Bipolar and Zoloft

The wrong types of medication for bipolar sufferers can be dangerous. Is Bipolar and Zoloft what we would call a disease/medicine match?

It is tricky to treat bipolar.  This is because there are different phases to this disorder, as well as different ways in which a person can be effected by these phases. Before you can start treating bipolar disorder, it is important to understand the difference between it and depression.  To begin with, you should know that depression may occur only once in your life and is usually caused by such things as poverty, homelessness and community violence.

There are 2 main symptoms of depression: the loss of interest in normal daily activities and the feelings of sadness, helplessness or hopelessness.  These things may be characterized by negative thoughts, moods and behaviors as well as specific changes in eating and sleeping.  

There are times when the mood switches may be dramatic and rapid, but they are usually gradual.  Depression may be masked by anxiety, panic attacks, obsessions or phobias.  While this also occurs if you are bipolar, you will also have periods of mania that are characterized by excessive excitement or enthusiasm that may lead to insomnia.

Bipolar and Zoloft are Commonly Used

One of the most common types of medications that are used in treating bipolar is mood stabilizing agents, which are more often referred to as antidepressants.  Bipolar and Zoloft are what are most commonly used together to treat the various levels of depression while also offering mood-stabilizing benefits.  However, there are some cases in which bipolar and Zoloft come together to cause mania.  At these times Haldol or Thorazine are used for controlling these periods of mania.  These drugs are known as neuroeptics and can cause side effects such as muscle spasms, difficulty speaking and they may even cause tremors.

Recent bipolar disorder research indicates that there is a danger in “mixing” bipolar and Zoloft is that this form of treatment should only be used for a short-term period because of the fact that Zoloft may actually cause manic episodes.  For this reason Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, more commonly known as SSRI's, are more often prescribed.  This is important to understand because Zoloft is not this type of medication, but it is actually an anti-anxiety drug.

What You Should Know About Bipolar and Zoloft

Most doctors will prescribe a bipolar drug such as lithium or the anticonvulsant Lamotrigine, which is also known as Lamictal. Whenever you are “mixing” bipolar and Zoloft  you need to be cautious, as was aforementioned.  However, only you and your doctor can decide whether or not the side effects are worth dealing with in order to bring your severe symptoms under control.

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