Getting enough sleep is key for me, whatever meds work. Ambien induced panic attacks in me, so I can't take it. Making myself take the meds and sleep (because on some level, don't we all enjoy the mania more than the depression?). I can't be on antidepressants long (SSRIs, do better on SNRIs, I think) or they cause mania though sometimes my pyschiatrist has put me on them short term when the depression is bad.

Right now, I'm on Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, 300 mg, the instant release (timed release made me feel too much like a zombie the next day). It may be a nontraditional AP; I'm not sure about that. In some people it causes weight gain or extreme fatigue the next day, but not for me. I do get the fatigue when I take the Seroquel at night, but it gives me a pretty normal night's sleep. I also take Lamitcal (200 mg), Buspar, and Klonopin. But I also have prescriptions for hydroxyzine (usually puts me to sleep) and Trazodone (makes me stay asleep) for when I can't sleep. I hate the hungover feeling the Trazodone gives, but on the other hand, getting the mania under control and staying out of the psych hospital is worth it in my books. It's tough because meds are not an exact science and what works for one person may not work for the other.

What I really hate is sometimes I will convince myself it will be OK not to take my meds a few days, just to get a little more energy, and then I will slip into full-blown mania. Then, the cycle repeats.