++Mayo Clinic Physician Believes Antidepressants Can Worsen Depression & Also Cause Mania
Summary:
Paragraph 3 reads: "Unfortunately bipolar is often misdiagnosed as depression, medicated as such and many doctors advise against medication bipolar patients with antidepressants. “There is some concern that treating a person with bipolar disorder who is in a depressed phase with an antidepressant alone may transform that depression into mania with potential adverse consequences, such as a suicidal behavior. In addition, certain antidepressants may carry a greater risk of this than do others.” Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. I have found this to be the case when treating people with antidepressants in general. Somehow the very drug they create to help with depression often (my personal observance/opinion) makes the person feel worse, more depressed, and often more suicidal than they were to begin with."
It is estimated that 5 million American’s or 3 out of every 100 adults are afflicted with bipolar disorder. It could be described as the never ending roller coaster ride and swing of up and down moods taken to extremes at times. There are two strong contrasting phases or bipolar: Bipolar depression/major depression may consist of oversleeping, lack of interest, suicidal thoughts, low energy, low self esteem, guilt, sadness, not eating/not interested in food, slowness, or poor coordination. Bipolar mania or hypo-mania may consist of impulsiveness, a reckless pursuit of gratification (such as excessive or dangerous promiscuity, overspending, fast driving), irritability, racing thoughts, inflated sense of self, unusual energy, sleeping less than needed. WebMD warns, “Clinical experience suggests that mania may be more devastating to the family in a very short time; excessive spending can pile up huge debts, reckless driving and/or substance abuse can create legal problems, and impulsive hyper sexuality/extra-marital affairs may break down a marriage or relationship. The earliest signs of emerging mania can be progressive loss of sleep and extra energy. It can be a matter of hours in which such cases become manic psychosis.” The Northwest Clinical Research center in Bellevue Washington is currently conducting a bipolar study. If you are interested, visit their site: www.bipolarinseattle.com it is through continued research and study that we can better understand and treat mental disorders like bipolar.Unfortunately bipolar is often misdiagnosed as depression, medicated as such and many doctors advise against medication bipolar patients with antidepressants. “There is some concern that treating a person with bipolar disorder who is in a depressed phase with an antidepressant alone may transform that depression into mania with potential adverse consequences, such as a suicidal behavior. In addition, certain antidepressants may carry a greater risk of this than do others.” Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. I have found this to be the case when treating people with antidepressants in general. Somehow the very drug they create to help with depression often (my personal observance/opinion) makes the person feel worse, more depressed, and often more suicidal than they were to begin with. Bipolar disorder must be very carefully diagnosed and treated. If you feel you may be bipolar, I strongly suggested writing down, and dating your entries to be able to look back and determine when and what occurred. We need to stop the negative media attention to bipolar and mental disorders. Let’s find a way to help and treat this. Everyone deserves a good quality of life.