If you have bipolar disorder, medicationwill be prescribed. Medication can bring mania and depression under control andprevent relapse once your mood has stabilized. Medication used long term maynot be pleasing as an easy way of life, especially if you’re struggling withunpleasant side effects. But just as a diabetic needs to take insulin in orderto stay healthy, taking medication for bipolar disorder will help you maintaina stable mood.
If you have bipolardisorder, taking medication to reduce the frequency and severity of moodepisodes is the goal of treatment.
If side effects are severe, your doctormay switch the drug or change the dose. You should always check for druginteractions before taking another prescription medication, over-the-counterdrug, or herbal supplement. Drug interactions can cause unexpected side effectsor make your medication less effective or even dangerous. Mixing certain foodsand beverages with your medication can also cause problems. Learn aboutpotential interactions by discussing them with your doctor or talking to yourpharmacist.
Medication works best when makinghealthy choices. A pill can not work properly with abuse of a healthy way ofliving. Reduce or discontinue alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and makes recoveryeven more difficult. It can also interfere with the way your medication works.
Lithium: Mood stabilizers aremedications that help control the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. They arethe cornerstone of treatment, both for mania and depression. Lithium is theoldest and most well-known mood stabilizer. It is highly effective for treatingmania.
Lithium can also help bipolardepression. But, it is not as effective for mixed episodes or rapid cyclingforms of bipolar disorder. Lithium takes from one to two weeks to reach itsfull effect.
The side effects that is common on lithium.Some may go away as your body adapts to the medication. Weight gain ; drowsiness; tremor; weakness or fatigue ; excessive thirst; increased urination; stomachpain; thyroid problems; memory and concentration problems; nausea, vertigo; diarrhea
Anticonvulsants areused in the treatment of bipolar disorder as mood stabilizers. Originallydeveloped for the treatment of epilepsy, they have been shown to relieve thesymptoms of mania and reduce mood swings.
Valproic acid is ahighly-effective mood stabilizer. Common brand names include Depakote .Valproic acid is often the first choice for rapid cycling, mixed mania, maniawith hallucinations or delusions. It is a good bipolar medication option if youcan’t tolerate the side effects of lithium.
Common side effects include: drowsiness;weight gain; dizziness; tremor; diarrhea.
Other anticonvulsants that can beused as mood stabilizers include: Tegretol; Lamicta; andl Topamax
Be wary of natural moodstabilizers they may cause paradoxical reactions. But used with caution can help to stabilizeyour mood until the medication becomes more effective. There are many thingsyou can do to stabilize your mood. The way you live your life is just asimportant, than the medication you take. Making healthy choices for yourselfcan make a huge difference in how you feel.
Although antidepressants havebeen the drug of choice for episodes of bipolar depression, their use is becomingmore and more questionable. Antidepressants should be used with caution. Antidepressantscan trigger mania in people with bipolar disorder. If antidepressants areused at all, they should be combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium orvalproic acid. Taking an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer is likely totrigger a manic episode.
Antidepressants can increase moodcycling. Over time, antidepressant use in people with bipolar disorder caninduce mania, and can increase the frequency of manic and depressive episodes.
If you can stop your mood cycling, you mightstop having depressive episodes entirely. If you are able to stop the moodcycling, but symptoms of depression remain, medications may help
If you lose touchwith reality during a manic or depressive episode, an antipsychotic drug may beprescribed. They have also help with regular manic episodes. Antipsychoticmedications may be helpful combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium orvalproic acid.
Common side effects ofantipsychotic medications for bipolar disorder Drowsiness Weight gain Dry mouthwhich can lead to tooth decay Constipation Blurred vision
Other medications for bipolardisorder are Benzodiazepine. Mood stabilizers can take up to several weeks toreach the effective dosage. Other med,benzodiazepines should only be used until your mood stabilizer orantidepressant begins to work. Those with a history of substance abuse shouldbe especially cautious medications which are used for bipolar disorder are Benzodiazepineto relieve symptoms of anxiety, agitation, or insomnia. Benzodiazepines arefast-acting sedatives. Because of they are highly addictive.
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