[ranger0286]

I am taking 750 mg of Depakote ER, 50 mg of Atarax (Hydroxyzine), and 1 mg of Xanax XR. I am also supposed to be taking 10 mg of Lexapro (the SSRI). I know if bipolar people only take the SSRI it could induce a manic episode, but what if I take everything but the SSRI. The Lexapro causes me to stay up all night, and I think I am not on high enough dosages of the other medicines, which are supposed to help me sleep. Thanks for any help.

[WendyAussie]

I nearly died because of this issue - I was incorrectly precribed SSRI's for nearly 7 years and I lost everything in life and then nearly my life itself. And for the majority of that time I was on mood stabilisers as well - didn't make a jot of difference to the SSRI's shooting me into hypomania and mania, mixed states, rapid cycling, the panic and anxiety disorders most of us have, and then, of course the massive plummets into daily suicidal Bipolar Depression, which obviously, ended up with me making a 100% serious attempt on my life which nearly succeeded - 5 day coma, many intervetions to save me.

I can't tell you to go off them - you must discuss this with your doctor, but please believe that now that I know what happened to me (lost house, career, friends, family, passion and interests - and the years chewed up mean I can't have kids now) I can now find information and research on this all over the Internet. So talk to your doc about it.

It is pretty regular practice to prescribe AD with a mood stabilizer. That usually works to keep the mood more stable and to work on the depression that is so much of an issue for so many of us. You must talk to you doctor before you make any changes in your meds.

[sugahorse1]

I'm on AD and a mood stabiliser, but stopped SSRI, mainly due to the fact that I had issues with the side effects (Well, no libido).

I'd be weary of just not taking the SSRI - bear in mind that your brain has effectively been "re-wired" due to the drugs, and they cannot just be stopped, but need to be slowly tapered/weaned off. I was on 20mg SSRI (Lexamil) and stopped cold turkey and felt TERRIBLE!
You need to discuss stopping medication with your doctor and only do so gradually, allowing your brain time to adjust.

If it is keeping you up, can you try take them in the morning?

I now take Edronax - much less side-effects, and helps with my lack of energy; I take these in the morning though.

[grizmom]

I agree...it's best to talk to your doctor about changing your meds; it can be dangerous to stop taking something suddenly. I wish you the best!!

[RRU96]

I would agree with Grizmom and everyone else on here. Stopping the meds on your own is not a good idea. I also think that sugahorse is on the right track. Talk with your doc about maybe changing the times that you take them. This alone can make the world of difference.

[questionable]

Lots of people with bipolar don't take antidepressants. I don't. Talk to your doctor.

[sugahorse1]

I definitely need anti-deps, as it's the depressive phases I'm in the longest, and also battle the most with

[IndigoRose]

If the Lexapro keeps you up at night, why don't you try taking it in the morning? That's what I do with anything that keeps me up, and if I haven't taken whatever the med is by 3:00 PM, then I have to skip a dose. That might help you, but I recommend trying it on the weekend.

[ranger0286]

Thanks for the responses. I did take the Lexapro in the morning. I have since stopped with Lexapro and I am waiting to see a psychiatrist instead of my general physician.