Can ADs trigger rapid cycling?

I've heard that certain meds can cause rapid cycling. Is that true? Although I've heard that rapid cycling *in general* is common in younger people (I'm 25).

My current problem is that I often have trouble determining if my mood is situational or if it's an actual episode, which is why I don't always visit my pdoc when I should. (I don't like to visit when my mood is situational.)

I know people have this problem in general, but it's been particularly tough for me because I've been rapid cycling since November 2015. My depressions last 2-3 weeks *max* and my hypo/manias last 1 week *max*. I literally get 1-2 episodes every month and I don't even know what "stable" is anymore. Sometimes I only get a few days break between episodes, too.

I don't want to see my pdoc if, for example, I have situational depression. I feel like such an appointment is a waste of his time and a waste of my time. I dunno. (Surely he knows I'm rapid cycling if I call him every 2-3 weeks?)

I just wonder if the rapid cycling is due to one of my meds. I've been on Lexapro since October 2015, and I'm kinda wondering if that one is to blame. But, it could also be a coincidence. My pdoc hasn't said anything about my rapid cycling (yet)... but I've also never brought it up. It's something I want to discuss with him going forward. Though, it'd be interesting to see if other people have this problem too.

I have no advice to give, but I do have to give

This is an excellent point and perfect to ask your pdoc.
bizi

My pdoc told me SSRI antidepressants (such as Lexapro) can cause rapid cycling. I've experienced that before. I know it is difficult to tell situational reactions vs. rapid cycling sometimes though. In my case, when I was on different SSRIs, my rapid cycling could not be mistaken as situational.....it was out of control. I learned the hard way I cannot take SSRIs. I agree this is a good question to your pdoc to help figure it out though.

Antidepressants can exacerbate rapid cycling, not cause it. That said, I am on an antidepressant, and it hasn't caused any issues so far and it's been a year.

I was rapidly cycling for almost 18 months until I realised antidepressants are making it worse. Once I got off effexor and was just on lamictal, topomax and trileptal I improved significantly. This is just my experience though, you should definitely check with your pdoc. If I didn't bring it up I would probably be in hospital more than 6 times.

Oh yeah. When I was on zoloft I ultra rapid cycled. I'd spend three to four days depressed and then spend three to four days hypo. I was so unstable. I ended up in the hospital because of that. I never spent any days normal. I couldn't handle it in the end.

Definitely talk to your doctor.

Though not an SSRI, Welbutrin did something similar to me, mostly hypomanias (and on dysphoric mania) more than depression, I was on it from November 2015 - February of this year... Could tell if things were situational of if I was in an episode until I looked back and realized I had no real triggers other than for the full blown dysphoric mania (that we stress.triggered).

But I'm sending you hugs

I really like the perspective in this article Antidepressants in Bipolar Disorder: The Controversies | PsychEducation

However, I post that but I am a very rapid cycler and am on an AD, although I wasn't for a long time and it's not an SSRI which at least for me triggered much more cycling than any other med. So I like the idea but am not treated by these principles and it works for me (my AD has to be adjusted when I am manic but with careful use and years of experience we know how to manage things).

From what I've read, anti-depressants can worsen rapid cycling. I feel confident that my 7 years of unipolar depression treatment most likely caused/contributed to my current ultra rapid cycling. It upsets me. Sometimes I'm angry about it, sometimes I'm sad.

Thanks for the responses, guys.

I talked to my pdoc yesterday, and he insisted that ADs don't affect or cause rapid cycling. I'm not sure whether to believe it or not... but I might do some more research on this.

BeyondTheRainbow's link was very helpful! So thanks for that