[kkkeeelllllyyy]

I'm Dx'ed Bipolar I, and I've recently obtained some Adipex (Phentermine, a diet drug) and have been taking it for the past two days.

Now, I KNOW it is not wise to take things your Pdoc does not know about, but I was so desperate I was willing to try anything.

I've been Dx'ed with ADD, yet my Pdoc will not prescribe me a stimulant medication to treat it, hence why I dropped out of school last semester and am out this semester, because NOTHING is being done to treat it! I'm a Psychology Major/English minor with NINE hours until graduation, but I just can't do school with my constant depression and lack of motivation or concentration.

But, ever since I've been taking the Adipex, I feel ALIVE. Not 'high,' or manic, just like I can function again. I plan on telling my Pdoc this, in hopes that he will realize how much a stimulant would benefit me. I've taken Ritalin from a friend of mine before and I was able to function that time too. No high, I just sat and did homework and could FOCUS. I don't know how my Pdoc will take the news that I am taking Rx's that I'm not supposed to, especially because I am Bipolar and my moods are very fragile.

Right now I'm on the following medications:
Lamictal 300mg
Abilify 10mg
Wellbutrin XL 150mg
Effexor 150mg
Topamax 100mg
Valium 20mg
Restoril 45mg

Anyways, I guess what I'm getting at is whether any of you have benefited from a stimulant medication? I've tried Provigil and Straterra in the past, but neither helped.

I am so near the end of my rope I'm desperate. It's either live or die. My doc is suggesting ECT or VNS, neither or which I want to undergo. I'm at my wits end.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Moose72]

Well, my two cents is that I was given ativan to lessen the "internal restlessness" that Abilify caused- an uncommon side effect. Then I was taken off the Abilify. I also know that stimulants- even coffee- cause me to become hypo-manic- even manic sometimes. Plus, stimulants plus depressants at the same time doesn't sound like a good idea. At least not long-term!

[TexSinginMom]

That is quite a cocktail of meds you are taking already. Im really not sure you are doing the right thing in adding diet pills. Please be careful...those pills might cancel out another med that you need...talk to your dr. Take care of yourself.