Bipolar or just depression?

[BlessedPearl]

I've had bipolar for as long as I can remember. But the depressive episodes have been getting worse now that they are mixed up with my hypothyroidism. I seldom get any high episodes now, although I used to get them when I was younger.

What type of medication is there for depression?
Is the medication for bipolar different?

I've used St John's Wort in the past but it made me too manic. I have also become allergic to it since I started getting older and hypothyroid. This is a worry too because if I need regular anti-depressants, what happens if I become allergic?

 

[CrazySage]

Well, I'm going to answer to the best of my ability, though I must admit I'm in quite the fog so this might not make any sense/be of any help at all:

"What type of medication is there for depression?"

I've just been recently diagnosed with bipolar and during the appointment, my doc determined that my depression symptoms were more severe than my mania, so he put me on Zoloft (which I quit taking after one day because I couldn't stand the migraine it gave me).

"Is the medication for bipolar different?"

I'm not one hundred percent sure but while some medicines are most specifically used for bipolar disorder, meds like Paxil, Zoloft, etc. are sometimes used to treat an array of different mental/emotional disorders and which one you're prescribed depends on your doctor, I think. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right medicinal cocktail to treat your symptoms.

 

[lemonflavor]

This is something you need to ask your doctor.

If you want to do some research, bipolar drugs like Lithium and anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics are different from antidepressants.

The ADs would include:
Those in the tricyclic class, SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and those that work on multiple neurotransmitters Effexor, Celexa, , Remeron to name a few.

I believe St John's Wort would be closest to an SSRI.

 

[Pats]

I agree with lemonflavor about asking a doctor.

 

[Alive again]

I second the check with a doctor or pharmicist.

 

[BlessedPearl]

Well, I'm going to answer to the best of my ability, though I must admit I'm in quite the fog so this might not make any sense/be of any help at all:

"What type of medication is there for depression?"

I've just been recently diagnosed with bipolar and during the appointment, my doc determined that my depression symptoms were more severe than my mania, so he put me on Zoloft (which I quit taking after one day because I couldn't stand the migraine it gave me).

"Is the medication for bipolar different?"

I'm not one hundred percent sure but while some medicines are most specifically used for bipolar disorder, meds like Paxil, Zoloft, etc. are sometimes used to treat an array of different mental/emotional disorders and which one you're prescribed depends on your doctor, I think. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right medicinal cocktail to treat your symptoms.

Thanks for your help. I also had to stop taking anti-depressants about 20 years ago because the side effects were so extreme. Although I did not get migraine, the anti-depressant I was on turned me into a zombie. I cannot remember what it was called but it certainly made me feel very strange. My body felt heavy and slow and I had this feeling of emotional numbness.

Maybe the anti-depressants which are available now have less dramatic tranquillizing effects.

This is something you need to ask your doctor.

If you want to do some research, bipolar drugs like Lithium and anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics are different from antidepressants.

The ADs would include:
Those in the tricyclic class, SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and those that work on multiple neurotransmitters Effexor, Celexa, , Remeron to name a few.

I believe St John's Wort would be closest to an SSRI.

Thanks for your help. I hope that I will never have to take Lithium. I met someone, once, who was taking Lithium. It made him look and feel very unhealthy, physically. I think it has quite a dramatic effect on some of the organs of the body.

If I do take any meds, I hope that they will be the anti-depressants which are similar to St John's Wort. Hopefully (fingers crossed) they won't make me manic.

But really, I am hoping to be able to control the depression with Thyroxine as it only really became very bad once I became hypothyroid (not counting post-natal depression of course - that was a bummer - hopefully, I won't get that problem again).

Anyway, thank you all for your help. God bless.

 

[lemonflavor]

Thanks for your help. I hope that I will never have to take Lithium. I met someone, once, who was taking Lithium. It made him look and feel very unhealthy, physically. I think it has quite a dramatic effect on some of the organs of the body.

I would encourage you not to let one person's experience influence your opinion of the drug. Lithium is the first line of treatment that most doctors go to for Bipolar Disorder. It has been shown to reduce either suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, can't remember which or if both. I know it works well for a lot of people. Some are blessed not to have any or many side effects. The regular blood levels would be the biggest pain and cost but the drug itself is about as cheap as it gets.