Worried about reaction to antidepressants

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hi,

Last year I was taking Endep a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and it launched me into a manic period which lasted for four months I'm hypomanic Bipolar 2.  I just found out tonight that my brother (who if not hypomanic I'll eat my hat) is seeing a psychiatrist and has been taking Cymbalta for a week.  He says that he has not been enjoying the tablets at all and feel's like he has energy to burn just sitting on a couch.  I'm worried he might also be in the first stages of being launched into mania.  Does anyone know how close these two are related and if similar side effects could be expected.  I noticed Cymbalta is also a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor which worries me.

When he saw his psychiatirst initally he did mention that both myself and our other brother also have mental issues. But I'm not sure if he mentioned if I was Bipolar.

He's seeing his psychiatrist again tomorrow as he's not happy with the drugs and I've written him a letter but I worry he may not actually give it to the psychiatrist in fear of being diagnosed Bipolar also.  He didn't seem that interested in it, but said he would take it.

Any ideas, advice, info would be much appreciated.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

He went and saw the psychiatrist again and gave him my letter, he basically said he didn't know if my brother is Bipolar as he has only just met him, but said the Cymbalta isn't doing anything so has doubled his dose. Crazy!  

[adel_ezz]

i used similarly paxil also called seroxat or generic peroxitene and it did work in fact great for a couple of months then it was hell when i turned manic. believe me one should be cautious with any antidepressant whether SSRI, SSRE, SSNE, .... this is common knowledge unless of course you don't have a bipolar disorder.

[betty1973510]

i use paxil it works great

[adel_ezz]

my only advise never approach an antidepressant unless you add a companion to it of some kind of mood stabilizer. Because if someone is bipolar then there is a great risk of getting manic. some 50-70% of BP take antidepressants and the mistake occurs and keeps reoccurring endlessly by reckless psychiatrists.

My experience with BP, the first step in order to not deteriorate is to keep away from AD's. The trick is to find HOW