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#1
May 25, 2011, 02:03 AM
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I sort of have a theory and am curious what u all think. I was treated for depression since the age of 23 (altho it started at 16) and in my 30's i was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and what I am actually wondering if being on antidepressants for so long CAUSED the mania I was experiencing, what if they lift ur mood so high that u become manic as a result OF THE MEDICATION? Just food for thought, would love to hear back from u. Hugs.
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#2
May 25, 2011, 02:27 AM
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I definitely think meds taken for too long can effect brain chemistry; especially going off them abruptly, but I'm not sure they can cause mania. Did you ask your doc?
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 Kmbpeace1171
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#3
May 25, 2011, 02:38 AM
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Yes this happened to me years ago I was manic, I am no longer manic it is will controlled with Lithium my wonder drug. My doctor said that antidepressants without a mood stabilizer can increase mania but im' wondering if it can actually cause it, I have no insurance and no doctor to ask so i'm just tossing my thoughts out there for my peers to see what they think, it kind of makes sense if anti depressants lift ur mood that it could cause mania is what I'm thinking. HUGS.
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#4
May 25, 2011, 06:18 AM
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Kristen, it is a very interesting question, and I've been looking for recent research on the matter myself. I haven't found solid evidence yet, but I suspect there is a relationship between long term use of antidepressants and mood instability.
I have also seen a lot of negative sentiment towards the use of antidepressants for children in the literature, and warnings about the suicide risks for some people when taking antidepressants. One of the difficulties with asserting that the bipolar disorder was brought on by the use of antidepressants is that unstabilised Bipolar is known to have a tendency to grow in severity over time. That could mean that you and I had depressive symptoms which we first noticed, and only later did the severity of our Bipolar reach the point when mania became troublesome. We can't be sure whether the antidepressants influenced that or not. Studies would need to account for that somehow. Peter |
| Kmbpeace1171
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#5
May 25, 2011, 03:02 PM
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I believe antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in certain people...but only if they are already predisposed or have bipolar...
__________________
Direction  Ripple Effect - Small things can make a difference |
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#6
May 26, 2011, 02:18 AM
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Quote:
I had been on an SSRI for about 18 months a decade before this recent episode. I'm watching my children grow up, and am quite concerned when doctors want to prescribe antidepressants for any of them, even as adjunctive treatment for ADHD. The role of antidepressants in kindling of Bipolar Disorder is something I want to know a lot more about. |
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#7
May 26, 2011, 07:33 AM
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Very interesting topic. I have definitely experienced triggering of both mania and rapid cycling on antidepressants - both tricyclics (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine, etc) and SSRIs. I already rapid cycle, but the antidepressants definitely make it worse, and the intense cycling continued for almost a year even after I stopped the medicine. This is even with the use of a mood stabilizer.
I found a couple of good articles on the subject. The first one is from a popular bipolar blogger who references a number of different studies. The second one is a very comprehensive discussion on the subject, with multiple articles attached. http://www.mcmanweb.com/treating_bip...epression.html http://cnsdiseases.com/antidepressan...polar-disorder
__________________
I've been scattered I've been shattered I've been knocked out of the race But I'll get better I feel your light upon my face ~Sting, Lithium Sunset 
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| Tsunamisurfer
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#8
May 26, 2011, 01:06 PM
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KMB... From the age of 19, I was on Celexa. Stayed on it until I was 23. Tried other meds, as I found it stopped working for my depression, although it worked for my anxiety. Went back on it at 25... While on Tegretol, it caused my first manic episode/psychotic break. Went off the Celexa and Tegretol at the hospital. Started Lithium. A month later, tried Celexa again and despite being at a "therapuetic level" of Lithium, it again swung me up to mania. So I think it can happen even if on a mood stabilizer. The idea of it happening because its been in your body too long is intriguing though.
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| Tsunamisurfer
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This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
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