Is an SSRI the way to go?

[chucky33]

Hi guys,

Im currently in the midst of a nasty Bipolar Depression with dirunal variation (symptoms worse in the morning)

I am on 1250 mg of one mood stabiliser, and 1000 mg of another. I got so bad on Friday my pdoc eventually agreed to adding  5mg of an SSRI antidepressant. (He's been hesitant in the past for fear Ill go manic)

Its only been 2 days but I feel more tired than I did before....???!!!!

Has anyone else had this experience and what are your views on using an SSRI in general?

Also I havent told my employers about my condition. At this stage, they think its a virus. I'm hesistant to tell them as I don't plan to stay in the job for much longer.

Any advice would be wonderful.

Hope everyone is ok.

[geoff]

dear Chucky, I am not so conversant with regards to Bipolar and David Charles would be the one to advise you of this, but he's away at present, and hopefully he will read your post when he returns.

I take a SSRI for depression, anxiety and OCD, and it has been increased by 10mg which has made me feel better.

If you are going to leave your job I wouldn't tell because you would want to get a reference from them, and you don't want anything to do about your condition written down, because this will highly restrict you from getting another job.

See how this medication is going but be sure to be able to contact your doctor at anytime during working hours. Good luck. Geoff.

[laureah21]

Chucky33,  I found SSRI's keyed me up to much.  I have generalized anxiety not BiPolar, but I was quiet excitable on it!  In the end I got sick of feeling so jittery.  I got put on a newish drug (not covered by medicare :()  It works on the melatonin receptors not Seratonin.  It has been AMAZING for me.  I feel like a different person, calm and happy with no hyper feelings.  There are a few articles on the net about how it works with BiPolar, maybe you could ask your Dr about it