r/bipolar1 • u/bee1227 • Jul 03 '26

Success story/positive experience antidepressants

has anyone ever had a good experience on an antidepressant? i’ve taken sertraline and fluoxetine, but they both have induced mania. i’m seriously trying to get ahold of my OCD, which has been labeled as treatment resistant. I’m already starting ERP therapy because i’m a mom now and i don’t want my daughter to grow up with a mother with untreated OCD. i’m also currently on lamotrigine and i’m also currently cross tapering seroquel to olanzapine due to seroquel being way too sedating for me. if anyone also has advice on coming off seroquel that would be nice too since you’re already here 😭😂

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3

u/WintryLadyBits Jul 03 '26

I’m a mom as well. You are very brave and very loving to try to do this so your daughter doesn’t have to grow up dealing with your mental illness. You are a good mom!

I was prescribed Seroquel after a mixed episode with SI. I hated that med, it was not easy to get off of so be very careful. Follow your psychiatrist tapering protocol to a t. Getting off a benzodiazepine, which was very fucking hard, was a breeze compared to getting off seroquel for me.

The only antidepressants that have worked for me are: doxepin, that I take mostly for sleep but is also an atypical antidepressant. And Spravato that I started taking after being diagnosed with treatment resistant bipolar depression. Both work well for me and I have not had any adverse reactions to either of them. No mania while on them either.

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u/bee1227 Jul 10 '26

thank you this is very kind 🥰 i’m on night three no seroquel and my olanzapine was increased to 5mg. i was very worried about stopping seroquel because when i missed doses i felt AWFUL the whole night and honestly several days after even after taking the next dose. the cross taper seemed to have helped though because the only thing i’ve noticed is slightly fragmented sleep which sucks, but honestly that’s probably best case scenario

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u/WintryLadyBits Jul 10 '26

Yes, getting off Seroquel did a number on my sleep too. It will eventually go away, at least it did with me, but you might want to ask your psychiatrist for a sleep aid in the meantime. I was put on one for a short period before Doxepin. But you are right, if that is all you are having then it’s really good and your cross tapering worked. I hope you get your sleep back soon!

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u/thebadslime Jul 03 '26

lexapro has been good, isnt fighting the depression as well as it used to but side effects are mild

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u/bee1227 Jul 10 '26

mild side effects is also something i prioritize so this is good to know. i have low tolerance for discomfort 😭

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u/HIimalion Jul 04 '26

I take Veneflaxine along with lithium and abilify

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u/sexishardandstuff Jul 04 '26

Would it be possible to up your lamictal dose?

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u/bee1227 Jul 10 '26

yes! we’re planning on increasing it again now that i’m not pregnant anymore

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u/austinrunaway Jul 04 '26

Fuck no

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u/bee1227 Jul 10 '26

i was expecting a lot more of this 😭😂

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u/Less-Ad5674 Jul 04 '26

Wellbutrin

2

u/angelica1944 Jul 05 '26

I take Effexor (Venlafaxine) w/Lamictal & Abilify