I hesitate to mention this here, but I figure I should give it a try (where else?). I was diagnosed bipolar after a manic state and psychosis about two years ago during an inpatient stay at a hospital. During that time they wanted to put me on lithium, but I was resistant so they kept me on zyprexa. At the time of my diagnosis, I was a new faculty member of a major research institution, where I still am employed. The basic pieces of my job - for me - require things that aren't really great for bipolar (a lot of high pressure and stress). I'll skip over that except to say I've never really complied to any of the medication since that time. The excuse I have for not taking antipsychotics is that I'm afraid I won't be able to think straight. Of course, I do know I was manic and also a little psychotic at least once since I got out of inpatient/was diagnosed two years ago. Usually what happens then is I'll take an antipsychotic once or twice until I'm more back to myself. I know that by not medicating all this time I've made an irresponsible choice, that mania itself could be damaging my brain just as much, and that it's possible with good medication that other parts of my life would be easier enough that a little less clear cognition might not matter.

So, my question as a first step would be - what medications have you found to work well to keep a clear head?