When I take adderall, I experience mania. Could this mean I'm bipolar?


Question:
I've heard about people getting down and depressed when they take adderall- but not I. I am in a very elated mood, and I often do things when I'm on the adderall I end up regreting. It has gotten to the point, that before I click "send" on an e-mail or text message, I actually save it in "drafts" so that when I'm not on the adderall, I can make sure if that message is sane enough to send (sometimes my e-mails to people are over the top, so much to the point that when I'm off the adderall, I say to myself, "what on earth was I thinking?!"). I do collect normal judgement back when I'm not on the adderall, but I'm scatter-brained and cannot concentrate. Plus, on the adderall, I'm A LOT more talkative, motivated, invincible, and most notably- a marked high libido. But nothing like the extreme seen in bipolar patients (e.g. huge shopping sprees, promescuity). However, I've been taking adderall for 5 years now, and these manic episodes developed in the past 2 years. Am I bipolar?

Answers:
I understand what you say about not being bipolar but contrary to what most believe there is a number of different forms of bipolar, I am not saying that you have bipolar in anyway as only a doctor can tell you that. But here is a brief thing on the types of bipolar that might better give you an understanding. I would lean more to the bipolar ll or Cyclothymic Disorder

Bipolar I and Mania
Most people with bipolar I have episodes of both depression and mania. In very rare cases, they experience only mania. Bipolar I is distinguished from bipolar II by the severity and duration of the manic phase, which can last anywhere from a week to several months, and the experience of delusions. Risky behavior is common in manic episodes and patients often require hospitalization for their own safety.
The symptoms of mania can include rapid speech, insomnia, disconnected thoughts, grandiose ideas, hallucinations, extreme irritability, feelings of omnipotence, paranoia, violent behavior, a marked increase in strength, and openly promiscuous activity. (see Bipolar Screening)

Bipolar II and Hypomania
People with bipolar II suffer primarily from episodes of severe depression with occasional episode of "mild" mania, called hypomania. Hypomania differs from mania in that no delusions are experienced.
Like mania, hypomania can cause severely impaired functioning. The hypomanic episode often feels so good that bipolar patients often discontinue their medication in quest of a hypomanic episode. This is especially problematic because symptoms that come back after stopping drug treatment are often much harder to get back under control a second time.
While Bipolar II has sometimes been described as a "milder" form of bipolar disorder than Bipolar I, the suicide rate among people suffering form Bipolar II is actually higher than that for those suffering from Bipolar I.

Cyclothymic Disorder
People with cyclothymic disorder alternate between hypomania and mild depression. It is not as severe as bipolar I and II, but persists for longer periods with no break in symptoms. Cyclothymic disorder can later become full-blown bipolar disorder in some people, or can continue as a low-grade chronic condition.

Although I really don't think this is bipolar you are talking of, but more to do with the fact the medication you are talking about is a stimulant. I would recommend that you talk to your doctor as normally someone with ADHD does not react the way you say to the meds in fact it normally has the opisite effect to what it would an every day person.
Talk to your doctor about this he may need to change your meds. By the way if you were bipolar you would have the up and downs that can change at any moment.
you need to ask your doctor that question none here can diginose you
Adderall is essentially legal speed. You are probably experiencing the manic-like symptoms not because you are bipolar, but because you're not ADD/ADHD. Those who are not ADD/ADHD frequently experience the symptoms you describe if they take adderall, ritalin, concerta (i.e. amphetamine based drugs).
It's the Adderall. It is an amphetamine and that's how people on diet pills react. My niece gave me one of hers once and I talked and talked and talked.
You should better taper off the SPEED gradually
and it causes many side effects including Mania
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