Bipolar disorder may be termed type 1 (serious enough to need hospitalization) or type 2 (controlled by medications, counseling and lifestyle accommodations). The brain disorder affects about 5.7 million adults in the United States. Adult bipolar patients tend to display symptoms of recurring depression alternating with euphoria at about age 25, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A number of medications prescribed for bipolar patients can help them lead more normal lives.
Quetiapine
In 2008, the most commonly prescribed medication for bipolar treatment was the antipsychotic medication quetiapine. More than 11.5 million prescriptions were given that year, according to Real Mental Health. Quetiapine, as with other antipsychotics, works by altering brain chemicals. Besides the treatment of bipolar disorder, Drugs.com states it is used for schizophrenia as well as other major depressive disorders.
Topiramate
Nearly 8 million prescriptions make topiramate the second most commonly prescribed medication for bipolar disorder as of 2008. It can act as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy sufferers as well as a mood stabilizer for bipolar patients, according to a report by Real Mental Health. Like other mood stabilizers, topiramate helps balance the highs and lows bipolar disorder patients experience.
Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine is the third most often prescribed medication for bipolar treatment. It acts similarly to topiramate as both mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant medication. Real Mental Health states lamotrigine was prescribed 5.6 million times in 2008 in the U.S. The medication slows the cycles between depression and mania, and is used as a maintenance drug. Lamotrigine is most effective in less serious, type 2 bipolar disorder cases.
Aripiprazole
Physicians may prescribe aripiprazole as an antipsychotic for either bipolar mania or schizophrenia. It was the fourth most popular medication for bipolar treatment in 2008, according to Real Mental Health, which says 5.2 million prescriptions were written that year in the U.S.
Risperidone
The antipsychotic risperidone was prescribed 4.6 million times in 2008. Real Mental Health warns risperidone should not be prescribed for elderly dementia patients because of the likelihood of high mortality rates.
Divalproex Sodium and Extended Release
Divalproex sodium was given in both the immediate and extended release form a total of 6.4 million times in 2008---4 million prescriptions of extended release and 2.4 million as immediate release. Real Mental Health lists the two forms of the mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant medications separately, but taken together, divalproex sodium was the third most popular prescription for bipolar treatment.
Lesser-Used Bipolar Medications
Medications prescribed for bipolar disorder patients also include the antipsychotics olanzapine and ziprasidone, and the antidepressant paroxetine.
