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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Lexapro Does Not Seem To Work For Bipolar Depression Disorder. Should I Ask For A Change In Medication?

My regular md prescribed 10mg Lexapro for my bipolar depression disorder, I feel like the medication is no longer working as my symptoms have come back. Should I ask to change medicines or to add a biopolar medication with my Lexapro then take them together?
Wed, 8 Jan 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Greetings !

Well Lexapro is not usually prescribed as a first choice drug for bipolar depression , so I am mentioning below two formidable drug options which are usually used for bipolar depression and these are.

1) Lexapro to be maintained at 10 mg / day dosing and to it you shall add a mood stabilizer drug such as Lamictal ( Generic name-- lamotrigine) at dose of 50-150 mg / day starting at lower dose first and increasing the dose to the mentioned higher dose by increment of 50 mg every 1 week. This mood stabilizer will potentate the action of lexapro and keep your bipolar depression well under control.

2) Another alternative will be to replace Lexapro by two drug regime comprising of Prozac ( generic name- fluoxetine, an anti depressant) at dose of 20-40 mg / day and Zyprexa ( generic name- olanzapine, an anti psychotic drug) at dose of 5-10 mg / day. This anti depressant and anti psychotic drug combination has very effective control over bipolar depression.

So kindly discuss these above two options with your doctor and choose one of them and hopefully this will take care of your bipolar depression.

I hope this helps.

Regards.
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Lexapro Does Not Seem To Work For Bipolar Depression Disorder. Should I Ask For A Change In Medication?

Greetings ! Well Lexapro is not usually prescribed as a first choice drug for bipolar depression , so I am mentioning below two formidable drug options which are usually used for bipolar depression and these are. 1) Lexapro to be maintained at 10 mg / day dosing and to it you shall add a mood stabilizer drug such as Lamictal ( Generic name-- lamotrigine) at dose of 50-150 mg / day starting at lower dose first and increasing the dose to the mentioned higher dose by increment of 50 mg every 1 week. This mood stabilizer will potentate the action of lexapro and keep your bipolar depression well under control. 2) Another alternative will be to replace Lexapro by two drug regime comprising of Prozac ( generic name- fluoxetine, an anti depressant) at dose of 20-40 mg / day and Zyprexa ( generic name- olanzapine, an anti psychotic drug) at dose of 5-10 mg / day. This anti depressant and anti psychotic drug combination has very effective control over bipolar depression. So kindly discuss these above two options with your doctor and choose one of them and hopefully this will take care of your bipolar depression. I hope this helps. Regards.