I want to try ritalin because I think I have undiagnosed ADHD, and because of the cognitive effects of my meds making it nearly impossible to get good grades in school anymore. I was a 4.0 student before bipolar meds, and now I'm lucky if I scrape by with a B. My pdoc refuses to prescribe me a stimulant like ritalin though because he says it will cause mania, he even refuses to prescribe me strattera, which isn't a stimulant, because he thinks it will cause mania. He thinks pretty much everything will cause mania...and I'm almost never manic. He refuses to even evaluate me for ADHD because he's stubborn and doesn't care that my inattention and cognitive impairment are ruining my life.

I wish I had a pdoc like your guys'. At least I'm switching soon. I just hope I end up with someone who cares and isn't so opposed to stimulants for bipolar people.