How quick is too quick?!

I think that whilst it's right to be aware of what might happen, not to let it influence  how you are on this medication too soon. I have been on two SSRI's in the past, am currently taking 150mg sertraline, after I was prescribed cipramil initially and I experienced a weekend of mania on that ( as a side effect )...fortunately I have some experience in this area and recognised it as such and stopped the medication and got back to my GP who swapped me to 50mg of sertraline initially and then I did end up escalting the dose. Most antidepressants take on average 3 weeks to take effect, although some people notice an effect slightly earlier. It's also impt to know that sertraline is not one fixed dose for all, a fair few people , even when prescribed from the GP, will take 100mg as their treatment dose, having started on 50mg and tried that first. Fluoxetine is however diff. in that there is one dose, 20mg, that's it. Other diff. just to note is that fluoxetine has a long half life, so not too bad if you forget to take one day, however most SSRI's like sertraline do not have long half-lives live fluoxetine, so it's impt you remember to take at same time every day. Good luck. If you are at all worried go back and see your dr.

When I had an episode of mania ( and mine was self diagnosed, but I have 14 years experience in the area of mental health so felt pretty confident about my self diagnosis ) in the first weeks of being put on cipramil, I then went to the GPs ( a diff GP in what is a large practice ) and she felt I was still pretty high - I had been worse over the weekend - anyway she spent an hour talking to me, luckily I was the last patient in that a.m. surgery as had slotted me on the end after I rang up that morning. She said that whilst she felt I was most likely correct and wasn't bipolar, that she would be happier if I had a CPN review, which also then culminated in me seeing the consultant psychiatrist ! who within 5 mins of seeing me said she was sure I was not bipolar, and that it was a side effect of the cipramil in my case. 

These days everyone likes to cover themselves, a GP is a generalist, and as such sometimes they like a 2nd opinion by a specialist team whether CPN or psych drs, then they know you are getting the correct treatment, and they haven't missed / made a wrong diagnosis. Bipolar disease is not always a typical presentation, and doesn't present as people on the outside perceive it. So it can be hard to miss. Yet the treatment for bipolar and for depression are very different. Treating bipolar, and there are newer drugs around these days., is all about evening out the highs and lows. It can be quite hard to distinguish in some people, so I wouldn't worry yourself at all, your dr is just covering their back and making sure you get the most appropraite treatment. CPNs are usually pretty friendly people, so you'll be fine. Added stress is not what you need. Take care x