its likely to set a bipolar into a manic phase. many manic bipolars don't realize that they are manic because most of the time its a "good" feeling...sometimes it is used in combination with a mood stabilizer

Often both of the affective disorders you mention are treated with the same medication. Like most folks, you seem to place waaay too much value on these names! People actually speak of themselves as "I'm Bi-polar" or some such and nothing more; a person is *much more* than a collection of supposed 'symptoms' with a name! And when, really, is a "symptom" a "symptom"? American psychiatry (and the pharmaceutical companies) rely on folks believing this horseshit to increase their bottom lines! Did you actually experience anything deleterious having been "misdiagnosed"?

Bipolar is "manic" and "depression." What is the current evidence for the use of antidepressants in an acute episode of bipolar depression? * Antidepressants perform better than placebo at reducing the symptoms of depression at 4-10 weeks’ follow up. There was no difference on the rate of switching to mania among those taking antidepressants or placebo. * There is weak evidence to suggest that in comparison to tricyclics, patients using SSRIs respond better to treatment and have fewer switches to mania at 4-10 weeks follow up. * All trials were performed by the pharamaceutical industry. Is there any group of patients that respond better to antidepressants than the others? * Primary studies included adult patients of whom the majority (~70%) were women, with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder based on Feighner, DSM-III, and DSM-IV criteria). * Patients with substance abuse or serious physical illness were excluded. It was unclear from the review if patients were hospitalised or not Is there any class of antidepressants that respond better than the others?? There is only weak evidence to suggest that in comparison to tricyclics, patients using SSRIs respond better to treatment and have fewer switches to mania at 4-10 weeks follow up. Should antidepressants be used as a single or combination treatment? In eight out of 12 studies patients were receiving concurrent treatment with olanzapine or mood stabilisers. What are the adverse events in the short and long term? * It is not clear from the primary studies or systematic reviews what the long term adverse events are. * The short-term negative outcomes are: a failure to respond to treatment, failure to achieve remission of symptoms, switch to mania, suicide and suicide attempts, as well as adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment. For how long should antidepressants (single or combination) be used? * Trials used antidepressants for 4 to 10 weeks. Is the balance between harm and benefit favourable to the use of antidepressants? Antidepressants and suicidal behaviour: A recent review, draw attention to the fact that to date, no prospective randomised trial had explored the impact of antidepressants on suicidal behaviour either in short or long term treatment in patients with bipolar disorders. In fact, suicidality has not been used as a primary outcome measure, and patients with risk of suicide have actually been excluded from trials. Other adverse outcomes Relevant outcomes such as control of agitation and aggressive behaviour, adverse events leading to discontinuation of study, suicide or suicide attempts, insight and awareness of the disease were not reported in the systematic review, and possibly not evaluated in the primary studies. What type of research (if any) is needed to clarify the benefits and harms of using antidepressants in the acute treatment of bipolar depression? Trials are needed comparing the efficacy and effectiveness of 'traditional antidepressants' such as the SSRIs and related agents with those of Lamotrigine and also the antidepressant effects of atypical antipsychotics. Clarification of particular clinical features which may point to preferential repsonse to particular agents available is also required. http://www.tripdatabase.com/SearchLander.html?s=1&gk=The+benefits+of+using+antidepressants+in+depressive+episodes&itemId=314144

i was undiagonsed with bipolar for years and i didnt know until i was taking effexor and went through pschosis, packed up the kids and moved 2 provinces away from my husband. i thought that he was out to kill me and kids, and many other things. It wasnt until i finally came off the meds that i realized that something wss wrong. With each pregnancy my episodes would get worse, and effexor is a very harsh drug and should never be given to someone with bipolar! )Especailly women!) in my mind. now i am on celexa and zeprexa for a mood stabaliser. i still cycle but they are moe controlled. i am bipoal type 2 so i have more of the depression, and will compelelty shut down, i cant function, like cooking or cleaning or daily things. when i come out of the depression i can do everything, and then become obsessed with things, but not as bad as before, i was on meds. i think becasue my depression will last for months at a time, my house will fall apart. (I think my husband likes it when i am depressed as i wont leave the house, or spend money, but when i get manic, i spend more, and clean lots.) which is hard as i have 3 boys, who are all adhd, and odd. i suspect that my oldest has bipoal, we go to the psychologist soon and will hopefully get him tested for it also, as i never want my kids to go through what i did. hope this helps.

The meds they give for depression are mostly meds that calm you down. When you are depressed this is used to break the circle of negative/depressing thoughts, if you are being manic the med has the same effect, it calms you down and breaks the circle of euforic thoughts. One would not react any different when using the meds when bipolar. It's hard for me to believe that psychiatrists miss the manic episodes a bipolar person is having. Some miss it, because people refuse to go to a session when in a manic episode because then they think they do not need to and think they can take on the whole world. After the manic episode is over they are depressed again and than go to the psychiatrist again. Ofcourse I do not know what your personal story is, so do not take the above as said to you. It's one of my own experiences. Take care!