I've been on almost every anti-dep out there. SSRIs are a nightmare for me. Haven't taken any in probably 4 years and I'd definitely never take them again. SSRIs should never be used for any bipolar without an accompanying mood stabilizer. Many (but of course not all) bipolars have a difficult time with them. For me, though, they just increase my anxiety, caused panic attack, ROCKETED me in mania, and then after the mania ended just did nothing at all other than cause anxiety attacks, anxiety, and terrifyingly bad catatonic depression (my ex-husband even dressed me a few times, for example).

At any rate, I like the combo I'm on at the the moment: Lamictal/Wellbutrin/Risperidone/Klonopin. I realize Lithium is a choice still now after seeing my doctor, so when/if this combo craps out on me, that's probably next. If that doesn't work I'm probably requesting ECT, though I'm not set on it yet. I know a lot of people have reservations about it, but I have none. These meds make me as dumb as ECT ever would, and the "remission" rate with ECT is quite high. As for my diagnosis, there is absolutely no way on this earth anyone would diagnose me as BP 2. There's no question at all that I'm BP 1.

WendyAussie, my experience was much like yours. For several years doctors just saw the depression and shoved anti-deps at me, which caused rather extreme mania in me, which dropped me afterwards into DEEP depression, and the rapid cycling started up (anti-deps when used wrong in bipolars can cause or worsen rapid cycling) and it was all downhill from there. Add in mixed states. Then toss in a few psychotic breaks that just started this year and yikes. I would NEVER take an SSRI again. Actually I've had problems with all anti-deps that don't deal with norepinephren and/or dopamine reuptake inhibition. They just don't like me and I hate them.

The addition of the Risperidone seems to have made a dramatic difference. Whether it will last or not....we'll see.

At this point, I'm pretty much willing to try anything. ya know? But hopefully I'm onto something that is working this time. If not, back to the ol' drawing board.