SSRIs helped me

If I didn’t get manic from taking 20mg of citalopram (SSRI) does this mean I am not bipolar. I was on SSRI’s and it helped my anxiety but not depression as I hit a major depression and then was diagnosed as bipolar and went on an additional mood stabilizer; lemotrigine but then I got a rash and had to immediately go off it and was on the SSRI for a while longer but then it ran out and I couldn’t organize my S**t to show up for my doctors appointments or make a few phone calls so I went off abruptly and had the worst side effects for just a week. I got the buzzing / electric shock - type vertigo feeling, mass cobfusion, mood swings etc... and was hypomanic yesterday and today cntd... but I never experienced mania. Has anyone with bipolar ever had a positive experience with SSRIS? ... or could it be possible that I am wrongfully diagnosed?

I believe some with bipolar 2 can successfully take ssri's. I know with me they send me bat **** crazy.

Are you bipolar 1?

Yes................

I am diagnosed as BPII and take citalopram.


WC

And nothing else? Does it help?

Ah - yes. The mania

I posted in your other thread earlier. So maybe you don't have it or maybe you're the lucky one who can take SSRIs. I couldn't do it. Sent me manic. By that I mean couldn't sleep and I was belligerent and uncomfortable oh or was that the ADHD med? (Ive bipolar2 though No hallucinations) )At any rate, that took about a month to happen then with the added ADHD medicine. So, it could mean it's too soon to tell yet or maybe you could just handle the SSRI. I'd follow your docs suggestion until you've observed more. If you get too high tho talk to your doctor. Might come off the SSRI.

Just realized you said you came off. Sorry.

I'm on cymbalta right now and not manic.

cymbalta is not an ssri. I can take it too. It's an snri

I take 20mg celexa too along with the rest of my cocktail and I'm mostly ok except for recent psychosis

Citalopram, Wellbutrin, Adderall. Might make some BPII hypomanic. Not me.
Yet, I still qualify for BPII diagnosis. Bipolar is a spectrum type of disorder. I spend a lot of time in the severely depressed zone.

Treatment-resistant depression is currently classified as Bipolar Depression (and BPII) under the most recent DSM, according to my pdoc. Someday, this type of depression may have a category of its own.

If someone is classified as having Bipolar II, the more hypomanic episodes, the closer they are to a Bipolar I diagnosis on the spectrum.

Hope this helps!


WC

It won't help me. Income. But I'm glad for you.

I have bipolar 2 and I take 40mmg Celexa. Have been for years. I also take Seroquel too though. It never put me into mania.

You are very kind for sharing and taking the time to explain. I was never told if I am 1 or 2 perhaps because they are not sure yet...? They were not going to treat the ADHD for me because it’s a stimulant but yeah, I guess medication and effects is not an indication of the diagnosis itself as it’s so unique to each individual. I was just prescribed lithium today and am off the SSRI’s for now

Sending you a hug!

I was told I am BPII mixed states or Agitated Depression. I've never been manic. Paxil worked great for me once. Lithium does nothing.

I've been taking Viibryd since last November. I take it along with Latuda and it does well. No mania so far.

I'm diagnosed with BP1.

Sounds like we have a similar diagnosis. My doctors didn’t put me on ADHD meds though as it’s a stimulant. Different for everyone- so I’m not saying it would t work for you. Sounds like you have found a good sweet spot. I have been put on Lithium- about to start it today, so we will see! Thanks for your input

So I’ve switched to Lithium and I do believe my bipolar diagnosis now after observing some of my recent behaviours. I shouldn’t base it on the reaction I get from medication but I had this idea that I had been overly dramatic about everything- hypomania showed up to remind me that it’s not just depression that is the problem 🙄😬

I'm on Cymbalta, Lamictal (low dose because I don't want to increase it), Klonopin and Seroquel for sleep. I am hypomanic most of the time, except when I'm mildly depressed.

Salsharia, here's what I think from reading your posts. I'm not a medical professional, but I have decades of experience with my own and others' mental illnesses. I think you have bipolar disorder, just as you've been diagnosed with. Furthermore, I believe you are in a near-manic state. You sound wired and you're ruminating and obsessing over some things that aren't that important. It seems to me that your mind is kind of spinning.

Thanks for your input. I would have to agree. The ruination and obsessing is something I never saw in myself as a sign but I do that a lot and drive my friends mad. Thanks for helping me to see.