It took multiple hospitalizations and years of illness before I finally accepted that I needed to take an antipsychotic every day. Am on 1mg of rexulti, which is the AP, and I take 50 mg of Lyrica because it helps me sleep and takes the edge off the chronic pain condition I have had since before I first fell ill with mania. I don't want another involuntary hospitalization and all the goes with that.

It's very common for people with bipolar to not take meds for it or to go in and out of periods when they do. One reason is that meds have multiple side effects and it's hit and miss whether any particular medication will work or not. On the flip side are people who take a dozen different psychiatric meds each day. If the medicines were really that good that wouldn't be necessary.

Wellbutrin is the only antidepressant I can take without triggering mania but unfortunately it increases my anxiety. Nothing seems to really touch my depression. I am hoping to try ketamine or a derivative of it once it is legal in Canada, where I live.