Posted by SalArmy4me on June 26, 2001, at 10:00:58
In reply to Valpro???, posted by jane66 on June 26, 2001, at 9:35:15
The treatment-refractory depression you may have may actually be a bipolar disorder that responds to a mood stabilizer such as valproate (divalproex sodium). Antidepressants like mirtazapine have the potential to induce rapid mood cycling (rapid mood shifts from mania to depression) or to precipitate mania or hypomania or a mixed state (dysphoric mania) in bipolar disorder. Bipolar patients may present with symptoms of major depression and not volunteer or recognize a history of hypomanic episodes, because the mild severity of hypomania does not result in functional impairment.
Source: Reed, Susan MSN, CRNP. Management of the Depressed Patient Who Appears To Be Nonresponsive To Antidepressant Therapy. Lippincott's Primary Care Practice. Mental Health. 4(2):240-248, March/April 2000.
poster:SalArmy4me
thread:67938
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010625/msgs/67943.html