Definitely have experienced mania on meds. Sometimes I have to take an additional antipsychotic along with my other meds to bring the episode under control. I'm doing well on my current "cocktail" though and haven't had any mania or hypomania since October, which is good for me as I'm rapid-cycling. I did have a depressive episode right after the manic one, but that was relatively short-lived and I've been good ever since then.

All I know is, my life was a mess before I found out what was wrong with me and started on medications. Some people do just fine without them, and I envy those who can; but I know if I'm to live any semblance of a normal life, I have to be medicated. Yes, it's disappointing to still have mood episodes when I'm taking several different kinds of drugs to control them, but they're not as severe or as prolonged as they once were, and for me that makes taking meds worth it.