Skipped my depression episode

I recently has a bad case of mania. My P-Doc took me off my anti-depressants as he felt welbutrin was fueling my brain to much. However, I am very grateful that I missed my depression episode. It has been a month now with no depression or mania. Abilify and Lamotrigine have worked wonders for me. However, I asked my doctor how many patients he has with BPD that do not take antidepressants and he said only a few. So how many of you have BPD and don't take antidepressants, and how do you cope?

I'm happy that things worked out for you.

Personally, I haven't taken any medication since I was forced to in foster homes. They all made me feel so empty I need the emotional highs and lows just to feel anything. Welbutrin in particular made me engage in SI and suicidal behaviors just to feel something.

I guess I cope by recognition of thought patterns and trying to change them. Its only been mildly successful as I can't join a DBT group though.

Hi cowboy

Congrats - at the time of me responding to your post, it says that this is your first post visible here on PC.

So it's awesome to see you here on the Bipolar Forum! I think we're all a pretty nice bunch of people You'll get heaps of support here

Yeah I've had to come off my anti-depressents under my pdoc's advice in the past when I've been manic too - it's like adding fuel to the fire.

Missing a depressive episode is a huge relief; because I'm probably a bit like you - depression usually follows my mania (although not always either).

I've been on Lamotrigine in the past too, it was okay for me. But I've had to switch back over to Epilim again as Lamotrigine couldn't cap my mania that was spinning out of control.

So, to answer your question briefy -

The goal of my pdoc, when I'm stable - is to just have me on a mood stabiliser (Epilim).

When manic I'm on a mood stabiliser (Epilim) and an antipsychotic (Seroquel).

When I'm depressed - Epilim, Seroquel and antidepressent (Cymbalta).

Hope that helps

Look forward to your response.

Just FYI, you seem to be describing bipolar disorder, which people abbreviate on this forum as BP, not BPD, which is the forum abbreviation for borderline personality disorder. This is an important distinction for some people. Regarding your recent experience, you could still be due for a depressive episode following a "bad case of mania", even if it takes longer than a month to materialize. There's always a price to be paid. I hope you can defy the odds and remain stable on Abilify and Lamictal.

regardless what it is BP or BPD, depression is first attempted with AD's which usually will not work on BP but will work on some BPD. Generally we simply need to stabilize our mood. Ad asn long as there is no depression present I don't waste my time on mood stabilizers. But that's just me.

I also was taken off my AD when manic. It's been almost 4 months now and no depression (but I think I was mixed for a few weeks, which sucked). Now, in the last few days I've been feeling great! I'm assuming if I fall into a depression I'll be put back on an AD.