[monochromatic]

How do you feel about antidepressants used to treat bipolar?

I know from personal experience, that ADs sent me into rapid cycling and a mixed state, and overall made me much, much worse. A lot of research also agrees that antidepressants, while they work at the beginning, ultimately end up pooping out and usually causing the person to go into mania/mixed state/or rapid cycling.

But it's a controversial thing, some people think they're fine, others thing they're not helpful.

Personally, I'm leaning towards not even thinking about being put on another AD after what has happened with mine.

What are your thoughts?

[middlepath]

No-go for me! Prozac made me psychotic. Paxil sent me manic but I caught it before it got out of control. I was on VERY low doses of each when that happened, so i am inclined to say NEVER AGAIN for me. Everyone has different chemistry though. My friend is BP2 and is on a cocktail that includes and AD and she has never gone full blown manic. So I can only say that, for me, no AD's EVER.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm in the no-more-antidepressants camp now because the withdrawal is so hard. I don't know if it contributed to the frequent manic episodes I've been experiencing, but now that I'm off them entirely I don't want to go back. My pdoc said not to rule it out, though, because my depressions are pretty bad.....a baby dose might be necessary again at some point in the future.

Usually he increases the Lamictal (and just did it again), but I'm getting up there on the dosage so an AD may be the only option at some point in the future. Besides, as he said, the cocktail which kept me on a fairly even keel for a while included the AD, and he only stopped it because I was bordering on psychosis this time (hallucinating, paranoid etc.). So who knows......never say never, right?

[Victoria'smom]

I need an AD. I feel that no AD is only treating half the illness. If a pdoc said no AD I'd find a new pdoc. Yes I've been on all new generation classes of AD's because all of them made me psychotic but each time pdoc caught it fast as he was regularly calling, the therapy schedule changed to weekly, and my husband has free rein when talking to my pdoc. I finally found peace with viibryd but I believe that it's because it has AP qualities. My pdoc is good at very slowly increasing my AD. At the same time I have other issues that require AD s .

[gayleggg]

I go for ADs because mood stabilizers alone will just not get me out of my depression phases. Even most ADs haven't worked either in the past year but Prozac may be brining me out finally.

I generally need an AD along with a mood stabilizer. My episodes are by far more often depressed rather than manic, so the mood stabilizers alone just don't cut it.

[~Christina]

AD's fling me into a hellish angry mania. So no I will never take one (again). Learned it the hard way

[monochromatic]

Is there anything besides ADs that help with depression?

[Moose72]

I'm in the AD make me manic camp.

[unlived]

monochromatic seroquel and lank gal can help with depression too. I think geodon might too and maybe zyprexa

[unlived]

Lank gal was autocorrect sorry mean lamictal

[monochromatic]

Those are APs?

Lol, I liked lank gal better
(Just started lamictal, I have big hopes)

[Alokin]

I love lamictal! Very good luck on it. ADs make me positively lethargic. It is awful.

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

I generally need an AD along with a mood stabilizer. My episodes are by far more often depressed rather than manic, so the mood stabilizers alone just don't cut it.

This is me exactly too.

[RLG2]

I take Geodon as my mood stabilizer and Lexapro as my AD. I can't function without an AD. My pdoc just doubled my geodon and I am starting to feel better thank goodness. I have been stuck in a complete 'down cycle" for so long now. I do not even get out of bed each day, let alone shower. I just couldn't think what it would be like without the AD though. I am new on here and I think this alone is helping me some. PsychCentral seems like a great forum so far.

[LacunaCoiler]

My doctor has a no AD restriction on my file since they throw me into a very high mixed manic state that lead to an impulsive suicide attempt. Even if it wasn't in my file I would still be against taking one.

[Jcon614]

Seeoquel , Geodon and Zyprexa help with depression? Doesn't make sense to me.

[Alokin]

Originally Posted by Jcon614

Seeoquel , Geodon and Zyprexa help with depression? Doesn't make sense to me.

I was prescribed an AP for depression....

[Resident Bipolar]

Originally Posted by Jcon614

Seeoquel , Geodon and Zyprexa help with depression? Doesn't make sense to me.

Seroquel (Quetiapine) and some other anti-psychotics not only affect the Dopamine neurotransmitters but also the Serotonin neurotransmitters. Therefore, if you hold in mind that Dopamine and (even more so) Serotonin are thought to control mood and behavior, it's not too difficult to see why they can be helpful in the treatment of Depression.

Seroquel is mostly used in patients experiencing a major episode of Depression when diagnosed with Bipolar (Affective) Disorder, however it is also licensed in the treatment of depressive episodes in those with Major Depressive Disorder. Often, Seroquel can be prescribed in addition to an anti-depressant when treating Major Depressive Disorder (should treatment with anti-depressants alone not be quite effective enough).

-----

In reply to the main topic, I believe that antidepressants are a good choice of treatment for those suffering from Bipolar Disorder - especially when they are suffering from an episode of Depression. The important thing that should be done by any good doctor is to start off on a very low dose AND in addition to the anti-depressant, prescribe a mood stabilizing medication such as Quetiapine (Seroquel), Valproic Acid, Lithium, Olanzapine etc.

I'm on 150mg Sertraline for treating depressive episodes and am always on some form of mood stabilizing medication (currently Quetiapine 200mg morning, 400mg night) to prevent mania.

Typically if an anti-depressant is prescribed for someone with Bipolar Disorder it can be done safely as long as it is started off at a very low dosage and slowly increased as needed. Any good psychiatrist would ensure frequent follow-ups and that a mood stabilizing medication is prescribed if anti-depressants have caused a manic episode in the past.

RB

[vans1974]

I find that they help with the bipolar depression greatly! To avoid the mixed states, I find that Lamictal and Latuda on high doses help! Hang in there!!

[darleenjshannon]

I was previously taking Lamictal and Lexapro. It didn't seem to have any effect. It didn't make anything worse, but it didn't help either. I only took those for a short time before the Lexapro side effects made me stop meds altogether.

[HopeForChange]

I have had a strange mixture of experiences with antidepressants. Lexapro caused a psychotic mania that resulted in involuntary commitment (horrible experience!) , but that was before I was on an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer in conjunction with the antidepressant.

Now I take both Wellbutrin and Zoloft and am fine, but I think it's because I take a mood stabilizer and an antipsychotic as well. I find that my current cocktail prevents both mania and depression, and I've been doing quite well...so I'm terrified to change anything!

Best,
Hope

[unlived]

re APs being prescribed for depression - I can definitely say from experience that both seroquel and geodon have helped my depressions. Geodon worked very quickly.

[nbritton]

Originally Posted by monochromatic

How do you feel about antidepressants used to treat bipolar?

They put me in the hospital on at least three occasions, I almost feel that SSRIs could be used as a gold standard test to rule in/out bipolar spectrum illnesses.

That's my two cents...

[vans1974]

Lamictal at 600mg has antidepressant properties. Also, Latuda at a high dose helps with bipolar depression and mania. For me, an AD puts me in a mixed state, but helps alleviate the depression, so I find taking an anti-convulsant and an AAP are crucial when I take an AD. Best of luck!!