What do you take if you're bi polar and ADHD?

Answer 1

I am not a medical doctor, but I am a psychologist and have a child with Bipolar disorder and ADHD. Your concern should be more about how ADHD medication affects the mania side of bipolar disorder, not the depression side. ADHD meds are typically stimulants (exception: Strattera) which could potentially trigger a manic episode. If this is the case, symptoms such as racing thoughts, disorganization, talktativeness, etc. could actually get worse, which is obviously opposite the reaction you wanted. My teen tried Focalin but it made him very overactive and even though he stated his focus was better, he couldn't settle down long enough to accomplish anything. He also talked our heads off! Adderal seems to work much better in his case. He is also on Lithium, which controls his mania pretty effectively. Every person is different and reacts differently to medications. What you need to do is find a good psychiatrist - no, you're not crazy - psychiatrists specialize in the use of behavior altering medications and can tell you how to monitor for undesirable signs when starting any new medication. They know what meds they can mix and what meds will be most helpful specific to your personal case. A good psychiatrist can change your whole life. Good luck to you!

Answer 2

First off, you should ask your doctor. They what to do. Second, are you positive you have both?

Answer 3

No.