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Anyone with Bipolar spectrum disorders?

Mental Health | Last Active: May 5 10:05pm | Replies (61)
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@depressedbutnotdead

I'm not sure which antidepressant you were on, but according to studies I found on PubMed, some bipolar patients "flip" on them. They dive into depressions rather than having them alleviated. It appears to have happened to me. In my case it was Effexor, and one of the studies I read showed that the active ingredient in it (venlafaxine) is particularly tied to this outcome. I'm fairly certain this happened to me, and as a result, I'm off antidepressants altogether and tapering onto Lamictal now. That's a different class of medication altogether.

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Eric | @westoneorama | Mar 28 8:54am

I have been on more anti-depressants than I can remember, but among those I've had prescribed to me, in addition to Seroquel, are: Celexa, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Cymbalta. It was Cymbalta that triggered the mania which got my diagnosis modified from depression to bipolar. After the new diagnosis I was on a mood stabilizer, Abilify, which worked, but had akathesia as a side effect, which was miserable. Beta blockers helped alleviate the akathesia, but it was still a deal breaker. By far my worst experience was with Cymbalta. Much of the experience with Cymbalta I cannot remember, I think I have blocked off that memory - too difficult to relive. I also developed tinnitus when I abruptly stopped Cymbalta, and still have it years later.

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