I have tried a bevy of medications and have varied success with each. I feel great at first but after a few weeks am back depressed. I feel so much better on my highs except for the anger. I recently had my first child and the hormone change was wonderful for my BD. My advice is to keep searching for the drug combo that will work. It takes time and is hard, but stopping meds does NOT help. Eat healthfully and exercise vigorously when you have the energy. That has worked the best for me. Good luck to every person out there fighting this. You are not alone!

Because I have not responded well to most commonly prescribed antidepressants, my psychiatrist started me on an MAOI Inhibitor called Selegiline. It is mostly prescribed for Parkinson's Disease, but it has the side effect of helping with depression because it balances out the brain chemicals. It also cuts down on anxiety, which was a huge problem for me. Selegiline therapy has significantly cut down my depression and provided me with a sense of calmness. Along with the Selegiline, I take Lithium, 300 mg, at night, as a mood stabilizer. The combination of these two medicines works for me like nothing else has in the past.

I am Bipolar and suffered from extreme mania and mixed episodes for years. I am prescribed 600 mg. of Seroquel a day. I got used to the meds and I dont get drowsy. I feel this was the best medicine for manic episodes.

I was diagnosed as being manic depressive when I was 31 years old, and have been taking lithium for 27 years. I feel very fortunate that it has worked for me. My children were very young when I was hospitalized, so I was highly motivated to cooperate. Now I get to enjoy my grandchildren.

I noticed longer periods of stability and less severe episodes of both mania and depression once I started taking medication.

I´ve been suffering from this disorder for almost 10 years now, and I feel my life is over and that I am a dead crazy mind inside a body that has lost meaning to live. The doctors never know what do to nor to prescribe and I don´t have any hopes there is any effective treatment for this. I am sorry. But I´ve been here, living with it, for so long and I am very unhappy and life is a huge pain for me, that is all I can tell, if you are sick, I feel your pain, if you know someone sick, be patient and show your affection for whoever it is, just try to be there for whoever you know suffers from it. Loneliness is one of the most terrible pains for someone with BD.

I display most of what has been said about BD (bipolar disorder). I know I have a kind of mild case, but for most of my depressive moments, what I feel is kind of a low self-esteem coupled with the inability to perform simple, practical duties. It helps that I have a habit of going to the swimming pool to get relief from my depression. There is something about that cool water that is greater than the effects of depression. I do not know what the answer can be scientifically speaking, but I regulate my depression by touching water, at least, whenever going swimming is not possible. Splashing water over my face and head gives me an amazing awakening and a great sense of relief.

My husband was just diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, we always knew something was wrong and this was it. I have depression too and I'm really scared that I'm not going to be able to help him when he needs it the most. I have read a lot of stuff on this and all I can do is pray that we help each other and learn to still love one another, hold our heads up high and live life the best we can.

I am patient of BMD since 2005. After one year treatment I was returning to my general life, but due to leave of my treatment and medicines I again am a victim of BMD and again restart my medical treatment from physiatrist and now I'm spending a satisfying life. Sometimes I feel in depression, but my friends and my family member's supports me to fight against my (BMD).