is adderall an effective treatment for bi polar disorder?

Question

well i got two answers but i also have one add on.. i have a VERY fast moving mind. it never stops. i have taken bipolar medicines like limactil and it dont help with my racing mind. that is why i asked the question. i cant barely sleep its that bad.

Answer 1

I would not think so. Adderall is a stimulant and a stimulant only. Generally used in treatment of ADD/ADHD.

Answer 2

My son has bi-polar, ADHD, PTSD, and conduct disorder and he had a hard time sleeping, plus he is quite an abstract thinker as well. He takes a combination treatment: Depakote, Seroquel, and Concerta. The seroquel is a life saver for him as it addresses his sleep pattern which was really bad – he hardly slept steadily ever. Remember that more than one med may be prescribed to address what ever symptoms are not being taken care of by the initial one. A good psychiatrist will address any eating and sleeping problems first, because no-one can feel and operate day to day with those two important foundations out of control. Talk with your doctor and address this issue now. Good Luck!

Answer 3

This combination medication is used as part of a total treatment program to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may help to increase the ability to pay attention, stay focused, and control behavior problems.
This product is a combination of stimulants (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine). It is thought to work by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
This drug may also be used to treat certain sleeping disorders (narcolepsy). It should not be used to treat tiredness or to hold off sleep in people who do not have a sleep disorder.

I got this info from webmd.

There are a bunch of other drugs out there that area actually better at treating bi-polar than adderall, which is more commonly used for ADHD, and most docs will not prescribe it unless you are extremely manic. Currently I take a wonderful (ha ha) cocktail twice a day. It consists of 2000mg of Depekote ER, 100mg of Topamax, 100mg of Lamictal, and 300mg of Serequel in the a.m., and 2000mg of Depekote ER, 100mg of Topamax, 100mg of Lamictal, 450mg of Serequel, and 100mg of Trasydone (for sleeping) in the p.m. Check with your doctor and see if maybe he/she can try you on something other than the Lamictal. It didn't work for me until I had a bunch of other things added to it. And sleeping never happened for me, even with the Serequel, which they give people now for a sleeping med, I have to take it and an additional sleeping med. Check with you doc and see what else is available before trying adderall to help with the mania because it can be an extremely addictive drug and the effects that can occur when you come off of it are pretty bad. Good luck.

Answer 4

Adderall is not for Bi-Polar, it is for ADHD. A lot of Bi-Polar people do have ADHD though. Perhaps your psychiatrist diagnosed you as ADHD along with your Bi-Polar but did not relay that information to you. Ask him/her about it. Also if it is keeping you up, you should probably not be taking it. Maybe the ADHD was a mis-diagnosis on the Dr's part. Some of the symptoms of BP and ADHD are alike.

Answer 5

adderall is commonly used for ADHD, but there are many sollutions for bi-polar, and adhd, and many times,(like in my case) phsychiatrists will try medications that treat one or the other on a patient, because some symptoms parallel each other, and therefore leaving you temporarily undiagnosed. Don't be discouraged, or frustrated(although I understand)just write down, or take a mental note of your symptoms,(like racing thoughts, and insomnia,as well as your benefits from any particular drug)and be sure to let your Dr. know so that he/she can properly treat you.It's not really important if you are bi-polar, or have adhd, or whatever, just be aware that you do have symptoms, and allow yourself to be undiagnosed for now, if that is the case.Goodluck!

Answer 6

No...adderall is used for Attention Deficit Syndrome..I can't see it would do anyone any good with a bi polar problem.

Answer 7

Frist of all Go to a Doctor if you have go to a different one.I don't know anything about adderall alittle bout bi polar.But i think you need to disscuss this with professional persons in mental health issues I myself suffer stymphons like yours I have obsessvie thoughts and worries.With a few other issues. But I found a Doctor which I have great respect for,Before I tried doctors they'ed lable me with what sounded good to them at the time gave me whatever was suppose help me get better.Frist of all never take any medcine you have not talked to an professional person a pharmacy or medical hotline someone that cares to tell you the facts.I went through eight different medcitions before i found the right one that helped me funny thing is it was the very frist one i had tried.But Ididn't know at frist Ididn't know what to expect.Having a doctor with patience also helps ever so much. Even if your doctor isn't patience if something does not helpit can make things worse never let a doctor just give you a pill tell you it's what you need,Iwasted many years thinking they new what i needed and took it weather helped or not thinking it's just me so i went along with whatever.I finally after many attempts seeing just a doctor who gives out the most advertised pill for whatever illness.I only got worse thinking whats wrong with me? Untill I went to a mental health center talked to the right people who listened to me and through trial and tribulations WE figured out all the things no one else even tried to make an effort to do.What was really the root of my problems at frist it was hard to talk about anything i was scared of what everyone would find out about me.It is confindential if of age.Worry about getting mentaly fit and if you don't recive the right help complain to who will ever listen,find a new doctor as many time as needed untill you find the right one that helps you find yourself gives you what you need support. medicine refferels to other doctors it may sound overwhelming but knowing the truth and understanding what your doctor means gives you faith to ask all the right questions to them so they better know what you really need. Don't Give Up. Iwasted many many years .Then one night I Thought WOW my mind isn't raceing with questions past present future,ect.It was a night of peacefulness i have long enjoyed. GOOD LUCK!!!!AND GOOD PEACEFUL THOUGHTS.

Answer 8

I think that you should talk to your prescribing doctor, who is hopefully a psychiatrist, to explore other options to treat your mood disorder. Depakote seems to work well in alot of patients with bipolar disorder. Also regular therapy with a licensed clinician helps. There are also support groups for people living with bipolar disorders to provide emotional support in managing symptoms.

Answer 9

Sayna, bi-polar and add and adhd are all bs diagnosis. you have none of those because there are no real test for mental illness and the psychs can't even name the symptoms! go to www.cchr.org and watch the videos of them doing it! find out for yourself. by the way webmd is set up by big pharma.

Answer 10

I have known three people recently who have taken it for Bipolar. It seemed to help all 3 alot in the beginning. In fact they thought it was a miracle drug. All 3 of them crashed however between 6-9 months on the drug. It wasnt pretty.