Bipolar women should not take antidepressants?????

[lynnkay]

Has anyone ever heard that supposedly women that are bipolar should not take antidepressants?   Men can take antidepressants. Women cannot due to estrogen in our bodies.

The reason I am asking this is my 30 yr. old son had his first outpatient appt. with his new psychiatrist. I have personally seen a number of psychiatrists. This psychiatrist that my son has is only the second one, that I could ever really relate to. He took his time, listened, and seemed to honestly care. My son is now attending private counseling sessions and group sessions. Those are going real well for my son. He had 3 hospitalizations over last months. I attended one counseling session with my son, each time after his hospitalizations. Just to make certain issues were being understood and going to be addressed. My son has had poor time concentrating etc. So, I helped him to remember the things he wanted to tell the counselor. Since he had yet seen this new psychiatrist, I went with my son, to once again cover the basis with and for my son.

And I gave this psychiatrist a brief history of my mental problems and what meds I was currently on. The psychiatrist wanted to know these things. And this psychiatrist is the one that told me, that women that are bipolar should not take antidepressants. That antidepressants cause women to rapid cycle. I am bipolar II. And I do rapid cycle. But yet, depression is a major issue for me. Any input on this would be appreciated. Thank you.  

[LostGrrl]

I had to be hospitalized after starting Cymbalta, it knocked me over the edge. I was advised never to take and AD's in that category, other the Wellbutrin which has a long track record of positive studies. I became hypomanic and suicidal, I couldn't think straight. I became much calmer off those meds, I was switched over to Lamictal, a life saving drug for me.

[DeeJaye45]

I asked my Dr today about antidepressant & estrogen & he'd never heard of such a thing. He did say AD need to be given w/caution to people w/bipolar because of the risk of rapid cycling but that each person is  an individual case & that also needs to be taken into consideration. As for me I actaully have to take 2 AD in the winter months here in michigan because I tend to have more depression,but come April I get off 1 of them. I am also on 2 atypical mood stablizers.It's been mostly trial & error for me but we finally found what works & haven't had any major episodes ( manic or depressed) in over a year.

[starbunny]

I was under the impression that AD's were known for increasing cycling in both men and women. I have certainly read posts of men who have had this experience so it is not exclusive to women. I would be interested to know more as I have been recommended an antidepressant to add to the mix and have been holding off due to aprehension because of the negative things I have heard.

[Seph1212]

My doctor, what I've read by other doctors, and my personal experience is that bipolar people (men and women) in general should only take ADs with great caution.

Every AD I've taken (TCAs and SSRIs) except Wellbutrin have caused me to cycle rapidly and precipitate mixed states and [hypo]manias. I'm good on a mood stabilizer alone.

[DeeJaye45]

I think I will ask my psych. about this when I go see him today. I have bipolar I & I am on antidepressants too because I also get depressed, severely, when I'm not on them. But I am now postmenopausal. I do know that before my hysterectomy I was very much rapid cycling. I do not take hormone replacements so I havve very little estrogen. This was something I'd never heard before but will be interested in finding out more. I'll let you know what I find out.

[wj74]

That's interesting. I wonder if AD's cause men to rapid cycle? Anyone? I know they did for me, and I am female.