Bipolar disorder, or BPD, also known as manic depression, is a mood disorder characterized primarily by fluctuations in mood. Accordingly, individuals with BPD experience corresponding shifts in energy levels and capacity to function normally. Individuals with BPD fluctuate between mania---characterized by racing and grandiose thoughts, extreme levels of energy, and lack of concern for consequences of their actions---and depression, during which time they experience sadness, low energy levels and the inability to manage daily activities. The degree of mania or depression varies by person and the individual's specific subcategory of bipolar disorder. Drugs for bipolar disease are grouped according to function.
Mood Stabilizers
According to the Mayo Clinic, initial treatment involves stabilizing the individual's mood. These medications are used to reduce the frequency of manic or depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers are the first-line drugs in the treatment of BPD. Lithium, or Lithobid; valproic acid, or Depakene; and lamotrigine, or Lamictal are commonly prescribed mood stabilizers. Excluding lithium, the medications in this category are also used as antiseizure medications. A dangerous side effect of antiseizure medications is liver damage.
Treating Acute Mania
Medications commonly prescribed to treat acute manic episodes include aripiprazole, or Abilify; olanzipine, or Zyprexa; and quetiapine, or Seroquel. Several medications prescribed for bipolar disorder should not be taken by women who are pregnant or might become pregnant. The Merck Manual notes that long-term side effects of the medications in this category may include weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Thus, it is important to consult with your doctor on the best course of treatment.
Treating Acute Depression
Examples of medications prescribed for an acute depressive phase include fluoxetine, or Prozac; paroxetine, or Paxil; and sertraline, or Zoloft. The website of the National Institutes of Health notes that medications prescribed to treat bipolar depression are commonly given in combination with a mood stabilizer in order to prevent a mood shift in the opposite direction.
