ILAD and antidepressants

[bastet56]

Some bipolars may not be able to take anti depressants but I have been on them for over 20yrs and I am definately a bi polar. Without them I go into deep depressive states that take ECT to bring me out. I am sure there are many many bpers who take anti depressants. To say that bpers should not be on anti depressants is WRONG and bad info.

[ILADVOCATE]

Actually my express concerns started when I had a friend who was on Pristiq along with Abilify. They had straight bipolar but the Pristiq pushed them into mania verging on psychosis and they did some destructive things that could have had them end up in the hospital and they were otherwise basically rational. I had them speak to a friend who was a psychiatrist and then they spoke to their own psychiatrist and were transferred to Wellbutrin which did not caused this problem for them. I did not make any medical reccomendations but their friend who was a (standard) psychiatrist did give them suggestions to give to their psychiatrist, that one among them. As for myself, I was given Remeron for tardive dyskinesia (its off label and experimental for that usage). It made me extremely manic, eat to the point where I almost damaged my stomach and sleep all day. The experience was frightening.
  I should not overstate and say that for all people with bipolar that anti-depresents should not be used. That's a psychiatrist's judgment. And also with the wide spectum of bipolar there would surely be varieties that do respond well to an anti-depressent with a mood stabilizer. I will find out more from my psychopharmocologist who can give me clinical information. I can't post it here not act as if I have full knowledge from it but at least I'll get a better perspective on the whole issue. Thanks.  

[adel_ezz]

strange. 5mg of lexapro drove me manic. it must be the AP haldol having a very strong antimanic properties. still you must be very lucky. i wish i was like you. are you sure you are bipolar?

good luck

[bastet56]

I take 40mg lexapro every day. Before that is was every AD in the book. I am not on a mood stabilizer as I cannot take any of them. I take Haldol twice a day as an anti psych and xanax twice a day for anxiety.

[adel_ezz]

Hi

Good for you i would say. All sites advise NOT to use antidepressants for bipolars, but to every rule there is an exception of course. I myself tried all the SSRI that you've heard about and those that you didn't hear about including stimulants and herbs etc.. and each time i ended manic. If you don't turn manic under AD's then i would say you are extremely lucky. In fact a breakthrough in psychiatry is when they can come out with an AD that is strong enough to lift depression and weak enough not to cause mania then it will cure bipolarity simply because it will eradicate one pole of the two poles.

I believe you completely that you take AD's, but I will be grateful should you tell us what kind of AD is that. Besides, do you take AD's only or adjunct to a mood stabilizer. If adjunct to an MS then this OK of course like I do it myself, now I take stablon (an SSRE) but take along with seroquel to cover it up. In which case antidepressants are safe for a bipolar and i believe this is what most bipolars do. In fact, most bipolars are not contented with an MS and take along an AD BUT not an AD alone to guarantee safety and this is what IL is saying .

[jada326]

I've been diagnosed with Biploar II.  When I started my regimen of medications I too was on anti-depressants but unfortunately for me they caused too many side effects and we tried every SSRI available.  I still was fighting the deep depression and wanted so badly to find that anti-depressant that worked.  Me and my doctor talked and he asked me if I would try an MAOI.  I said yes...I was desperate.  I started off taking 10mg of Parnate and I honestly have to say it started working very fast and lifted me out of that dark hole.  I know it is not the answer for most people and I have to be very careful.  In regards to bastet56 I think it's great she is able to take anti-depressants that work for her and everyone else that can.  I was angry and frustrated that an SSRI didn't help me.  To be honest my issue is the stigma that comes with having a mental illness.  We are all different with or without the "stigma"...... we just need a little help with what works best for our individual needs.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I do understand. Its just I've seen people misdiagnosed as having depression who have bipolar be given anti-depressents and become so manic that they ended up in the psych. hospital (myself included except the Anafranil was for ocd, which was a misdiagnosis). I've also seen people who have bipolar be given anti-depressents as adjuncts and become dangerously manic. It depends on the person though as to their response. Of course you are correct Anyway, any post here never takes precedence over a psychiatrist's judgment, myself included. Sorry if I appeared to state otherwise.