do I risk going manic?

[hell1971]

I am depressed and my mind is going crazy with worry about my daughter ( long story, she may have epilepsy or mental illness ) anyway not relevant. My doc has suggested possibility of an AD but has said I risk going manic, although I love the high its what goes with it that worries me, I have been mixed up all over the place since the begining of the year and have increased my mortgage 3 times since January and really cant afford to have another manic episode and spend like its water! What do I do, I dont know how many more days I can cope, im not depressed all of the time and so I keep myself going telling myself it will pass, currently in a mixed episode so very up and very down, im going crazy, help!!

[hell1971]

Well things havent got any better and I am really tempted with an ad, all my other meds have been increased but it doesnt seem to be helping stabilise my moods. I feal like such a freak, im all over the place, I do and have gone manic on ad's in the past and thats why my doc has said it is a risk but honest Im not sure its going to help or hinder. :( thanks all for your comments

[cowgirlnerd]

I miss taking AD's!  My pdoc doesn't prescribe them because of mania, but I think I would rather risk it sometimes!  The depression is horrible!  I miss being happy.  It's been sooooo long.  

True, I know that AD's have the manic risk and mania is a horrible thing, but which is worse, living flat and down days - filled with anxiety, or being manic.  I don't pretend to help with your question - I feel the same way.  

I also hate the idea that we can talk our way out of the depression.  That's rediculous in my case.  Therapy is a wonderful thing, but depression requires meds, too.  It's just so bad that we have to choose which side to live on - manic or depressive....  both sides s*ck.  

[adel_ezz]

unfortunately AD's are the biggest enemy of BP. True taking an AD whatever the type is e.g. SSRI, SSRE, tricyclics, St John's wort, etc...etc...will drive you manic. Of course not right away. You will start getting happy like no other person in the world but only for a while (can be weeks in my case and can be days in others or years for the lucky) but eventually you will SURELY become manic on the long run with a lot to lose like "kindling effect" taking place.

To tell you my own experience and my judgment is that i was never stable for 10 years until this year when i cut the AD. Of course not happy at all but at least functioning. With Ad's i had all sort of cycling, mixed states which I still have from time to time. believe me if you can be functioning 50% then better than taking an AD.

But if you chose to take them then I can assure you  that you will be very happy at the beginning with little anxiety or none then more euphoric then dyphoric then you will start again from square one.

[lilymoon]

An ad in combination with moodstabelizer might be an idea or just a stabelizer. Has this been discussed?

[looloo141]

Ooh this sounds tricky, it sounds like your pdoc will give you a choice which is good but with you being in a mixed episode at the moment, I think that increases your risk more.. my pdoc won't give me them no matter how depressed I am, but I think you could do some research and make an informed decision. You could ask if increasing your mood stabilisers whilst on the Ads would decrease the chances?
Good luck with everything!
Hugs

[paranoid_cataclysm]

If you're on a mood stabilizer with the proper dosage you might be OK with an antidepressant.