I was DX with depression in HS, even though all along I have had BP. I have been on zoloft, prozac and wellbutrin. None of the anti-depressents I have been prescribed have done anything for me, it was like taking a tic-tac, but that is just me.

My pdoc works the same way as yours though. I have the main mood stabilizer, then we added on another to pick up what the tegretol was missing. I tried a whole slew of meds before ending where I am now.

Geodon helped take me out of a deep depression and has been a great med for me. It\'s expensive because they haven\'t released their patent yet, but it\'s worth it to me.

i have BP2 and I was on Lexapro, an antidepressant. Of course, I only have hypomania, but I had no problem whatsoever. It actually worked really well for me except there was a sexual side effect so I stopped taking it.

My pdoc put me on wellbutrin. I\'m really hoping that it works!

I\'m also bp II. My pdoc also told me the same thing about antidepressants and she also increased my lamitcal to 300 mgs a day and I have been ok. But maybe talk to your pdoc about your thoughts.

Before I found out I was BP1, I was taking Zoloft by itself for depression. This caused mania. Since I have been diagnosed (3 years ago) I have remained on a very low dose of 50mg Zoloft along with Depakote. Usually this works well for me unless I have a life changing event.

Yea I am BP1 and when I was on Zoloft by itself @ 150mg I wanted to kill myself and was in mixed mania. I take a low dose as well of 75mg for OCD, I also take Lamictal, Topamax, Seroquel and Risperdal on board & if I head to mania-land then I will have it taken away.

Everyone is different. I'm bp 1 but I take 60mgs of Cymbalta with no problems. Then again I'm on Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Topamax. That's my cocktail. It seems to work really well. Go figure. I'm stable not manic or depressed. I have mini cycles now and then but I don't go as or as low and they don't last for as long. Usually just adjusting the dose ends the episode in very short order.

correction: it should say as HIGH or as low...

i'm BPII and each time we have tried to add an anti-d to my cocktail I have had a hypomanic ep. Lamictal in itself has anti-d properties so by upping the dosage your pdoc is working to combat your depression. I would heed to her advice, she knows what she's talking about on this one.

Have never accessed a website before. After reading over some of these entries, I am thinking that I may have an explanation as to why I have been manic for a year and a half. (I am exhausted by the way). I changed primary care doctors 2 years ago when the one I had quit his private practice to take a position within a hospital. E-gads. My current primary care, although a nice enough man, seems intimidated by my diagnosis and not as 'up' on the pharmacology end of things. A year and a half ago, I stopped my mood stabilizers and just kept the antidepressant (Cymbalta). Maybe this is the explanation for the prolonged mania. Over the past year, I have created a new agency with 2 programs and developed a full skin care line. (No kidding) That's what 'we do'. I rarely sleep for more than a 4 hour stretch AND frequently go a 48 hour period with no sleep at all. I'm not 25 anymore, although I feel like it. It's beginning to take a physical toll. I still have Topamax refills available to me and am wondering if I should go back on it???
Does anyone have any thoughts?

Generally PCP's just don't have the knowledge to manage BP, you really need to see a Psychiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment, otherwise you could have a problem with not being on the correct cocktail and having more problems than help.

What you don't hear about often is mixed episodes. Anti-depressants can certainly make mixed episodes worse.

I take like 5 mg of Lexapro and I am bp 1. But I am on it for the anxiety part of my ptsd.....she's not using it as an anti depressant for me....I also take like 160 mg of geodon and that has helped keep me even immensely. Hope you get the info that you need. Hope your pdoc responds well to your begging....mine doesn't mine doesn't like it when I beg.

Princess

I am BPII and was put on an anti-depressant before my current meds. It made me very manic and out of control. I wouldn't recommend it.