HI Motto

welcome aboard!

late bipolar dx... or...?

sorry for the docs issue... docs can be dense.
or in a hurry. but it is a fact that bipolar can have "onset" at any time... also true it can go undx'd for years.

now, that said, if the only time you had manic sx was after antidepressant use AND if they remitted soon after antidepressant was withdrawn the they cannot dx Bipolar.... they can only dx substance-induced manic epsidode. if an epsidoe is subhstance induced it cannot be used towards a dx of bipolar.

valerian/lorazepam

1. do not use in combination - effects additive and

2. mechanism of action is similar so cross-tolerance is possible
For long term, steady use, i'd suggest sticking with a benzo, and Lorazepam has one of the cleanest profiles in terms of drug-drug interactions. my only thought would be geez if you have to stay on a benzo wouldn't it be better to use a longer-acting one.

what do you use use lorazepam for: sleep, anxiety or both?

drug vs herb:

Benzos are FDA-regulated whereas the pharmacologically active ingredients in herbs are not. herbal preparations by nature (pun totally applicable) can have a lot of variance.... eg: one leaf gets a lotta sun, makes a lotta this or that alkaloid, nother leaf is newer, or older, or in more shade, makes different alkaloids or very few.... let alone the differences between plants and terrain, and brands... forget it, unless the active ingredients are extracted and quantified - currently this is not done with sufficient rigor, and there is no enforcement of packaging claims.

i am not knocking valerian. just saying, personally, i'd recommend it only for occasional use where you don't need to keep a strict eye on dosage.... in that case, if a little doesn't work you can safely take a little more, sort of thing, you know, no worries.

Melatonin

offhand what stands out to me about melatonin is it is helpful in elderly because they can't make enough of it... for younger folks, safety is established for a few nights... best used for "resetting" the body clock eg after transcontinental travel. if melatonin helps i'd try "persuading" your body to make its own via the established biological channels, primarily involving light:
1. moderate to high light exposure during day, use a light visor or specialized lamp - check your drugstore
2. peak light exposure should be around the middle of your day - matching when the sun is most intense... when we worked in the fields or hunted... that's how our sleep got regulated
3. low light levels at night. if you read, use a "warm" light, low wattage. no tv/action/animation 1 hour before bed...

observe other sleep hygiene rules... esp no caffeine after 3 pm.... some ppl are sensitive and have to avoid completely, or after midday.... try different things and observe your body's responses.

~ waves ~