar illness in some cases by removing alcohol and caffeine (in any form--coffee,tea,chocolate and any other source) from your diet.

2. You could use freshly squeezed lemon juice in cold water to relieve
high acidic residue in the tissues and fluids of your body. (That relaxes you and
calms the brain.) Usually, two are sufficient (with 4-hour intervals between each)
to calm you for 24 hours.

3. You need to get your rest at night and be on a regular schedule for sleep if you can arrange that. Aspirin may help with that at night. Cut off your tv and computer screen about 2 hours before bedtime so that you are getting full melatonin supply from the brain to induce sleep at night. Melatonin supply is dependent upon darkness for supply, so it's to your advantage to maintain diffused lighting around you as twilight approaches so that you get plenty of
good, brain-induced sleep signals coming your way.

Hope these thoughts help.