[SpasticBliss]

I've started researching what my doctor is doing: stimulant-based treatment of my Bipolar Disorder (BPD). Sorry for the length of this post, but I need to run this by you.

I have found that this, as with all amphetamine-based treatments, is really only being tested on children. But I've come across one journal article about a study of stimulant-based treatment of BPD on adults. There was very little indication of any increase in manic behavior, in fact the opposite effect was observed in some cases, which is me.

Unlike any doctor I've ever been to before, my current 75 year old, old school doctor is not afraid of "over medicating" if you're in fact prescribed the type and combination of medications someone requires on a case by case basis. Some people, like me, require more meds than others. Just like any other illness. You treat the problem until it responds.

The only meds that really help me (antisychotics and benzos) cause heavy sedation and I am starving all the time with no metabolism. This has been the case for the last 14 years. In that time-frame I gained 50 pounds and started sleeping 10 hours a night, sometimes 15 hours on the weekends and I had pretty serious tremors, terrible social anxiety and paranoia.

The good doctor put me on low doses of 2 mood stabilizers, he wasn't afraid to give me xanax (very low does) instead of klonopin, an antipsychotic and... an amphetamine: Adderall.

Within 2 days of starting amphetamine salts (the generic term for Adderall, a natural substance), in combination with the above laundry-list of classic meds for Bipolar Disorder, I noticed I was walking slower and I had a normal apetite. I started sleeping regularly. I've become very productive at work, although my memory isn't what it used to be, that's why I'm getting in trouble.

I started calmly and firmly standing up for myself in a bad work situation, the social anxiety is gone, my paranoia is all but gone, except for stress-induced paranoia (not due to mania) which is always based in reality. So, no delusional obsessive paranoia that always accompanies my hypomnia. And I'm not sexually dead, but there is not a residual trace of hypersexuality.

I'm not manic, I'm not depressed. I'm perfectly in the middle and I think that defines my stability. But I know in my heart this is too good to last. I'm going to end up back in some resident's office who is going to want to take me off everything and put me on something that's advertised on TV!

[SpasticBliss]

Yes, I'm bumping this up, it's rude but I really want to know if anyone else is undergoing stimulant-based treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

Also, I referred to it as BPD, which I found to mean Borderline Personality. So, just think BP if that helps. I'm new to mental health research.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by SpasticBliss

Yes, I'm bumping this up, it's rude but I really want to know if anyone else is undergoing stimulant-based treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

I take Adderall, but it's for my ADD....not intended to treat my bipolar at all. I also take a mood stabilizer and and AD.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I used to be given only Adderral and Valiumn. Took opioids too.
Short term ok.
Long term a disaster. After slowly weaning off this dreadful combination, I had worst episode of black mania in my life. ( I'm 54) Been diagnosed in my teens.
Bottom line is if you're suffering bipolar for real,be very careful of stimulants. Ok?

[SpasticBliss]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

I used to be given only Adderral and Valiumn. Took opioids too.
Short term ok.
Long term a disaster. After slowly weaning off this dreadful combination, I had worst episode of black mania in my life. ( I'm 54) Been diagnosed in my teens.
Bottom line is if you're suffering bipolar for real,be very careful of stimulants. Ok?

Thank you so much for your invaluable input! Seriously, this is great advice, to be careful and an insightful observation, pointing out long-term effects I didn't know were possibilities.

And thank you for saying "...if you're suffering bipolar for real..." this is an interesting point.

In my research I'm finding that there are cases of using the Adderall to stabilize the person's thinking, then wean them off the stimulant and see if they stay stable. Maybe combined with Transcendental Meditation and cognitive behavior therapy, while I'm in a good place, maybe I can get off the stimulant and at least see what happens.

How does one become part of a study? This has to be documented!

[pirilin]

Hi and Welcome. Every person is different. I was on 10mg Salts, 1 mg xanax. Lost 40 lbs.
Couldn't take the comedown every four hours, and had to kill ir with xanax. Changed to Xrelease and it was worse. Had to up the xanax to 2 mg, and then was left stranded.
Changed shrinks, and this one does not prescribe either.
Shaking the salts was very easy, just a couple of days of feeling lost. Now the Xanax is a whole different animal. Had to fight my way down for months. I'm down to .35mg and gained the weight back, and then some.
As I said, every person is different. I wish you all the best in your journey.

[seoultous]

I take ritalin. Same principal. It works for me to clear the fog in the am and helps motivate me to go to work. I do not have ADD but was prescribed this for SAD.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by SpasticBliss

I've started researching what my doctor is doing: stimulant-based treatment of my Bipolar Disorder (BPD). Sorry for the length of this post, but I need to run this by you.

