The bipolar individuals I know don't sleep during regular times - so they might stay up all night, sleep all day. Then switch to staying up all day for days at a time and sleeping for extended periods. It changes around a lot PLUS there is also other behavior that is different as well.

I actually found while it helped me to fall asleep (this was a 1/2 dose) I was WAY too groggy the next morning until almost lunchtime. It made me concerned about driving and caring for my child when I was that groggy and out of it like when I take benedryl. So I started working on other sleep habits and also realized that when I'm under stress I can fall asleep but wake up early in the AM. I just get up and get stuff done in my life. Eventually I get back into a better sleep pattern.

Have your doctors ruled out bipolar 2 which causes the same type of sleeplessness? As I understand it, it's a milder form of bipolar. Less dramatic cycling. But still the mind cannot shut off for sleep entirely. Still racing a bit.

I don't have it, so don't know a lot about it, but I have a friend who has this version of it, and has alot of sleep issues. I don't know whether she wakes up in the night after falling asleep or just can't fall asleep in the first place. I don't know for sure, but she did say there is a sleep impact from this disease.