Medication: Antidepressants
Sometimes bipolar depression is treated with antidepressants. There is some controversy over this in the medical community, as some physicians are against treating bipolar depression with antidepressants, since this type of drug can cause mania or rapid cycling in a bipolar patient. Still, it is a relatively common practice to prescribe an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer. The mood stabilizer is supposed to negate any manic symptoms caused by the antidepressant.
Physicians who prescribe antidepressants for bipolar depression usually only prescribe them for the duration of the depression, gradually decreasing the dosage as the person begins to feel better.
There are several different types of antidepressants that are used for depression in bipolar patients. The most commonly type are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Serzone, and Effexor are some of the SSRIs that are used. Some believe that SSRIs are less likely to cause mania or rapid cycling than other types of antidepressants.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants are the two other types of medications used to treat depression. Tricyclics include Elavil, Norpramin, Pertofrane, Tofranil, and Pamelor. Use of tricyclics in bipolar depression is not advised, as they can cause significant side effects and can result in a lethal overdose.
I have tried several different SSRIs over the years and found that I just don’t do very well with them. I go either into rapid cycling or hypersomnia. This is why I no longer take them. However, for some, these medications seem to work, so I’m not ruling out the treatment altogether.