I have found that this, as with all amphetamine-based treatments, is really only being tested on children. But I've come across one journal article about a study of stimulant-based treatment of BPD on adults. There was very little indication of any increase in manic behavior, in fact the opposite effect was observed in some cases, which is me.

Unlike any doctor I've ever been to before, my current 75 year old, old school doctor is not afraid of "over medicating" if you're in fact prescribed the type and combination of medications someone requires on a case by case basis. Some people, like me, require more meds than others. Just like any other illness. You treat the problem until it responds.

The only meds that really help me (antisychotics and benzos) cause heavy sedation and I am starving all the time with no metabolism. This has been the case for the last 14 years. In that time-frame I gained 50 pounds and started sleeping 10 hours a night, sometimes 15 hours on the weekends and I had pretty serious tremors, terrible social anxiety and paranoia.

The good doctor put me on low doses of 2 mood stabilizers, he wasn't afraid to give me xanax (very low does) instead of klonopin, an antipsychotic and... an amphetamine: Adderall.

Within 2 days of starting amphetamine salts (the generic term for Adderall, a natural substance), in combination with the above laundry-list of classic meds for Bipolar Disorder, I noticed I was walking slower and I had a normal apetite. I started sleeping regularly. I've become very productive at work, although my memory isn't what it used to be, that's why I'm getting in trouble.

I started calmly and firmly standing up for myself in a bad work situation, the social anxiety is gone, my paranoia is all but gone, except for stress-induced paranoia (not due to mania) which is always based in reality. So, no delusional obsessive paranoia that always accompanies my hypomnia. And I'm not sexually dead, but there is not a residual trace of hypersexuality.

I'm not manic, I'm not depressed. I'm perfectly in the middle and I think that defines my stability. But I know in my heart this is too good to last. I'm going to end up back in some resident's office who is going to want to take me off everything and put me on something that's advertised on TV!

BPD stands for borderline personality disorder.

WARNING: I'm bout to preach here...

Just from my own experience of taking stims on a regular basis, I'm highly against it when you have BP (bipolar). You should really take the time and research the long term effects on brain chemicals. Since I last uhh "came down" I've been experiencing severe anhedonia and depression. I haven't left my room in months. Not to mention the extreme exhaustion. Pdoc had to put me on ADs but due to sexual side effects, I made the choice to stop them (let's be honest, not being able to enjoy sex is depressing enough lol). There actually is many warnings out there when it comes to stims and BP and In SOME people, it absolutely can cause mania (hypo in my case). I don't want to step on any toes here but really, read up more about the aftershock of these drugs before you jump in and use them on a regular basis. You mine as well be smoking meth.

[SpasticBliss]

There are all variety of stimulants and any number of combinations. A scientific study on "Adjunctive methylphenidate or racemic mixture of AMPH salts," (I'm on amphetamine salts) out of the whole list of options, had only positive effects.

You doctor needs to be mindful of the type and dosage of the stimulant and what BP meds to combine it with. There is a great article in Current Psychiatry called "Stimulants for adult bipolar disorder?" by Dr. Robert Gonzales. I'm not allowed to post links yet, I'm still to new.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

If you want to find clinical trials just search clinical trials bipolar and a long list will come up. It will tell you where the study is, what is involved from you, any compensation, etc.

Also search for mood disorder center research; I think that's how I found the trial I did (it was for lamictal so obviously a long time ago).

[st0psign]

I take 40 mg of vyavanse followed by anther 20 mg at 1ish. not for BP but ADHD. though my pdoc doesn't like it because she says it can induce mania. I've been on many stimulants and vyvanse is the only one I can take that doesn't send me into psychotic rages for like no reason. so I say its working out.

[SpasticBliss]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

If you want to find clinical trials just search clinical trials bipolar and a long list will come up. It will tell you where the study is, what is involved from you, any compensation, etc.

Also search for mood disorder center research; I think that's how I found the trial I did (it was for lamictal so obviously a long time ago).

Thank you! I was trying all kinds of keywords, but clinical trial did the trick! Unfortunately nothing near me right now, or related to my treatment. But I'll keep looking.

If I could help even one person out there living in the dark storm of bipolar disorder, it would be worth it.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

You can also try the NIMH (National Insitute of Mental Health). They usually have some unusual studies going. If I fail clozaril I may see about trying one of their studies although I didn't realize I'd thought that until I wrote it.

