- Maintenance Therapy: Medications such as lithium, lamotrigine, and olanzapine are currently recommended options for maintenance therapy;
- Treatment of Mania: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g. olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine), lithium, and valproate are all medications that are recommended for the treatment of mania;
- Treatment of Depression: Most guidelines recommend an antidepressant only if in combination with a mood stabiliser (e.g. lithium, valproate) or antimanic agent for the treatment of Bipolar Depression since antidepressants alone may induce switching to mania or hypomania, mixed episodes, and rapid cycling. Current research is focused on finding better ways to treat this hard-to-treat phase of the disorder.
- Overall Treatment of the Disorder: A comprehensive and coordinated approach, which includes both medication and psychotherapy, is recommended to provide optimal care for those with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder treatment requires mood-stabilizing medication. Compliance with medication is one of the biggest challenges in treating bipolar disorder. says Tarique Perera, MD, a psychiatrist with Contemporary Care of Connecticut.
The main treatment options for bipolar disorder include a combination of medication and psychotherapy, as well as palliative care and family therapy. Watch psychologist Jeffrey Gardere, PhD, discuss these treatment options for bipolar disorder.
- Medication. The main treatment for bipolar disorder is medication. Your doctor will probably recommend that you take a mood stabilizer (such as lithium) every day. A mood stabilizer can help prevent wild mood swings. Also, from time to time, you may need to take other medications to treat episodes of mania or depression that break through despite the mood stabilizer. Unlike unipolar (major) depression, with bipolar disorder it can be harmful to use an antidepressant alone -- this can make you less stable or even bring on a manic episode. What's the most important thing to remember? Keep taking your medication even after you start to feel better. Consistent treatment is the key to keeping symptoms at bay.
- Counseling. Also called psychotherapy or "talk therapy," counseling can help you -- and your loved ones -- work out some of the problems caused by your illness. Support groups and advocacy groups can help too.
Bipolar disorder medication treatment depends on your diagnosis. The majority of people with bipolar have either Bipolar I (one) or Bipolar II (two). They each have a different medication treatment path.
Bipolar I and Bipolar II share the same symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADD symptoms and psychosis, etc.
The main difference is the mania.
- Bipolar I has full blown mania. This mania can involve psychosis.
- Bipolar II has a milder mania called hypomania with no psychosis.
- Mood stabilizers
- Anti-psychotics
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-anxiety
If you have Bipolar II, the hypomania is milder, but still a very serious mood swing that has to be caught early so that you don’t make destructive decisions. It’s not essential that a person with Bipolar II always be on an anti-manic mood stabilizer, but it can help if the mood swings are regular.
Once the mania is discussed and addressed, depression treatment is added. The main problem with bipolar depression treatment is that the anti-depressants used for unipolar depression can cause mania for those with bipolar. Thus, anti-depressants can only be used with a mood stabilizer or anti-psychotic. (I should note that if a person is in a depressive mood swing, the depression will naturally be treated before a mania regime is decided.)
One popular drug used for bipolar depression in Bipolar I and II is the mood stabilizer Lamotrigine. It helps the depression without causing mania. It can also reduce rapid cycling, irritation, anger, anxiety and mild mania. Lithium can be used as well, though it can take a long time to work. Anti-psychotic companies are now advertising that their drugs can boost anti-depressant effectiveness. The jury is out on that one regarding bipolar depression.
Anti-anxiety drugs are used as needed for a variety of symptoms. The main being anxiety of course, but I use mine for sleep. Addiction can be a problem here, so be careful.
Wow. Now you can see why bipolar disorder is one of the most difficult illnesses to treat.
Various treatment options can help those with bipolar disorder. The most common approaches are medications and counseling. Treatment is often lifelong and must be continued even during periods when one's mood is stable. Uninterrupted treatment can help one lead a more predictable, stable emotional life and prevent problems at home, work, or school. It can also help prevent the condition from getting worse over time.
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Bipolar Disorder Treatment

The main treatment options for bipolar disorder include a combination of mood-stabilizing medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes to reduce stress and improve diet and exercise. Medications are used to stabilize your mood ...
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.