[Sterella]

I've never done this before, and I certainly never expected to come to a place like this for answers...but I could use some help.
I have been going to counseling for about a month now for self-injury. I was referred to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression. I was given medication, and had some weird results: right away I had incredible "ups" periods of complete bliss and confidence, followed by abysmal "downs" that let me incapacitated with depression and thoughts (and one attempt) of suicide.
My psychiatrist told me to immediately stop taking the medicine, but now she thinks I am bipolar!
Has anyone else ever heard of this reaction to antidepressants? What if I didn't actually have depresson? Is this what happens when a "normal" person takes antidepressants?
I really don't know how to take all this in. Being told I was depressed was bad enough, and now she isn't sure what is wrong.

[Melancolic]

Prozac-fluoxetine and zoloft-sertaline are known to cause atypical side effects like that.

[Mayflower7]

Originally Posted by Sterella

I've never done this before, and I certainly never expected to come to a place like this for answers...but I could use some help.
I have been going to counseling for about a month now for self-injury. I was referred to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression. I was given medication, and had some weird results: right away I had incredible "ups" periods of complete bliss and confidence, followed by abysmal "downs" that let me incapacitated with depression and thoughts (and one attempt) of suicide.
My psychiatrist told me to immediately stop taking the medicine, but now she thinks I am bipolar!
Has anyone else ever heard of this reaction to antidepressants? What if I didn't actually have depresson? Is this what happens when a "normal" person takes antidepressants?
I really don't know how to take all this in. Being told I was depressed was bad enough, and now she isn't sure what is wrong.

HI STERELLA,
This group of medications can indeed sometimes cause symptoms like you've experienced. But, sounds like under review by your Dr. I did to react like that, so I stopped taking as advised by my Dr too. I have chronic severe pain, and the pain makes me feel low. I do try to stay as positive as possible.
It is a shock to be diagnosed with any condition, a good idea sometimes is to Learn more about the condition. To gain a better understanding, various ways like information on the forum/ website, other sites for depression and various books from a library or purchasing own if wished to. Support is very important from anywhere. It is a difficult time, support networks can help hopefully by offering advice and Very good going to counselling.
TAKE CARE.
KATE.

[-jimi-]

I hope they got you off on time. This is how a lot of bipolar is triggered these days. You are per se not bipolar (Even if the BP community thinks so), because A LOT of people carry genes for bipolar but nothing sets it off through life. A strong antidepressant can quite easily trigger bipolar, and meds unfortunately are a cause of a new wave of a bipolar subtype.

When they put me on Celexa, I went through the roof. Sure, I had a good time, but also I did some really dumb things and nearly died. For about a year, I had hypomanic swings even off meds and that was not at all like me. Finally, it sort of came to a halt. I'ts been a long while now, and I don't get hypomanic anymore. I even take a low dosage of another SSRI (Probably not to be recommended but I had to, for another reason).

Good they have you off meds and hopefully you will heal from this thing. When meds trigger hypomania or mania, the change can be a once in a lifetime thing, or it can lead to lifelong bipolar disorder.

[Sterella]

Thank you guys for the help. This is really scary for me and i appreciate the support.

This very unpleasant side effect was hardly known twenty years ago when my old psychiatrist prescribed Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac for my depression. Shortly after starting each drug, I became erratic, impulsive and suicidal. I even did some self harm which I never ever did prior to taking those medications. I changed overnight. After the drugs were discontinued all the symptoms and behaviours disappeared.

You are very lucky this negative effect was identified. Trust your instincts with diagnoses. Learn as much as you can. Drug induced behaviours should not be considered a diagnosis, whatsoever.