The Ills of Antidepressants
My doctor prescribed me an antidepressant for my Bipolar Disorder. That's okay, right?
Actually, antidepressants like Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Prozac or Cymbalta can make you worse. Bipolar Disorder has highs and lows. It cycles in one week, one month, or over a couple of months. While the depressive lows are to be avoided, so are antidepressants. It can make you go up and down and up and down. When you go up you'll go higher than normal and you will often have a side effect of anxiety, which is also a side effect of mania.
There are those that show a marked improvement with antidepressants, but this is not the norm. Most Bipolar patients on an antidepressant experience rapid cycling, going up and down on a consistent basis. Rapid Cycling is difficult to treat. Antidepressants can also cause a permanent issue that is hard to control. That's why antidepressants for Bipolars are discouraged.
To maintain an even keel, it is recommended that Bipolar Disorder patients take mood stabilizers such as Lamictal and Lithium. Finding the right dosage of these medications is hard work. It can take you years to find the right medication and then the right dosage.
Try not to be discouraged. The prescription medications will bring your moods close to normal or even might put them on an even keel. Remission is possible.
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Actually, antidepressants like Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Prozac or Cymbalta can make you worse. Bipolar Disorder has highs and lows. It cycles in one week, one month, or over a couple of months. While the depressive lows are to be avoided, so are antidepressants. It can make you go up and down and up and down. When you go up you'll go higher than normal and you will often have a side effect of anxiety, which is also a side effect of mania.
There are those that show a marked improvement with antidepressants, but this is not the norm. Most Bipolar patients on an antidepressant experience rapid cycling, going up and down on a consistent basis. Rapid Cycling is difficult to treat. Antidepressants can also cause a permanent issue that is hard to control. That's why antidepressants for Bipolars are discouraged.
To maintain an even keel, it is recommended that Bipolar Disorder patients take mood stabilizers such as Lamictal and Lithium. Finding the right dosage of these medications is hard work. It can take you years to find the right medication and then the right dosage.
Try not to be discouraged. The prescription medications will bring your moods close to normal or even might put them on an even keel. Remission is possible.
About the AuthorEmail CristinaSubmit Your Story or ArticleSubscribe in a Reader© 2009 Cristina Fender
Couldn't agree more. I was mis-diagnosed as having severe depression rather than bi-polar disorder and was thusly put solely an anti-depressant. This lead to an extremely destructive period in my life with consequences that still linger today. As always, do your own homework, ask questions, and remember that doctors work for you. Peace.
I didn't find out I was bipolar (I) until I was prescribed an antidepressant that sent me into a manic episode. No luck since. Everything you said is very true.