Can people with bipolar 1 have SAD?

medicalfox · Sep 16, 2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emgreen

I'm BP 1 and suffer from SAD, as well. I, too, live in the northern climes & depression hits hard after the shift in daylight savings time through February. I use a light box, and my pdoc prescribes a low doe of AD in the winter months to combat SAD. Like anything else, my pdoc & I monitor things to make sure I don't go into a manic or mixed state. I'm fortunate to have a pdoc willing to see me on a more regular basis during these months. I wish I could say the light box and low-dose AD always work, but the winter is always a struggle for me despite these measures. I do, however, use both treatments & have been able to get through many winters doing so.

If you're interested, light boxes can be very inexpensive. Examples can be found here on Amazon:

Amazon.com: light boxes for sad

Is it safe for people with bipolar 1 to take an antidepressant? I read that it can give them mania.

emgreen · Sep 17, 2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicalfox

Is it safe for people with bipolar 1 to take an antidepressant? I read that it can give them mania.

Antidepresants CAN cause mania, but in small doses & with the doctor's close monitoring, they can be helpful. Monitoring is the key. That's been my experience, at least. When I get morbidly depressed, any state is preferable to "The Beast."

Sep 17, 2013, 08:38 PM

I have read it is controversial about antidepressants and it truly depends on the patient and the dr. In saying that, I am bp1 and have been on antidepressants since my diagnosis along with mood stabilizers. That's the key element though, antidepressants alone can cause mania and shouldn't be administered that way to bipolar patients regardless of 1 or 2.

Amelie10 · Sep 17, 2013, 09:43 PM

My mood swings are in no way affected by the seasons. I have had serious depressive episodes in every season at one time or another. I'm sure there are people who have both BP and SAD, but I'm definitely not one of them.

I would love it if a light box could shake my out of a depression....

medicalfox · Sep 17, 2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emgreen

Antidepresants CAN cause mania, but in small doses & with the doctor's close monitoring, they can be helpful. Monitoring is the key. That's been my experience, at least. When I get morbidly depressed, any state is preferable to "The Beast."

My therapist never mentioned that. She talked about antidepressants, but I was worried about mania. I will have to ask her this question again when I see her. When would I start an antidepressant though? I heard it takes time for it to be effective so starting it in January when I'm in a depressed state may not be so good.

Also, can you take an antidepressant just in winter? I need to take another antipsychotic in the winter since I get psychotic during winter.

Sep 17, 2013, 11:12 PM

It usually takes about 4 weeks to see a good effect from an antidepressant so if your mood generally takes a nosedive in January and has done this regularly, then beginning it mid Nov would be the best time to start that way you can see if it is having an effect before the Christmas holidays and everyone on vacation.
I always begin my nosedive mid October and we work on it until February at which time I get a respite and then in April I go up, mix around a little then go back down, then its summer and I"m ok for a few months. More or less. This has been my cycle since 2006.

medicalfox · Sep 17, 2013, 11:31 PM

Thank you for the info! I have depression Jan-March so I want to avoid that as much as possible. I usually go into psychosis Jan-Feb too. I really want to break this cycle since it affects my college spring semester significantly and life in general. I really hope my pdoc can help me stay out of the hospital this winter.

Amelie10 · Sep 18, 2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medicalfox

Is it safe for people with bipolar 1 to take an antidepressant? I read that it can give them mania.

As long as the antidepressant is being balanced with a mood stabilizer or something else it is okay and oftentimes necessary. I am always on Lamictal 150 MG. When I am cycling into hypo/mania I add Seroquel. When I start to move into depression, I gradually get off the Seroquel and then add in Lexapro. But the Lamictal is always there.

middlepath · Sep 18, 2013, 05:00 PM

depression hits me as soon as we "fall back" in time. it usually hangs on until Jan. YEAH! Its that time again, grr.

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Can people with bipolar 1 have SAD?

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