Depression & Irritability

Hi I am new here. I have been dealing with Bipolar disorder since I was diagnosed at age 15. It's been a rough road for me. Right now I am taking Lithium, Tegretol, & Saphris. They have keep me pretty stable & the Saphris has really helped me with severe anger & aggression. But I have been very depressed & irritable for a long stretch now. I am wanting to talk to my doctor about trying a low dose of antidepressant. He has been hesitant in the past because of the way they can trigger mania. But I am desperate. Has any one ever had any success with antidepressants? Or any success with anything that helps with severe irritability?

Welcome.

My husband is on effexor, an antid and Lamictal..I kinds thought they usually do that, but I'm no doc.

This is a great place to come, and we don't mind if you are depressed or ittitable

Take care
Maggie

hi there. I've gone manic off of antidepressants twice. I was stuck in some depression and my pdoc cautiously put me on a tiny dose of an SSRI. My stabilizers were at higher doses than now too. It was destabilizing. Not disastrously, but it did start my cycling up again. Everyone has different reactions and the meds are so interdependent, only your Dr. can figure it out.