Can anti depressants help with bipolar disorder?

Very carefully: People with bipolar disorder can certainly become depressed -- not just manic. Sometimes antidepressants are used in their treatment, but only when a mood stabilizer is also being taken. Otherwise, you run the risk of worsening mood instability or inducing mania. It's best to try other treatments first -- such as psychotherapy, exercise, etc.

Not necessarily: Many studies have demonstrated that over the long haul, folks with most forms of bipolar disorder will do better without antidepressants and, many with bipolar disorder disorder will have a worsening of their mood instability in the presence of antidepressants. As such, i usually try and avoid antidepressants in my patients who have bipolar disorder.

Yes but ....: They must be used carefully. They can sometimes cause a switch from depression to mania. Mood stabilizer meds are the most important and antidepressants can be added if depression cannot be controlled by mood stabilizers alone.. Some believe that there is no role for antidepressant use in bipolar depression. Talk to your psychiatrist about this very important tipic.

Bipolar and antidepr: Bipolars usually has mood swing episodes when they feel high ( manic or hypo manic and episodes of depression). Therefore often in time-they r misdiagnosed and I have seen people who were taking three antidepressant , two benzodiazepines and Ritalin (methylphenidate) for years and were doing terrible. When i tapered their medication and started them on mood stabilizer they told me "my wife will come and thank.

Bipolar: When moods have been stable for quite some time on mood stabilizing meds., and u are in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, using antidepressants cautiously & under close supervision is advised to prevent worsening of the depression & to stabilize the moods.