I understand how you feel; that's how I felt in the lamictal trial. It was very obvious to everyone that I got the placebo and I became severely, scarily depressed to the point I was lying to stay out of the hospital. They offered to let me move on to open label lamictal a bunch of times and I insisted I would finish what I started. It was a hard 6 weeks but I'm glad I did it.

Right now I'm doing a 2 blood draw thing helping ot calibrate genetic testing and predictions of what meds/doses will work for individuals.

[SpasticBliss]

I think I can finally post a link. This is the article about the scientific study, in Current Psychiatry, "Stimulants for adult bipolar disorder?"

I mean, I have had the most stable few months of my entire life. 20 till 9 and I'm ready for a snack then bed. No hypomania, I'm not nervous or sleepless, I have an appetite. It's all just normal.

[tallulahxoxo]

I was on adderall and it helped me tremendously in the same way.
Then I decided to go off it and it sucked.
I'm going to my doc tuesday and I so badly want to be on it again. It made life so much more bearable.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

[SpasticBliss]

I'm glad to finally talk to someone willing to share the positive effect this type of treatment had on you. But SqrqhJean, why did you quit taking the Adderall?

[tallulahxoxo]

Originally Posted by SpasticBliss

I'm glad to finally talk to someone willing to share the positive effect this type of treatment had on you. But SqrqhJean, why did you quit taking the Adderall?

It is a long story. I got stranded in another state. And I made a friend who kept insisting "You do not need meds, all I need is God.."
So when I ran out of meds I quit taking them. The come down sucked.
I am meeting with my psych tomorrow and I am so so hoping that he puts me back on ALL my meds.
He is hesitant because in the past I kept going on and off meds because I was in denial and thought meds were a conspiracy.
But now I feel like they make life easier point blank, fu** what people think, you know?

Thank you for reading all that. I am really happy adderall is helping you.
What job do you have?

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

[SpasticBliss]

I hope all goes well at the psych today. Keep me updated, I want to hear what happens. Hoping you get all your meds back!

I swear, right now, if anyone altered my medication regimen, which they seem to always want to do, I would start doctor shopping. Thank God for my doctor. Best ever.

[LacunaCoiler]

I'm on adderall for ADD but I have notice that my mood has been a little more stable as well. I've been extremely happy with it. The only thing that my doc thinks is I might be on the manic side but am very functional this way. My focus has improved 1000 folds. It's amazing what one drug could do.

[SpasticBliss]

Originally Posted by Are you suffering?

I'm on adderall for ADD but I have notice that my mood has been a little more stable as well. I've been extremely happy with it. The only thing that my doc thinks is I might be on the manic side but am very functional this way. My focus has improved 1000 folds. It's amazing what one drug could do.

Dear Are You Suffering... I couldn't have said it better myself.

So, that's what I'm learning to do. It's like I'm left with that tiny touch of the magic manic euphoria us enlightened bipolar folks can have.

But I don't have a trace of:

• paranoia
• anxiety
• bad judgement
• guilt
• mixed states
• dwelling obsessively on the past
• racing scary thoughts
• total and utter distraction from the world around me

I'm about 85% better focused at work. I'm very proud of myself. It takes a lot to distract me, but if I gt distracted I go right to where I left off.

I could use more Adderall for sure, like 5mg, for better focus and a little more energy. I started taking it both for focus, to quiet the distracting racing thoughts and get me out of this iatrogenic sedation.

I'm afraid to ask for more, though. It's going to raise a red flag. Even if not this doc, but future ones. It sucks that this drug is used so recreationally! It has saved my life.

The antipsychotic, the most sedating of them all and the one I need most, "May cause drooling." Nice. But the Adderall allows me to take that necessary medication, required to control my paranoia, without the drooling! Now that's a bonus.

"Actions do have consequences. And yet…there is…the magic!"
--The Neighbor, Inland Empire, David Lynch (writer/director)

My doctor won't treat my ADD. I can't take stimulants without causing mania.

[Bluegirl1226]

I take Vyvanse, but I have ADD and bipolar as well. It has helped me tremendously. The only thing I don’t like about the Vyvanse is that it gives me a stomach ache sometime. I like you am on a laundry list of meds, 14 meds a day, but my doctor has gotten me straightened out at least from where I was you can call it straightened out. I rapid cycle and have mixed episodes as well. I recently discovered that I was having mixed episodes. I am feeling up, a little hypomanic and I will cry on and off throughout the day. And I won’t come out of my room even though feeling up. Good luck. And hugs if you want them. XX