[eeyore1234]

Hi

Hoping you can help me answer a question:

I think it's kind of a fact that antidepressants can induce (hypo)mania and we've all heard about that or tried it ourself.

BUT yesterday my psychiatrist told me that antipsychotic meds tend to have the opposite / reverse effect and induce depression.

Is this true? Anyone heard about it? Experienced it yourself?

I think it sounds weird since a lot of people with bipolar gets treated with APs and I've read that Seroquel is a FDA approved drug (stand alone drug) in treating bipolar depression. ADs are usually ok in a combo with mood stabilizers, why aren't APs then??

The reason I ask is because of my own meds. Right now I'm on a high dose of Lithium and slowly increasing Lamotrigine dose (now 125 mg). I also take Seroquel 50mg every night to calm my racing thoughts and help me sleep. My pdoc wants me to stop, but I don't want to, I simply can't live without it. So my pdoc said it was okay to continue for now, but I should be aware that every AP can induce/cause depression

Looking forward to hear your answers!


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[Wander]

I have never heard AP induce depression. I am on two and have not had that problem although I am in a bad mixed episode right now. My AD's were stopped due to them causing mania though. Interesting.

[Icare dixit]

At 50 mg quetiapine (Seroquel) might. It could be the association of depression with being tired due to the antihistaminic effect that can make depression worse/persist. It may feel like depression and hence (maybe) become depression.

But all atypical antipsychotics are antidepressive, antidepressants as well as antipsychotics.

Changes in perception/perspective are more likely to maintain depression, making it worse or prolonging it, and antipsychotics make these changes less extreme.

[Spaceyspace]

My deepest depressions have been on ap's. I cannot take them long term.

[Rjaye]

I've been hypo on AD once. The rest of the time, AD made my depressions worse. As for the AP, I have not had that experience.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by eeyore1234

Hi

Hoping you can help me answer a question:

I think it's kind of a fact that antidepressants can induce (hypo)mania and we've all heard about that or tried it ourself.

BUT yesterday my psychiatrist told me that antipsychotic meds tend to have the opposite / reverse effect and induce depression.

Is this true? Anyone heard about it? Experienced it yourself?

I think it sounds weird since a lot of people with bipolar gets treated with APs and I've read that Seroquel is a FDA approved drug (stand alone drug) in treating bipolar depression. ADs are usually ok in a combo with mood stabilizers, why aren't APs then??

The reason I ask is because of my own meds. Right now I'm on a high dose of Lithium and slowly increasing Lamotrigine dose (now 125 mg). I also take Seroquel 50mg every night to calm my racing thoughts and help me sleep. My pdoc wants me to stop, but I don't want to, I simply can't live without it. So my pdoc said it was okay to continue for now, but I should be aware that every AP can induce/cause depression

Looking forward to hear your answers!


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At 50mg, it shouldn't do anything but put you to sleep. Seroquel isnt therapeutic unless at high doses. I've been on seroquel (still am at 300mg) and I did get depressed on it only because I was abusing stimulants. Coming down from stim abuse causes your dopamine to deplete and causes severe depression. It took me about four months to finally recover! As far as ADs each one and each person are different. I've been on lexapro and paxil with no problem other than sexual issues (stopped them asap lol). As far as wellbutrin, nope! Makes me dysphoric/manic within two wks of starting it. Another AP I've been on is saphris and boy did that make a difference in my depression! I felt so much better after about a month. It stopped putting me to sleep though so I had to go back to my beloved seroquel. However I have a pdoc appointment on wed and I'm going to ask if I can take saphris In the morn!

Every person is different and I'd say any med is capable of adverse effects! Like seroquel is for depression but it didn't help. All it does is knock me out at night. And because of adverse effects, I'm saving ADs for a total last ditch attempt.

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