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Mental health

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Flip

Original poster

Bi polar and shouldn't be on antidepressants?

16 replies

teacoupons · 13/12/2011 19:27

Hi everyone, looking for some advice.

Flying Start (health visitor) came around today to talk about my bi polar and brought a psychiatrist who works a few days with them and a few days with the local mental health hospital. He told me with bi polar and being as spiky as I am I shouldn't be on antidepressants as they'll contribute to making me worse. I'm on 40mg of Fluoxetine a day and I really don't feel any different.

He's chasing up my referral to a psychiatrist and asked me to keep a mood diary but didn't say whether I should stop taking the pills. He did say I need a mood stabiliser but I need to see a psychiatrist for that so need to wait.

Do I stop taking the Fluoxetine? I'ma bit confused and in a state of mania (on a scale of 1-10 an 8).

Any advice? TIA.

OP posts:

strawberry17 · 13/12/2011 19:47

Hi teacoupons, sorry I don't know about bi polar medications and it seems pretty poor that they didn't clarify what you should be doing with the Fluoxetine. I have taken Fluoxetine for a few years now but nearly finished tapering off, I would say as you are on 40mg definately do not stop them, especially don't stop them cold turkey. Always best to taper slowly off if possible, can you get back in touch with your health visitor and ask for some clarity on this?

Original poster

teacoupons · 13/12/2011 19:57

I've spoken to the health visitor who told me the psychiatrist can't tell me to stop taking them as I'm not under his care, only tell me the facts. I'm just wondering if this is correct or I should stop them gradually as they aren't making a blind bit of difference to my depression or mania spikes.

OP posts:

Upwardandonward · 13/12/2011 20:36

I don't know much about it either, but know a fair few people who have taken some time to get the right balance of meds with bipolar.

crashdoll · 13/12/2011 20:54

People with bipolar disorder often end up manic or hypomanic when only on anti-depressants. If your moods are up and down, a mood stabiliser should help and alongside that, an anti-depressant can be helpful. I would not stop the pills without medical advice because you need to weaned off them. Is there anyone you can phone or pop down to your GP? I found my GP usually saw me very quickly if I explained my problem and my history.

Chocattack · 13/12/2011 21:41

I'm not bipolar but I know someone who is bipolar II and who doesn't take a mood stabiliser but takes an anti depressant. Have you been diagnosed bipolar I or II? I thought only psychiatrists diagnosed bipolar but you're waiting for a referral to one so wasn't that the case for you?

Definitely agree that you shouldn't just stop taking the fluoxetine without waiting for further medical advice/clarification. Meanwhile I hope your spikes aren't too serious.

RandomMess · 13/12/2011 21:45

I think you need to get an urgent gp appointment for tomorrow - all the antidepressants i have taken say do not take if you have bi-polar!!

perceptionreality · 13/12/2011 21:48

Yes, if you're bipolar antidepressants will make you manic if you have no mood stabiliser to balance it. When I was ill my psychiatrist never liked me to be on anti-ds for long, she felt the mood stabiliser was safer as it also had anti-depressive properties. So I only took prozac if very depressed and only for a short time.

perceptionreality · 13/12/2011 21:50

With bipolar you really, really need a psychiatrist because the manias can be dangerous. I hope you're ok teacoupons.

Eurostar · 13/12/2011 21:58

You need to speak to whoever prescribed the fluoxetine and find out why it was done. You need to be under close supervision if you are taking anti-depressants with bi-polar - especially if you are feeling high. Don't just stop it though, it needs to be tapered.

Original poster

teacoupons · 14/12/2011 00:29

I have been diagnosed by a psychiatrist when I was 18 and since then I'd stopped my meds, gone to the GP for new ones, tried this and that and nothing has worked. I'm not under the care of the mental health team right now since it's been so long so I'm waiting on another referral for them to prescribe my mood stabilisers and categorise me. I'm Bipolar II - ultra rapid cycling.

I'm off to my GP in the morning and see what he says about it. I'll go to the emergency drop in in the morning as even an emergency appointment can be a week or two away. I'm hoping someone can explain what's going on and rush this referral through as I'm a bit scared. My hypomania is out of control. I don't sleep, I paint walls at 3am, I steal things I don't need, I speak extremely fast and I'm exhausted.

OP posts:

4aminsomniac · 14/12/2011 07:54

Hi coupons, I am bipolar II too. Agree that someone needs to urgently review your meds. Is there anyone you can talk to about manic behaviour, especially when you get urges to indulge in risky stuff? For me lithium was the only answer, with ads occasionally. Hope you get reviewed soon!

Tigrelily · 14/12/2011 17:44

Hi there, I am also Bipolar 2. I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant, and I take 20mg fluoxetine, 350mg Quetiapine and 40mg Phenergan a day. My advice would be to continue with the fluoxetine, until your psychiatrist tells you otherwise. Hopefully your GP may be able to prescribe a sedative for the short term until you can be seen by the mental health team. Good luck x

madmouse · 14/12/2011 20:28

Even if you should not be on the ADs it's not wise to stop it suddenly. Because even if they are not working you can still get withdrawal symptoms if you stop quickly. Hope you can get seen quickly.

Original poster

teacoupons · 15/12/2011 00:54

GP couldn't see me today as I missed the emergency drop in session by 3 minutes. Will try again tomorrow. Have not stopped meds yet.

OP posts:

SenseofEntitlement · 15/12/2011 22:40

I think it isn't as definite with bipolar 2 that you shouldn't be on antidepressants - some people with bipolar 2 only have relatively mild hypomanias, and so there is no need for a mood stabiliser, but they can still have quite bad depressions. They should still be monitored though.

perceptionreality · 16/12/2011 14:18

Painting walls at 3am sounds awfully familiar! As does the fast talking. You're right, it is totally exhausting. I hope you can find a solution. I found that psychotherapy has helped me to get better from my episodes. My psychiatrist always made out that it's a chemical illness and that psychotherapy wouldn't help but she was very wrong. I've been off meds for 2 years now and no episodes (I also avoid things that trigger me like not going to bed early enough). I know that obviously everyone's different though.

This probably isn't the time for me to suggest this to you but wanted you to know it is possible to get better for some people - I was stuck in a rut for years but I got out in the end.

Flip