Mixed Episodes... and medication

after taking paxil, i experienced my first mixed episode (which including massive amounts of energy, hallucinations, and coginitve problems).  i am in the midst of another one--- not sure why (racing racing thoughts about terrible things and risk taking behavior)--- i am on lithium (900 mg) and tegretol (40 Mg) and they are not helping me.  i cannot take anti-psychotics-- they cause a type of "explosion" inside my head.  i am still having memory/cognitive trouble and TERRIBLE DREAMS FOR MONTHS... (4 now-- every night.) is there something to help me besides lithium or tegretol?  can you go higher than 900 mg of lithium?  thank you.

fairydust

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You should ask your doctor about possibly switching you to Depokote. It can replace both lithium( you are not at highest dose) and tegretol, and have a stronger therapeutic effect.

[lowdownandup]

There are several mood stablizers. I have been on three different ones. Depecote totally wiped me out. I was virtually paralized. Now I'm on Lamictal. It is nothing like the depacote. You just have to spin that wheel with your Doctor. I know how distressed you can be, just don't give up. There is a drug or combination that will help you.

[spiral red]

Console yourself. There are also treatments that might help along with medication. I am completing my nursing degree and have recently been diagnosed as Bipolar. It's in the family. I am also on 900mg Lithium, 20mg Paxil and prn Clonazepam. I too, don't feel that the medications help as often or as much as I'd like. I experience rapid cycling manic phases and thus far we are still attempting to find solutions. Talk to your MD about cognitive behavioural therpay. It's supposed to be good.

[bipolarbear]

I am so tired of this crazy illness that I am dealing with.  All I can think of is killing myself but I know that I won't actually do it.  I live in a world somewhere between life and death and I am scared of both.  I am on 900 mg of lithium and they just took me off celexa because they think it was speeding me up.  I am currentlytaking lorazepam to calm me down but all I can think of is slicing open my wrist and watching it bleed.  My friends know what is going on but they just don't realize how far it's gone.  I can't stand the thought of getting up each morning and I can't imagine how I am ever going to find a happynormal life ever again.  I am 21 years old and I have dropped out of school.  How will I ever find a job that I like that I can be good at when I am so unreliable.  How will I ever find someone that I can love that can deal with all of this.  I feel like my friends are beginning to tire of it all.  I have tried so manythings to get better and I am at my ropes end.  Is this the bipolar life??  I feel edgy all the time antsy and unable to concentrate.  I can't sleep but when I do fall asleep I can't wake up.  Could someone tell me what a mixed episode is and if I am having one?