Antidepressant Medications for Bipolar Disorder
In general,
antidepressant medications are avoided for many people with
bipolar disorder. Sometimes, starting an antidepressant in a person with
bipolar depression can cause a "manic switch," causing a person to go from being depressed to being manic. In order to avoid this, many healthcare providers avoid antidepressants to treat bipolar disorder unless a person is also taking
lithium, an anticonvulsant, or an
antipsychotic medication (to help prevent the manic switch). In fact, a combination product called
Symbyax® is available to treat bipolar depression. Symbyax contains
fluoxetine (
Prozac®), an antidepressant, and
olanzapine (
Zyprexa®), an antipsychotic.
Final Thoughts on Medications for Bipolar Disorder
Fortunately, several different medications for bipolar disorder are available. Each has its particular advantages and disadvantages. If a bipolar disorder medication does not work for you, or if it causes bothersome side effects, chances are good that you will find another medication (or combination of medications) that is both effective and tolerable.
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