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How Long Should I Take Antidepressants For Bipolar Disorder?

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Posted on Mon, 29 Dec 2014
Question: Since 10 yrs I m on antidepressants, anxiolytics.is it really or I have to take medicine for lifetime? Im 38 yr male , , Diagnosis bipolar mood disorder.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The medications to be continued

Detailed Answer:
Hello

You have mentioned that you suffer from bipolar disorder and you are taking antidepressants and anxiolytics.

I would like to tell you that bipolar disorder is a chronic relapsing disorder. It requires medications to be continued indefinitely in most cases. The symptoms reoccur if the medications are stopped.
However the dose of drugs can be reduced to minimum.

Another important thing is that in bipolar disorder, antidepressants alone are not advisable as these drugs disturb the course of illness and can cause manic switches. So the cover of mood stabilizer drugs like Valproate and lithium are used along with antidepressants.

Hope this answers your query.
Any further queries are welcome.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (5 hours later)
Ocd patients can have depression or mood disorders?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, they can have depression or mood disorders.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up query.

Depression or mood disorders can commonly occur as a comorbidity with OCD.

Rather, depressive symptoms can occur in as high as 70% cases of OCD.

Hope this answers your query.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 hours later)
What time is it take to work mood elevetors in depression.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The drugs show there effect in 1-2 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
The mood elevators or antidepressants take 1-2 weeks to show their effects.

Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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How Long Should I Take Antidepressants For Bipolar Disorder?

Brief Answer: The medications to be continued Detailed Answer: Hello You have mentioned that you suffer from bipolar disorder and you are taking antidepressants and anxiolytics. I would like to tell you that bipolar disorder is a chronic relapsing disorder. It requires medications to be continued indefinitely in most cases. The symptoms reoccur if the medications are stopped. However the dose of drugs can be reduced to minimum. Another important thing is that in bipolar disorder, antidepressants alone are not advisable as these drugs disturb the course of illness and can cause manic switches. So the cover of mood stabilizer drugs like Valproate and lithium are used along with antidepressants. Hope this answers your query. Any further queries are welcome. Thanks.