Primary Aim: To estimate the antidepressant efficacy of isradipine versus placebo as an adjunct to lithium, valproate, and/or other atypical antipsychotics among individuals with bipolar I disorder in a nonpsychotic major depressive episode.~Hypothesis: Isradipine will be superior to placebo in improvement of depressive symptoms assessed by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
This study investigates the medication isradipine, which is currently approved by the FDA to treat high blood pressure, in the treatment of depression in bipolar disorder. Isradipine or placebo (contains no active medication) will be used as an add-on to lithium, valproate, and/or atypical antipsychotics for individuals currently experiencing a major depressive episode. Our hypothesis is that isradipine will be superior to placebo in improving depressive symptoms.