[BrittanyAnn2609]

Hi everyone, just a curious question, do any of you who suffer from bipolar also have issues with ADHD? I just noticed symptoms in myself when a friend brought it up and it makes sense--I interrupt a lot, I don't think before I do things, I forget things all the time, I can't sit still-I'm always fidgeting.... can't pay attention long enough for a tv show/movie and I get bored really easily and am agitated a lot, I also talk a lot and nonstop sometimes. I also have GAD and BPD. It sucks to think I might be diagnosed with another disorder, but I'm thinking I need to bring it up to my pdoc. What do you guys think I should do?

[Victoria'smom]

Is it all the time or could it be hypomanic?

[BrittanyAnn2609]

It's all the time.

[Victoria'smom]

Then it could be ADHD I know my son has been Dx'd with both at times.

[jacky8807]

Have you always been like this or has it been after any certain med was added or stressor?
you can definitely have both. Some pdocs aren't too keen on treating the ADHD if you have bipolar but some are more receptive

I think bipolar and ADHD are related but it's just a hunch and not something I've researched. I feel that kids diagnosed with ADHD probably have a much higher than average over the general population of being later diagnosed with bipolar as well. I too think I have it, I have abilities to hyper focus on things sometimes, but sometimes I bounce around, wandering about, going from thing to thing like my son who has the DX. During college I could never write my papers until the night before, after a bottle of wine to calm my racing brain. Once my bipolar is under control, I plan to take an assessment if my brain has not evened out and the symptoms have not diminished. Good luck....I understand not wanting to add another pathology

[still_crazy]

the stimulants are used in bipolar disorder with or without a diagnosis of add/adhd. ritalin, in particular, seems somewhat popular to help with fatigue and lack of focus that often comes with bipolar depression (and can be made worse by standard drug treatments).

personally...i try to think less in terms of a 'mental illness' and more in terms of problems that keep me from functioning properly. my current shrink talks about 'bipolar I," but other 'professionals' insist that i 'really' have 'schizophrenia', for instance (to me, choosing 'schizophrenia' when there's evidence that its probably a mood disorder says a lot about the 'professional' slapping labels on the person...).

rambling. point is...maybe a stimulant, straterra, even wellbutrin or provigil would be beneficial. maybe not. im no expert, but it looks like you're on a number of psych drugs already. adding a stimulant might prove to be the best thing ever, especially since you're on an antipsychotic/tranquilizer and a standard dose of lamictal (from my experience, good for mood, bad for concentration...), but you run into more drug-drug interactions and just...potential problems, in general.

i dunno. my personal advice would be to try ritalin or focalin, maybe even provigil or nuvigil, before trying an amphetamine such as adderall or dexedrine. the amphetamines can easily de-stabilize anybody, especially somebody with a mood disorder. ritalin and focalin aren't problem-free (they're still in Schedule II, along with adderall, etc.), but my own experience has been that they're more compatible with neuroleptics/antipsychotics than amphetamines and also that they won't mess with mood as much.

[Leia78]

I have both and ADHD symptoms are different from hypomania or mania but they make it hard for me to focus or concentrate and I forget things and don't pay attention to detail or I get hyperfocused on something for extended periods of time. It's kind of hard to explain it but the two feel different. I can tell when I'm manic and it's not ADHD. But I do have ADHD problems and was diagnosed by my psychiatrist with both. I take Vyvanse for ADHD with my bipolar meds. It helps greatly keeping me on task and able to pay attention to the coursework in my photography classes. Before I was treated, I failed college twice. I'm doing great now. I can actually remember what I've read and have the patience to sit down and read the material. Using a stimulant hasn't been a problem for me but like I said, I don't take it alone, I also take it in combo with other bipolar meds. It doesn't hurt to ask your doctor about it. There's a test you can take to help with a diagnosis.

[Sunflower123]

You should bring this up with your pdoc so he/she can diagnose you properly whether it is ADHD or hypomania. Are you going to be seeing your pdoc anytime soon?

[BrittanyAnn2609]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

You should bring this up with your pdoc so he/she can diagnose you properly whether it is ADHD or hypomania. Are you going to be seeing your pdoc anytime soon?

I see her in a week and a half. the 24

[bioChE]

Bipolar and ADHD here. I take Vyvanse for the focus and concentration issues.

[BrittanyAnn2609]

yeah I've had focus and concentration issues for a long time now. I just thought of adhd when my friend brought it up to me. It makes a lot of sense. I'm going to talk to my pdoc but idk what she will say... you think she'd give me something for it to try?I just have a feeling she might just overlook it

[bioChE]

Really depends on your psychiatrist. Some are of the opinion that nobody with bipolar should be prescribed stimulants. Others are willing to take the chance. You might want to explore Vyvanse, seems a lot of us do well on it.

[Ljj7000]

Do you think talking to a mental health professional could help? Maybe talking to others? That is all I can think of.

Originally Posted by BrittanyAnn2609

yeah I've had focus and concentration issues for a long time now. I just thought of adhd when my friend brought it up to me. It makes a lot of sense. I'm going to talk to my pdoc but idk what she will say... you think she'd give me something for it to try?I just have a feeling she might just overlook it

I recently told my doctor that I've been considering a non stimulant stimulant to help my focus and fatigue and he was encouraging. He said he wanted to wait until I was stable a bit longer but agreed it was worth trying for me. I bet your doctor will listen to your concerns. Tell them your symptoms and why you hope it will help and ask for their thoughts and feedback. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck.

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Leia78

I have both and ADHD symptoms are different from hypomania or mania but they make it hard for me to focus or concentrate and I forget things and don't pay attention to detail or I get hyperfocused on something for extended periods of time. It's kind of hard to explain it but the two feel different. I can tell when I'm manic and it's not ADHD. But I do have ADHD problems and was diagnosed by my psychiatrist with both. I take Vyvanse for ADHD with my bipolar meds. It helps greatly keeping me on task and able to pay attention to the coursework in my photography classes. Before I was treated, I failed college twice. I'm doing great now. I can actually remember what I've read and have the patience to sit down and read the material. Using a stimulant hasn't been a problem for me but like I said, I don't take it alone, I also take it in combo with other bipolar meds. It doesn't hurt to ask your doctor about it. There's a test you can take to help with a diagnosis.

Resurrecting an older thread. I am on the search for ADHD meds now to go with the bipolar2 diagnosis. Well, originally my therapist suggested ADHD, and after treating the bipolar, the attention issues are still there. Anyway, mine has recommended looking into Vyvanse and Focalin. Vyvanse sounds promising according to this thread, and I believe Leia, was the one also taking Latuda, like myself. (Ha! Attention issue, I'm thinking this is partly why I quoted you). The other reason for the quote is that I was wondering if you could maybe further explain the difference between manic and ADHD issues. I think I kinda have an idea. The ADHD is constant whereas the manic type lack of focus is ...except now it does feel the same and I'm questioning if I'm presently in some sort of mixed state and this could still be manic-like distraction. Oh man! I'm still kinda new to this!
Anyway, thanks all!

[Tucson]

Here is a very interesting article that is worth reading. There are aspects of it that I have been totally ignorant of that I find surprising. I am not entirely convinced, but the author does have very good credentials. This has to do with a differential diagnosis between BP and ADHD. It is an impressive article if correct.

https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-vs-...ke-conditions/