Bipolar Disorder: Antidepressants for Bipolar Disorder

Antidepressants can help relieve depression and boost mood. It typically takes three to four weeks for most people to respond to the treatment. Sometimes a doctor will try several different antidepressants and doses before finding one that works for a patient.

There are three different types of antidepressants used to treat depression among people with bipolar disorder:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (less commonly used).

Newer "atypical" antidepressants are also being tested for use in treating bipolar depression.

Note: In October 2004, the FDA determined that antidepressant medications can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your health-care provider.

Treating a depressive episode in bipolar disorder is controversial and challenging. Using antidepressant medication alone is not recommended because the drugs may flip a person into a manic or hypomanic episode. Hypomania is a more subdued version of mania. Antidepressants alone also may lead to rapid cycling. In rapid cycling, a person may recover more quickly from depression -- but may experience mania and then another episode of depression.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.