Q. I have been diagnosed 2 years ago as bipolar at the age of 40. In my 20s, I was manic; but not since then. I am doing well on lithium (300 mg), Paxil (10 mg) and Zyprexa (2.5 mg). I'm doing great, but it bugs me that I've been diagnosed as bipolar when I'm not manic. I'm more depressed than anything, and I used to hear voices and such; but my psychiatrist doesn't believe that I'm schizophrenic. I have painful urination. Could the lithium do that? I had a urinalysis 2 months ago, which was normal.

  A. I do not know the cause of the painful urination.

Once you have a manic episode, you are a manic depressive even if you never get manic again. Manic depressives tend to need different treatments than simple depressives when they get depressed. Sounds like your doctor is doing the right thing if you feel good.