I’ve added a link to an article at the bottom of this post that asks the question:
“Is It Really Depression or Could It Be Bipolar Disorder?”
There are reasons I really dislike drug companies sometimes. Have you seen the new commercials where a depressed person is asked if they need more meds to get better- and then the answer is add Abilify to your anti depressant!?
Say what? Abilify? The one used to treat PSYCHOSIS?
I believe the advertisements should be 100% required to say that this new drug ‘addition’ is a freaking anti psychotic! With huge side effects!
Then the consumer can make a choice. Depression almost killed me in 2010 and then tried hard again in 2011. Changing to new medications saved my life.
So I am not anti meds- most people aren’t- but I am against touting meds that you don’t clearly explain. I just gained 15+ pounds on lithium- but at least I knew what I was getting in to when I started the medication.
As you know, I am also not ANTI drug company. I just can’t stand the way they operate. It’s like using oil to heat a house, but disliking BP Oil . (AH! BP oil, et it!)
Soapbox!
Here the article on the topic: Are You Bipolar? Unethical Drug Company Hopes So.
Julie
If you want to ask a question on this topic or just say hi- please visit my Julie A. Fast Fan page on Facebook. I’m answering questions there almost daily!
Hi Julie,
I was on Abilify for awhile as an adjunct to depression medication. My psychiatrist told me that it was an “atypical anti-psychotic” and that it had been approved as an adjunct drug. It worked well. For awhile. I have some stability problems that have plagued me since before Abilify. I went to balance therapy because I was having trouble just turning around when I walked. I was also experiencing tremors, etc. After 16 therapy sessions they said they had staffed my case and that they had seen progress, but (always that) there was something else going on. They referred me to a movement specialist at the U. They did a bunch of testing and said I had Parkinson’s. That really sat us back. Then, when they realized I was on Abilify they changed the diagnosis to Parkinsonism. The long and short is, I had to get off of the Abilify (no easy feat). It took quite awhile to get over the side effects, but I am glad to not have Parkinson’s!!! The positive effects of Abilify were welcome. It did a good job as an adjunct. But, for me, the side effects far out weighed the benefits.
Michelle
p.s. I am on lamotrigene (lamyctal) as well and am doing well with it.