Bipolar II and the AD/HD connection

[Misfit]

Hi everyone.

For years I have suspected I have bipolar II. I know I definatly do not have bipolar 1, as I have never experianced mania. I actually do score a positive on the bipolar tests (given by my psychatirst) but again, I have only had hypomania. Sometimes I don't know if the hypomania was due to anti-depressents, AD/HD or bipoar II. I have found that the medical community is very reluctant to diagnose it. It is hard to know what it is when I have depression (a number of major depressive episodes-and am now taking 3 meds just to make life bareble) and my good times are the medicine working, or are AD/HD symptoms or are actual real mood swings. I have always had major mood swings with my depression. I actually help a mood chart for a while, because I wanted to understand why my moods changed so much. Since I am female there is definatly a hormonal part-but I also can't understand why sometimes I will go for a few months of okay and then crash, the be okay, then crash...I HATE that part of it! I tried Epival once, but it just made me gain 10 lbs in month...so I went off it. I have been on almost all the SSRI's and have been on a couple of anti-psychotics (just to see if they could work as cofactors for the SSRI's not because I have had any psychotic episodes) and have been on Ritalin and Concerta.

I was wondering if anyone is diagnosed with BP II and AD/HD and what things are like for you? Do mood stabilizers help you?
Thanks
Jaime

[NickL30]

Originally Posted by Misfit

Hi everyone.

For years I have suspected I have bipolar II. I know I definatly do not have bipolar 1, as I have never experianced mania. I actually do score a positive on the bipolar tests (given by my psychatirst) but again, I have only had hypomania. Sometimes I don't know if the hypomania was due to anti-depressents, AD/HD or bipoar II. I have found that the medical community is very reluctant to diagnose it. It is hard to know what it is when I have depression (a number of major depressive episodes-and am now taking 3 meds just to make life bareble) and my good times are the medicine working, or are AD/HD symptoms or are actual real mood swings. I have always had major mood swings with my depression. I actually help a mood chart for a while, because I wanted to understand why my moods changed so much. Since I am female there is definatly a hormonal part-but I also can't understand why sometimes I will go for a few months of okay and then crash, the be okay, then crash...I HATE that part of it! I tried Epival once, but it just made me gain 10 lbs in month...so I went off it. I have been on almost all the SSRI's and have been on a couple of anti-psychotics (just to see if they could work as cofactors for the SSRI's not because I have had any psychotic episodes) and have been on Ritalin and Concerta.

I was wondering if anyone is diagnosed with BP II and AD/HD and what things are like for you? Do mood stabilizers help you?
Thanks
Jaime

Many times, they overlap and incorrectly diagnosed. In my case, I was diagnosed with unipolar depression and started on 10MG of Prozac .Now it is 80MG with Vyvanse. They make me feel buzzed. I can't really say if they are truely effective.

I have never had psychotic episodes per se but I have had major cycling and mood swings where I have self medicated.

By the time you get properly diagnosed, your life & career can be absolutely destroyed. Of course, your profile says you are a career counselor, so you probably know how detrimental a bad job history can be for ones future.

[becacee]

I was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type at 16, Bipolar II just before in April just before I was 19 this year, now medicated solely on Lithium.

Initially i was on prozac for my anxiety and pms (which I believe to be PMDD), and when i told my Psychologyst that i was still mood swinging, and that my whole adolescent life was spent being fine, then so low, then fine, and the mood swings i'd go through in a day, all it took was an email to my Psychiatrist and a meeting with her to say "Which describes you? You have Bipolar II, we'll give you lithium" Apparently, stimulants don't work with Lithium 99% of the time either, but you shouldn't need them. Lithium covers the BPII and the ADHD better then Ritalin or Adderall covers the ADHD and BPII.

Since I've been on the lithium.. I don't need treatment for my ADHD, I wake up and can face the day, life has a purpose, nothings a "drama" all the time. I'm stable, and just take extra lithium before my period. I'm currently living with my parents, and they've even mentioned how easy its been since i've been on mood stabilizer.

I know a guy with the same diagnosis as me, who's not receiving the same treatment, and I know that things are still really rough for him right now coz his medications aren't what he should be on.

I honestly beleive that if you think its you, try to get someone to listen.
Hope this helps =)

[Song of Mercy]

I have been diagnosed with type 2 bipolar as well. The doctors have had me on so many anti-depressants and mood stablizers and anti psychotics in the last 8 years I cant even remember them all. I feel a little discouraged because nothing for bipolar helps me. I think I have adhd and all the self test I have taken indicate a high probability. However, I can not get my dr to listen to me. She insists that all my symptoms are due to the bipolar...so why the h*** dont any of them work?! The only med that helps me at all is abilify which is an antipsychotic I think. I definately think more clearly with it than without it.

I have had 7 psychotic episodes but they all happened after one of my kids was a victom of a violent crime. They all happened after something significant happened associated with that horror. I tried to tell my doctor that the psychosis could have been a grief reaction since I have never had one before or since the case closed. What do I know though...I have only been living with myself for nearly 40 years.

Sorry for not being more constructive its just that when I read your post I got seriously angry and frustrated because I have gone through some similar stuff and it just seems that people should not have to try so darn hard to get a dx from an informed and interested health care professional...and then be properly medicated.

[Jett]

They share many symptoms but if a person is just BP most of the ADD symptoms go away once the mood is stabilized.

Even when my mood is stable, I still have symptoms on a consistent basis and they have been there before the mood disorder.

[ADHDNEWB]

Originally Posted by Jett

They share many symptoms but if a person is just BP most of the ADD symptoms go away once the mood is stabilized.

Even when my mood is stable, I still have symptoms on a consistent basis and they have been there before the mood disorder.

Yea, I've also noticed my ADHD symptoms seem to be at a minimum after taking Lamictal for several months. I still have problems focusing, getting things started, and all the other issues, but it's a little easier then before - when I wasn't on the mood stabilizer.