Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Disturbed420 02/25/2011

Are any of you on Anti depressants that are mixed or rapid cyclers? I am and I heard it can make it worse. Not sure if that is in all cases or what. I just moved to a new province and i am waiting to see a new pdoc and finding a family doc here is VERY HARD. A lot of them want to throw u out as quick as u come in and I wonder why they decided to become docs in the first place if they don't act genuinally concerned. I think a lot just dont't want to deal with ppl that have issues that take up a lot of their time.

I am on a low dose i believe of 100 mg of zoloft and 200 mg 3 times a day of carbamazapine. Its not effective to the fullest at all. As I speak I am in a hard depression but the only reason why iam pully myself to go out in minus 34 weather to take a bus is so my son can get his 18month shots.

chilvr 02/25/2011

i am a rapid cycler, mixed mood bp1 that is on an anti-depressant. i am a chronic depressive so they have to give me something. currently i am 50 mg seroquel and 20 mg prozac , along with 1200mg lithium, and it actually seems to be working. i used to take effexor xr and it made me suicidal so i took myself off of it. i think they just have to be careful with the dosage, and you have to report any negative side effects immediately. (((hugs)))

veryblue 02/25/2011

i can't even imagine how cold that is
good luck finding a doctor

Halterbroke 02/25/2011

I am also a rapid cycler/mixed bp 1 and I cannot be without an antidepressant or I hit bottom fast, particularly in the winter. I take 40 mg of prozac and 50 mg of seroquel twice a day (plus 100 at night) among a host of other things, but those two seem to help control the depression. You might also want to look into lamictal, it is said to lengthen the time between depressive episodes.

deleted_user 02/25/2011

I am a rapid cycler and I either have dysphoric hypomanias or mixed episodes. My old therapist and my old psychiatrist thought I got hospitalized for a mixed episode. My new pdoc wasn't around and jury is still out.

I took zoloft and that was bad. It made my moods worse. Then, I took prozac along with my lamictal. It made no difference. I am now on lamictal with trilafon and surprisingly the combination of the two seems to be helping.

CarlaBent 02/25/2011

I'm sorry that you're in such a bad place and yet have to take an 18 month old out in cold weather.
I had to get off my antidepressant. It was making me jerk around. I couldn't pick up a coffee cup or even talk, as my tongue was jerking around too, LOL!!! That was Celexa.
I'm not on any antidepressant right now.
I'm a very rapid cycler.
Right now, I'm on Gabapentin, Alprazolam, and imipramine.
Good luck! I hate to see you in that place! I hope it changes soon! (((((Hugs)))))

deleted_user 02/25/2011

I am rapid cycler...cycling away as we speak. sigh. I hear anti-depressants can send you to manic too fast... but that was over 10 yrs ago so what do I know.

Shelly4 02/25/2011

The only anti depressant I can take is Wellbutrin. All others trigger rapid cycling for me. Up until last September I was rapid cycling for almost a year because of Lexapro.

Talk to your pdoc and explain how you are feeling. Definately keep a daily journal, it helps you and him to see the pattern....xo

Chanel22 02/27/2011

I'm one & on 100mg Zoloft, though mainly for OCD.. I do cycle & even though I am on a "cocktail" I know Zoloft doesn't help. When my pdoc lowers me off of it though I get very anxious? So we go back up. I have been off of it & still rapid cycled, but yea, I don't think it helps me in that department. Topamax has helped me immensely for rapid cycling & made it less frequent.

deleted_user 02/27/2011

I am a BP 1 rapid cycler, and found the only AD I can take is Nortriptyline. The rest send me into mania.

I have been on Nortriptyline for 2 months and have not anything happen of signficance. Knock on wood!!

ReginaPhalange 02/27/2011

Some people find anti depressants make them worse, but for others it helps. For me after a while I become manic so it was decided it was better for me not to take them. I hope you find a pdoc soon

deleted_user 02/27/2011

the only anti depressant I tried was Wellbutrin and it made me manic.
I think mood stabilizers works best, but everyone is different =]

deleted_user 02/27/2011

Is it possible to be a mixed-state bipolar without rapid cycling? I am told by my pdoc that I am in a mixed-state, but I don't know that I rapid cycle, because I haven't really cycled in years...

1seekingpeace 02/27/2011

I am sorry, I am new to this.. What is rapid cycling BP1? I am not certain of all of these terms. How do you get diagnosed? Guessing game after completing a questionier? I am soo, confused as to what I have.. I deffinately am very moody, and my moods can change fast, is that rapid cycling????

deleted_user 02/27/2011

I had to look up what a rapid cycler meant. Obvious nothing to do with bikes. ha. It says one who goes thru mood shifts 4 or more times a year. Hell, I go thru mood shifts 4 or more times a day. ha. sometimes an hour!
What a good mommy you are. Regardless of how you're feeling and the weather, your off taking care of your child. Give yourself tons o credit.
I'm just doing the Paxil and Buspar thing. Wish I had a horse tranq. Go some? ha

1seekingpeace 02/27/2011

I also have more than four mood swings per year, hell I cannot even keep track. I think everyone in this world has more than 4 mood swings per year, does that mean the entire world is rapid cyclers??

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