[CrazyTinkerbell]

Thank you everyone for welcoming me. I'm not going to go into great detail cause that would take too much time lol. I've been Dx'd with BP for a little over a year. I still haven't been able to adjust and my meds were just changed. When I was dx'd the pdoc put me on Lamictal. I had it increased a few times and it worked pretty well. A couple months ago I've had stress that I have not been unable to manage and some other things. he finally changed me to Abilify. I've been on it less than a week. So far the only side effect Ive had is being very wound up. Worse than when I'm in a manic state.
I came here looking for others who can share their input and stories with me and to be able to have people that understand.
Thank you all again.

[trippinmickey]

Abilify made me feel like I was speeding out of my mind .first off its for the manic phase and for me thats the best part of being bipolar .Being manic can have its down sides but its a hell of alt better then being Depressed. We are react different to meds. and their side effects but if makes you feel bad dump it their to many other choices out there and they are can take weeks or months to start working so why waist time .Yes ive been told by my doc. that over time the side effects will go away but very rarely do they. Ive been on some meds. for 3 years and still have the same side effects as when I started them .

[CrazyTinkerbell]

I agree. I love being in the manic phase physically and emotionally. I love the high I feel from it. I just don't like the spending sprees and stupid choices I make sometimes. It's cut my irritability down drastically. I'll give it a couple more weeks and see how it goes. Thank you

[Schatje]

Oh yes the high is great, but the crash is horrible!

[CrazyTinkerbell]

Yes the crash is horrible but I try not to think of it while I'm riding the "high" wave lol.

I've been on Abilify 25 mg for about 10 years (& it knocked the mania out of me) & Lamictal 300 mg (150 mg a.m. & 150 mg p.m.--titrated up slowly to avoid getting the rash)--also Trazodone, Topamax, Klonopin, Provigil & concerta for ADHD. Was stable for many years on this combo, but then...

Love hypo mania. A couple years ago spent a lovely 5 mos. in it. Only sleeping 2-3 hours a night, boundless energy & enthusiasm, creativity, JOY...yes, overspending, talking too much (contacting long lost friends; sending out random emails; posting here with my great insights (!), etc.

BUT I didn't tell my pdoc about it (why would I? I felt great; nothing was wrong with me--everything was so RIGHT!!) Then SUDDENLY I crashed & overdosed & I'm still trying to recover from that; it's been 2 years. Meds had to be adjusted, aggressive therapy & DBT group, support groups...

Just had to accept I can't allow myself to enjoy the manias.--Suzy

[CrazyTinkerbell]

It's almost midnight and I'm still wide awake. I have to be up at 4am so I may as well stay up again. I can't do anything on here but post. No chat. Sigh. I'm going to have to get something better for sleep. I will call tomorrow.

[bizi]

hi tiffany
What are you taking for sleep?
I was taking ambien but decided that I wanted to go off of it....4 months off andI finally could not take the lack of sleep.
My pdoc jsut ordered a low dose of klonipin and I slept!
Sleeping well is soooo important to our moods and to help ward off mania.
welcome!
bizi