I recently have been diagnosed bipolar----and years ago (before not knowing how to treat) i was diagnosed ADD! Can someone help me? This is my question. I think i have been mis diagnosed. In Feb i was put on Lamictal. I am doing HORRIBLE on it. These are my symptoms: Severe depression (my entire life) hard to consentrate, 500 things going on in head, when speaking im all over the map, manic stages (shopping) OCD, bizaar thoughts, horrible student (end up giving up) feel stupid etc etc! Since i have started this med, i am 10000 times worse! Im speaking a mile a minute, switching topics, moody, mean, head still spinning, depressed etc. Does this sound like ADD, that has never been treated? Or if anyone knows about bipolar....is it more like that? Im just curious, people's opinion! I do go to my pdoc on Tuesday! I truly believe i have been misdiagnosed..............

So often in young children, early-onset bipolar disorder manifests itself in symptoms that resemble ADD or ADHD such as hyperactivity and short attention spans. However, the fact that you've experienced blatant manic symptoms like rapid thoughts and speech and extravagant shopping sprees sounds to me like you've got either bipolar I or II. It IS possible to have both BD and ADHD/ADD, but sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference because the symptoms can be so alike and intertwined. :confused: My advice is to observe your attention span when you are experiencing a euthymic mood, and have no chance of being manic. If you find that you have trouble paying attention or completing tasks when you're stable, chances are that you might have ADHD or ADD. On the other hand, if you only experience these symptoms during mania or depression, you most likely only have BD. In addition, the fact that you are "speaking a mile a minute" and your head is buzzing since you've started an antidepressant is a good chance that you have BD. Many times, mania is sparked by an antidepressant. I don't know if you had BD before you started Lamictal, but if you didn't notice mania before that, it's time to start a new medication that won't aggravate your bipolar disorder.
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

I've been on Lamictal since January and it has been a big help to me with almost no side effects. You do have to build up your dose slowly until you get the amount that is right for you. It takes awhile to get in your system but once I got to that stage I noticed a big difference and my moods have been level. I did have some of the symptoms you mentioned while I was adjusting to it. You may need a higher dosage. The Lamictal has taken care of the Bi-Polar Disorder for me thus far but the ADD was still a problem at work. My doctor added 20mg a day of Adderall last week and so far the combination is working great. Good Luck!!