Bipolar and SSRI

I wanted to know if anyone has taken an SSRI only, without an anti psychotic, just the anti depressant by itself. I have read that it is dangerous and causes rapid cycling in those that weren't before. Also, if you noticed an increase in the urge to drink alcohol.

I'm on 25 mg of zoloft only (no anti-psychotic or mood stabilizer). When I was on 50 mg it caused me a lot of problems, but this dose seems good (so far, been about 3 months). Some might argue this isn't even a 'therapeutic' dose, but it's enough for me to take the edge off of otherwise debilitating anxiety. My 'warning sign' for when it became dangerous was feeling like it was more of a recreational drug that I actually craved (I believed I described it as crack mixed with ecstasy - much to my doctor's dismay), then the lack of sleep, impulsivity etc.

I wouldn't say I feel an increased urge to drink specifically, but on the higher dose I was just more reckless and thrill-seeking in general, so I did drink more, amongst other things. On the low dose though I find I'm drinking much less because of the decreased anxiety.

makes sence!!!

Would you say that the impulsivity was the drugs or your bipolar? My gf wasn't diagnosed bipolar, but I think she was like a couple more visits away from that diagnosis. Problem was that she never saw the same Psychiatrist more than once, seemed like. She first got on Lexapro, then on Zoloft. She was on 25mg zoloft, but was taking more than she should have. Double dosing, and possibly triple dosing. She said her life was spiraling out of control, her brain didn't work right, and things like that. She drank very heavily, much much more than she did before she got on the SSRI. I'm trying to figure out what exactly was happening.

I asked her and she did reply once, she usually just avoiding the discussion. I asked why she drinks so much with the meds? That it's dangerous. She said cause it f*cks her up more. She said she just wanted to numb the pain.

It's really impossible to know...I mean, it all comes down to chemistry - moods are chemistry, reactions to moods are chemistry, drugs and alcohol are chemistry etc...from your description it could be so many things. When I was on my own zoloft 'high' I married someone I barely knew. This looks like obvious 'manic' behavior, but at the same time, I believe falling in love (or lust at least) can mimic and/or induce manic-like behavior - so did I get married because I was in love or manic? or was I 'manic' because I was so excited to be in love or because of zoloft? or was it some 'perfect storm' of love/lust, zoloft, and brain chemistry? Who knows.

It sounds like whatever the reason, your gf is in some serious distress and is attempting to self-medicate whatever pains her. The wrong medication (and you don't have to be bipolar to react badly to zoloft) and alcohol will only worsen whatever it is...I hope she can get help soon.

I was on fluoxetine for almost 3 years. I was diagnosed with MDD at the time. I did not have any relief from my depression; in fact I became far more suicidal and became even more impulsive during hypomania. I don't recall if I became rapid cycling while on fluoxetine, but I know for a fact I have been rapid cycling for the past 2 years when I was not before (I think). As for alcohol, back then I had no access to it whatsoever but I did crave anything to shut my mind down - so yes, if it had been available to me I definitely would have had far more urges to drink at that time.

She took her own life two and a half months ago. I'm trying to connect the dots now about what happened.

She first got on Lexapro for anxiety disorder. The heavy drinking started about a month later. She did start drinking about a year and a half before, but not often. Enough to be concerned though. After she got on the drugs, the frequency and intensity just shot up big time. She started hitting the hard alcohol, hiding it, and lying about it. I couldn't deal with the drinking (I thought the issue was the alcohol, and not the meds), and I kicked her out many times in this period to stay at hotels, cause it was very difficult. I told her I was going to break up with her, but I loved her with all my heart, and I always took her back, till I couldn't take it anymore. 4 months later, she was at a hotel, and she was sitting out on the ledge. Cops were called, and they took her to the hospital for a psych hold. The doc then changed her to Zoloft 25mg. The drinking seemed to have intensified even more, but there were more lucid days this time around. Then 2 months later, after I called the cops to try to get a mandatory order for alcohol rehab, she left the house, stayed at a hotel, and took her own life. I told her when it happened that I told the cops that I don't want her locked up, or anything bad to happen. I just want the paper so I can force her into an inpatient rehab center. While at the hospital, she got diagnosed for mood disorder, and it was only a matter of time before the proper bipolar diagnosis would have come, and she would have fine tuned her meds.

I found everything out about her hospital stays after she passed, cause she refused to include me after she got on the meds.

When I was diagnosed with BP last June, my Cymbalta was immediately yanked. My pdoc said most ADs cause mania. When I'm manic I binge drink and get into a lot of trouble. I don't necessarily think it makes me crave alcohol more, it's just my vice when I'm manic (I'm an alcoholic anyway).

I was initially put on Effexor for major depression. Then I went manic and had psychosis and ended up hospitalized. I was then diagnosed bipolar with psychosis, PTSD.

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you gf. It must be very confusing on top of the pain. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know you are trying to find answers but sometimes you just won't have them. I really hope you are not beating yourself up. I hate to say this, but it really isn't about the ones we love. It's about pain and self blame. You feel that you are a burden and have no purpose. You get tired and want it to be over. Please, please don't take any responsibility in it. I can say all of this because I've tried to kill myself (I just happened to wake up). I hope you find some peace. Hugs

But I do blame myself. I didn't need to call the police. I don't even know why I did that. I just wanted her to be the old her. I just wanted to help her. Not hurt her.

