Some Bipolar Mood Disorder Symptoms Tied to Medication-Induced Mood Swings

People with bipolar depression who take antidepressant medication face an elevated risk of fast mood swings even if few manic mood disorder symptoms exist, scientists discovered.

Even patients with bipolar illness who report low symptoms of distractibility, racing thoughts, agitation, and rapid speech were substantially more likely to experience manic episodes when put on antidepressants. The findings were reported by Dr. Mark Frye of the Mayo Clinic.

Since medication-induced mania is "volatile and very destructive for the patient as well as their family," Dr. Frye explained that he is much more sensitive to the risks of using such medications now and will be more inclined to offer alternative remedies, like therapy or mood stabilizers.

The results are the first to corroborate an increased risk of rapid medication-induced mood cycling and contribute to growing evidence against the use of antidepressants for bipolar illness.