Antidepressants and mania?!

Antidepressants and mania?

My friend who has bipolar 1 disorder and is on Trileptal as a mood stabilizer was recently started on an antidepressant after a depressive episode. It's only been two days, but she says she's feeling nervous and shaky, and that her thinking is becoming unclear. I know antidepressants can send bipolar patients into mania, but should I be concerned about this after her being on the medication for such a short time? Or is she maybe just experiencing some anxiety?

4 weeks ago
I'm aware of this...but after only two days of taking the antidepressant?

Studies have shown that in some bipolar patients, antidepressants have not had a "significant" (in statistical terms) effect when combined with mood stabilizers. But you made no mention as to how long your friend has been on the mood stabilizer and how many different meds have been tried. it can take quite some time and trying many different meds before the right one is found that works.

With many medications, antidepressants included, there is generally a titration period where the patient is gradually given increased doses until a therapeutic level is reached. Having such "side effects" within the first 2 days may be purely psychosematic. But even so, it is something that should be brought to the attention the of the attending physician.

Trileptal is not a new medication and shouldn't be contradicting with an antidepressant, but then again I'm not an MD and the problem should be referred to the patients doctor.