Her doc - why when back in 9/4/15 when they diagnosed her with mood disorder, which bipolar happens to be one of, and after she was put into psych hold for possibly trying to kill herself, do they just change from one SSRI to another. After a lot of reading, seems like it's a known thing that SSRIs do cause mania or rapid cycling, and result in binge drinking and with it more suicidal thoughts, like you guys are saying. Why did they do that? She went to them for help. They didn't help her.

I also blame a couple other people that were close to her, and damaged her immensely. I don't want to get into details on a public forum, but I feel I need to find justice for my girl who was victimized over and over again. I think people saw her episodes and thought she was crazy.

The only person I don't or can't blame is her. Because she was the victim. She didn't do anything wrong, and now she's not here.

I'm really sorry this happened to you (and her). It's very tragic. I had a ex-boyfriend do the same - even though we hadn't seen each other in over 10 years, I still blamed myself a little as I recounted all the times he had indicated he needed help and I did nothing. But you DID try to help. It sounds like you did everything you could. Your help was not the reason this happened.

You can "what if" it forever, but it won't bring her back. I know you want answers and justice but that doesn't bring peace. Believe me, forgiveness is not for them or her, but for you. I've had to learn that just from my own personal experiences. Instead of justice, why don't you do something in memory of her. Maybe working a suicide hot line, or volunteering for a local mental health program, etc. There are so many programs and organizations out there that need volunteers and especially people that have personal experience with mental illness. I pray for peace for you. Hugs.

I think if you knew the details, it would make your blood boil. Her ex made multiple false child abuse allegations to take her kid away. This was one of the main reasons she was so down in the first place. I want to bring the truth out. The real truth. He most likely freaked out during one of her episodes but rather than tell the truth, he lied out of his teeth to make her out like an abuser. I can't let this go.

Yes, but...

Extreme caution and frequent monitoring, professional and peer, are required.

However I strongly would consider a true mood stabilizer, several of which (Lamictal most of all) have a better track record with bipolar depression than SSRIs anyway. In addition I think the drug-company touted use of atypical antipsychotics for mood stabilization is just about criminal, considering the potential metabolic side effects, which my doc tells me are NOT dose-dependent.

all this has been true in my case!!

First off,
I can not express in words how sorry I am for your loss. Suicide takes more lives than anyone wants to admit, and it seems all the people that should know even the remote start to a solution don't.

I will make my response brief.

First,
I think "Depression" is overdiagnosed (hear me out). Other disorders could have Depression linked/overlayed/similar.

The best Psychiatrist I had (he was a part of tons of cutting edge researchers with multiple Universities and companies), and he was STAUNCHLY against anyone in the "Bi-Polar Spectrum" being on any Antidepressant. Period. When I came to him and was Bi-Polar and also on an AD he immediately took me off. Said it is now known to be the biggest "no-no" in Psychiatry. Sadly, though, other psychiatrists will prescribe it.
I am not sure if this is "newer" information that Anti-Depressants can cause higher issues in those with Bi-Polar, or Psychs think they can outsmart it or what.

That is my only first-hand account of Anti-Depressants and Bi-Polar disorder.

All the best,
Matt

I'm so sorry for your loss again.

I definatly noticed an increase in both my urge to drink & enjoyment of it when taking an SSRI/SNRI, lithium reduced it, now I'm off ADs all together I've reduced my drinking so I think they had that affect for me & so could in others.

I'm not sure if I rapid cycle or ultra rapid cycle, or if I'm perpetually mixed, but I have very labile moods & I think ADs made that worse too.

SSRI's put me in a terrible manic episode that resulted in me ending up in the hospital.

I also wanted to add that my inhibitions were lowered, so I was more likely to drink, do drugs, etc. I'm not on any SSRI's at the moment which is fine with me.

I hope I've helped and I'm so sorry for your loss.

Lost2bipolar, I can see in your writing how much you are suffering. I wish I could take that burden of pain off you for a while so you can rest.

Please, focus on your health at this time. I know you want justice, but if you don't take care of yourself first you will never obtain it in any way.

Secondly, please try to accept the fact that you cannot control everything, especially other people's actions and reactions. You did your best to help your gf with the resources you had.

The doctors treat patients with the information available. In an emergency, in a new hospital/doctors, information is not always known. It's so unfortunate.

-----As a bipolar, the most important med to take is some kind of stabilizer: lithium or tegretol and there are others. Over time, a stabilizer lessens the ups and downs. Yes, we have to be careful with anti depressants, because they can kick us up too high. I am looking for an answer to this right now for myself. I may switch to lamictal as a stabilizer. Right now I use Ativan when I get hypo manic but the problem with mania is that often you can't see that u r too high until u have caus d relationship problems. I am trying smaller doses of Wellbutrin. It's so individual. Chart yr symptoms to help your doc get the right combination