Bipolar + ADHD: Medication Sequences For Treatment Success

Описание: Bipolar disorder and ADHD frequently occur together, affecting approximately 20% of people with bipolar disorder. If you have both bipolar disorder and ADHD, starting stimulant medication (Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta) without first stabilizing your mood can trigger mania, worsen mood swings, or cause severe anxiety and irritability.

This video explains the complete medication protocol for treating comorbid bipolar disorder and ADHD—including when to use mood stabilizers like Lamotrigine (Lamictal), Vraylar, or Latuda before introducing ADHD stimulants, which serotonergic medications (SSRIs, Trazodone, cyclobenzaprine) to avoid if you have mood sensitivity, and how to recognize early warning signs of mood destabilization.

Whether you have Bipolar 1, Bipolar 2, or low-level mood irregularity with ADHD symptoms, understanding the correct medication sequence—mood stabilization first, then ADHD treatment—can prevent psychiatric crises and help you safely access the executive function improvements that stimulant medication provides.

This is a step-by-step guide from a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) who treats adults with ADHD and mood disorders daily, covering Lamotrigine dosing protocols, titration schedules to prevent Stevens-Johnson syndrome rash risk, alternative mood stabilizer options, sleep regulation as a stability marker, low-stimulation environment strategies, and how to work with your prescriber to create an individualized treatment plan for bipolar disorder and ADHD medication management.

If you have bipolar disorder and ADHD, stimulant medication can either change your life or completely destabilize you. This video breaks down the exact protocol I use with patients who have both diagnoses—when to prioritize mood stabilization, which medications to avoid, and how to safely introduce ADHD stimulants after achieving stability.

What You'll Learn:

Recognition signs of mood sensitivity (mood swings, SSRI intolerance, week-to-week instability)
Why mood must be stabilized before ADHD treatment
Step-by-step medication protocol: Lamotrigine dosing, titration schedule, and alternatives (Vraylar, Latuda)
Which medications to avoid (SSRIs, serotonergic agents, cyclobenzaprine)
The 3 keys to maintaining stability: low stimulation environment, sleep protection, warning sign awareness
How to reassess ADHD symptoms once mood is stable

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction: Bipolar + ADHD Stakes
0:30 - Recognition Signs of Mood Sensitivity
1:00 - Why Mood Comes First
1:30 - Medications to Avoid (SSRIs & Serotonergic Agents)
2:00 - Lamotrigine Protocol (Dosing & Titration)
2:30 - Alternative Mood Stabilizers (Vraylar, Latuda)
3:00 - Reassessment After Stabilization
3:30 - 3 Keys to Maintaining Stability
4:00 - Warning Signs & Awareness

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is educational content, not personal medical advice. Always consult your prescriber before making medication changes.

#bipolar #adhdmedication #adhd

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My name is Jonathan Murphy, PMHNP-BC. For the past decade I've provided medication management and therapy for adults with ADHD. I also have ADHD myself, but you may have noticed that already.

Traditional ADHD education is incredibly boring, which makes it nearly impossible for people with ADHD to actually learn from it. So I translate what actually works in clinic into YouTube videos that hold your attention.

What you'll find here:

Medication information and optimization strategies
Practical approaches that go beyond medication
Understanding how ADHD overlaps with trauma and autism
Proprietary frameworks (Survival Modality, Reinforcement Matrix, Stimulation Gap)
Patient education for adults who need help and guidance

My clinical work has expanded beyond ADHD to include common comorbidities: autism spectrum disorder, complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. I take a holistic, trauma-informed approach because these conditions often overlap.

DISCLAIMER: Educational content only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or individual clinical advice.

📧 Free resources: https://mailchi.mp/myfocuspath/focus-...
📖 Book "Cheat Codes: An ADHD Transformation Guide": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJLQKBW
📝 Blog: myfocuspath.blog