A mood disorder that causes patients to cycle through high and low moods, bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Medications for bipolar disorder diminish the severity of symptoms and help control mood changes. These medications have some dangerous effects that patients need to know about before taking them.
Lithium and Thyroid Problems
Lithium, a mood stabilizer used for mania--the abnormally high mood that occurs with bipolar disorder--can cause thyroid problems. In particular, lithium causes low thyroid levels. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that low thyroid function is associated with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, in which patients have four or more mood swings a year. Thyroid levels may affect mood, so patients may need to take thyroid medications.
Toxic Lithium Levels
Taking too much lithium can put a patient's life at risk, because it becomes toxic. Helpguide.org notes that factors that can alter lithium levels include changing to a different brand of lithium, dehydration, weight changes and using medications like ibuprofen. Patients need to have blood tests done when using lithium, though the number of tests needed decrease as lithium levels become steady.
Valproic Acid and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The National Institute of Mental Health says that women who take valproic acid, another mood stabilizer, before age 20 have an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome. Valproic acid may raise testosterone levels, which can lead to polycystic ovary syndrome. Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include obesity and menstrual cycle disruptions. The symptoms cease when patients stop using valproic acid.
Antidepressants and Mania
While antidepressants treat the symptoms of depression, in which patients do not have mania symptoms, they can cause problems when used for bipolar disorder. Helpguide.org notes that when bipolar disorder patients do not combine an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer, their mood can change from depression to mania. Antidepressants alone with bipolar disorder may cause increased mood cycling, in which patients have more mood switches between depression and mania.
Antidepressants and Suicide Risk
A serious problem of antidepressants that occur with depression also occurs with bipolar disorder--suicidal thoughts. In October 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration added a warning to antidepressants, stating that they increase suicidal thoughts in children and teenagers who use them. The Food and Drug Administration extended that warning to include people up to the age of 24 in May 2007.
