Hello there,

I’ve been on bipolar meds for six years. I presented as full blown manic when I went for help. I was immediately taken off Celexa and put on Lithium. A month later Risperdal. I started having problems with memory and slurred speech. Bipolar it’s self was giving me cognitive dysfunction. I gained a ton of weight but I kept taking the meds. I started taking Lamictal to help with seasonal depression. Two years later Lamictal stopped working so I tapered off. Then I tried Zoloft for a year. It gave me daily diarrhea and anxiety. I finished tapering off last week. Now I’m just on the Lithium and Risperdal. I take Ambien PRN. This year I had only depression in the spring. Historically I’ve had mania in the spring and summer. Depression in the fall and winter. I had no mania for all of 2017. I don’t know what to think. I get a little nervous thinking about it. I have not worked since May 2012. I get SSDI and it helps. I spend a lot of time doing coping skills. I stay tired a lot too.

SparkySmart...you are so strong. I take my hat off to you.