All,

I was just curious, but what exactly is Rapid Cycling?

Stefanie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

If I understand it correctly - it means you go from mania to depression very quickly, thus, 'rapid cycling.'
It hasn't been that long ago since I was diagnosed so I'm still learning too.
Best of luck,
leppi

Hi Starbuk,

Technically, it means that a person will complete 4 full cycles of mania -> depression within 12 months. But rapid cycling can be much quicker, like within hours...

Some kinds of AD's will make certain people with bipolar Rapid Cycle very quickly. Especially SSRI's (Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac). For me, actually, ALL AD's make me rapid cycle, but I'm very med-sensitive, and quite the exception to the rule....

Hope that helps,
StarCat

I take Depakote for migraines, although I do have depression. It has gotten worse lately, and I'm wondering if I *did* have bipolar would the depakote have helped the depression? I get ALL those hyper/high awful side effects with the SSRIs and get really groggy and/or high feeling with the tryciclics.

SO, if one is bipolar, and gets on a medicine that regulates the mood, don't they also get antidepressant relief from that medicine? I'd always heard "you can be helped with the right medication" when hearing people talk about bipolar and meds. This board sounds like people are getting the mania stopped - mostly - but are still depressed!

There must be medicines that do both, right??

I'm rapid cycling and have been on most of the mood stabilizers in the past 10 years (Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Neurontin,Topamx). Right now I've been on Lamictal 4 months and have noticed the lows aren't quite as low. I still take anti-depressants (weekly Prozac and Ascendin). Asked my psychiatrist about the depressions and contolling them. He told me they can control the mania and by doing so control the resultant depression that always follows. I'm willing to take anything that keeps the depressions from being so bad. We'll always have some mood swings - unfortunate part of being bipolar. All I want is something to moderate them.

I used to rapid cycle daily (every few hours it would change up)& I was a SI. I found that the combination of my meds has helped a lot. (Weekly Prozac & Lithium) The dosage looks kind of high for a person my size, but it works so I don't care! Since I've been put on both, I have not had many mood swings at all nor have I hurt myself. I'm pretty stable most of the time. Stress still sets me off occasionally.