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Originally Posted by Altered Moment
Antidepressants can definitely trigger mania. I am not sure that means for sure you are Bipolar I. Have you ever had major manic episodes before or since?
If the concerta makes you calm and more focused as opposed to feeling wired then it is working right. If it makes you very wired than maybe you don't need it for ADHD. It should have the opposite effect from getting wired if it works for ADHD.
I would push against the diagnosis of BP I if you don't have a history other than this one antidepressant. That was a pretty bad episode though.
Even BP II the standard would be a mood stabilizer like Lamictal. I like it very much and think it is safe. I would hesitate on the Lithium.
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I have had manic episodes in the past. The people that I lived with when I was in my late teens thought that I was just being fun and energetic. I have also had psychotic tendencies when I go manic. I am pretty sure that the diagnosis is right because when I got on the Lithium originally I started to feel better. My original dose was 600 mg/day and was able to adjust fine to it. The doctor tested my Lithium levels and said that they were just below therapeutic levels and that they needed to up the dosage so that I would get to the levels that I needed to be at. I just hate the side effects of the Lithium that I have dealt with and now I'm finding out that weight gain, acne, and possible hair loss can also be side effects its overwhelming to say the least and not something the boasts confidence in continuing to take the medication. The kicker to all of this is that I cannot get into see a pdoc until the end of march which is not good at all.