Medications for Bipolar Disorder

The objective of bipolar medication is to stabilize mood swings. The medications prescribed vary with the symptoms and the patient’s body chemistry or drug reactions. Symptoms range from rapid cycling of mania to depression within days to cycling within months. Some patients may even experience only one manic episode in a lifetime.

Lithium is one of the first drugs of choice to treat cycling between mania and depression. Lithium is a mood stabilizer often combined with antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, quetiapine, and aripiprazole). Another class of drugs being used to treat mania is anticonvulsants (valproate sodium, divalproex, and carbamazepine, among a few) traditionally used to treat seizures. Anticonvulsants are a good alternative for those who do not do well with lithium. All of these drugs take weeks to be effective.

Benzodiazepines are sometimes prescribed for short-term treatments. Diazepam and Valium is an example of a benzodiazepine. This class of drugs is addictive and may have withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressants are usually prescribed for depression along with mood stabilizers. An antidepressant alone may trigger a manic episode.

With all these drug categories, it is not known exactly how these medications work in the brain to stabilize mood. Many combinations, referred to as cocktails, are used to great success. Medications should not be stopped suddenly or when symptoms subside and use should be closely monitored. Most people suffering from bipolar disorder will remain on a maintenance dose throughout their life.