Question 1

how long does latuda (lurasidone) take to work? also how is it like an antidepressant for bipolar depression?

Accepted Answer

Latuda (lurasidone): Depending on the dose at which you started, if on a loading regimen, it may take up to a week or two to show some effects. It is usually used at 20 or 40 mg for one week, and up to 80 mg at bedtime to produce effects on psychotic symptoms and mood stabilization. Some people will need up to 160 mg a day. Latina has been reported effective for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder.

Question 2

do antidepressants make you bipolar?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly: If a person has the predisposition for bipolar disorder or they have bipolar disorder then taking an antidepressant could flip the person into mania or hypomania.

Question 3

does prescription sleeping aids counter act the effectiveness of mood stabilers and antidepressants prescribed for bipolar disorder?

Accepted Answer

No: Used correctly, prescription sleep aids support a person's sleep cycle, which is vital to stabilization of mood in bipolar disorder.  The goal is to use sleep aids only as needed, and not to stay on them indefinitely.   They do not counteract the effectiveness of mood stabilizers or antidepressants.  However, use of alcohol and other drugs could possibly do this.

Question 4

i look 6 mo pregnant. looked this way few years. after having twins lost all weight but then got on bipolar, antidepressant, mood stabilizer meds. the weight began to pile on. from 130 to 205. is it the meds? what kind of doc to see, already saw pcp?

Accepted Answer

Probably med SE: Many of the medications used for bipolar disorder cause wt gain-there are some that cause less than others.  I would suggest a nutritionist and possibly a personal trainer. Need regular exercise and may do better on an anti-inflammatroy diet, avoid dairy, grains and sugar, cause inflammation in the body  and some people tend to be unable to control their eating/appetite when eating them .

Question 5

how come antidepressants cause mania in bipolar patients?

Accepted Answer

They increase mood: Typically, antidepressants cause an increase in mood and energy because a common symptom of depression is fatigue, sleeping too much, feeling tired all the time and lacking energy. 

The problem is that the boost in mood from the anti-depressant can then lead to manic episode in bipolar disorder--which is being very, very high in mood and energy. Hope this helps.

Question 6

my doctor thinks im bipolar because antidepressants either make me really hyper or really depressed. why would they think that?

Accepted Answer

Psychiatrist: If the information you've provided is from your general practitioner, get a full psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatrists are experts on psychotropic medications, and they have a great deal of specialty training and experience that general practitioners simply do not have.  Reworded, let's find the right person for the job.

Question 7

are there other possible meds for a person with new diagnosis of bipolar, that is already sensitive to antidepressants & benzo meds?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There are different types of Bipolar Disorder.  Some medications are more effective on one type than another.  I would suggest you discuss this with the person who made the diagnosis.  If they cannot prescribe they can refer you to someone who can.

Question 8

why should someone with bipolar disorder take a mood stabalyzer with an antidepressant?

Accepted Answer

Mania: Giving a bipolar patient only antidepressants could send him/her into manic episodes which has potentially serious consequences, including psychosis and severe risk-taking behavior. Major depressive episodes is a component of bipolar disease and you need antidepressants to treat for that, not just mood stabilizer.

Question 9

why aren't bipolar patients supposed to take antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Complications: Antidepressants may provoke a switch into mania in bipolar patients. That risk may be reduced with a mood stabilizer. For many bipolar depressed patients, treatment with a mood stabilizer alone is more helpful than combination therapy which includes an antidepressant.

Question 10

are antidepressants a good treatment for bipolar type 1 mixed (moderate)?

Accepted Answer

Mood stabilzers : Miod stabilizers are the treatment of choice. Antidepressants are sometimes used in combination but there is very limited evidence for this (besides fluoxetine + olanzapine). Antidepressants alone could make mood symptoms and severity worse.

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Doctor answers about:

Antidepressants bipolar

A member asked:

How long does latuda (lurasidone) take to work? also how is it like an antidepressant for bipolar depression?

A member asked:

Do antidepressants make you bipolar?

A member asked:

Does prescription sleeping aids counter act the effectiveness of mood stabilers and antidepressants prescribed for bipolar disorder?

A member asked:

I look 6 mo pregnant. looked this way few years. after having twins lost all weight but then got on bipolar, antidepressant, mood stabilizer meds. the weight began to pile on. from 130 to 205. is it the meds? what kind of doc to see, already saw pcp?

A member asked:

How come antidepressants cause mania in bipolar patients?

A member asked:

My doctor thinks im bipolar because antidepressants either make me really hyper or really depressed. why would they think that?

A member asked:

Are there other possible meds for a person with new diagnosis of bipolar, that is already sensitive to antidepressants & benzo meds?

A member asked:

Why should someone with bipolar disorder take a mood stabalyzer with an antidepressant?

A member asked:

Why aren't bipolar patients supposed to take antidepressants?

A member asked:

Are antidepressants a good treatment for bipolar type 1 mixed (moderate)?

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