Medications are seen as a vital form of treatment in bipolar II disorder. According to the MayoClinic.com, the treatment for bipolar I and bipolar II disorder are similar; the differences may be seen in the dosage amounts a doctor prescribes to treat the slightly different symptoms. Medication has been found to be more effective when use for a consistent period of time and in conjunction with therapy.
Lithium
According to the mental health information website HelpGuide.org, lithium was the first mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder; it helps control the highs and lows associated with the disorder. Lithium is very effective at treating the manic symptoms of depression and can help with depression symptoms especially when its use is combined with an antidepressant, reports HelpGuide.org. Lithium can take up to two weeks to reach its full effect and must be closely monitored by a doctor through regular blood tests; at high doses lithium can be toxic.
Anticonvulsants
Several anticonvulsant medications are effective at stabilizing the mood swings associated with bipolar disorder, including valproic acid or Depakene; divalproex or Depakote; and lamotrigine or Lamictal, reports the MayoClinic.com. According to HelpGuide.org, valproic acid is the most effective way to treat rapid cycling, mixed mania or mania with hallucinations or delusions.
Antidepressants
HelpGuide.org, notes that although antidepressants have been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, their effectiveness and safety has been called into question because they do not appear to be as effective at treating bipolar disorder; they have been known to trigger episodes of mania in people with bipolar and can increase mood cycling. Therefore, it is important to use antidepressants with added caution.
Antipsychotic
Particular antipsychotic medications have proven their efficacy in treating bipolar disorder. These include olanzapine or Zyprexa; risperidone or Risperdal; and quetiapine or Seroquel, reports the MayoClinic.com. According to HelpGuide.org, antipsychotic medications are often used when mood stabilizers have proven to be ineffective; they are often used in combination with lithium or valproic acid, two of the most common mood stabilizers.
Symbyax
The MayoClinic.com reports that symbyax is a combination of the antidepressant fluoxetine and the antipsychotic olanzapine and it works to treat both depression symptoms and stabilize a person's mood.
Benzodiazepines
Many types of mood stabilizers and antidepressants can take close to several weeks before they reach there full effects and during the waiting period some doctors will prescribe a benzodiazepine, reports HelpGuide.org. Benzodiazepines are fast acting and will quickly relieve symptoms of anxiety, agitation or insomnia, but because of their highly addictive nature they should only be used for a short time period, notes HelpGuide.org.
Calcium Channel Blockers
According to HelpGuide.org, calcium channel blockers are used to treat bipolar disorder in patients who cannot tolerate lithium or anticonvulsants, but they are less effective.
