Types of Bipolar Medication

Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder and manic depression, is a lifelong mental illness. The condition is characterized by mood swings that go from extreme euphoria and excitability to periods of deep depression and sadness. These symptoms can last for months at a time and change abruptly. There is no known cause of bipolar disorder and it affects both men and women, generally first appearing in the mid-teens to twenties. Bipolar can be treated with medications that moderate the ups and downs of the illness.

Mood Stabilizers

Since the illness is primarily centered around mood swings, leveling off the extreme highs and lows of those moods is vital in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are the most common medications prescribed for bipolar disorder. The best known of these is Lithium. Lithium is practically a mandate for someone with bipolar disorder.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants, otherwise known as anti-seizure medications, are another type of drug used to control mood swings. Anticonvulsants are often used in association with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Rapid-cycling disorder is classified as four or more mood swings within a 12-month period. Anticonvulsants commonly used to treat bipolar disorder include valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex (Depakote) and lamotrigine (Lamictal).

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are slowly being pushed out as a form of drug therapy for bipolar disorder. In an October 2000 study of antidepressant drugs performed by Harvard Medical School, antidepressants were thought to increase the chances of rapid-cycling disorder and making the episodes of those who were already diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder worse.

Anti-Psychotics

Anti-psychotic drugs like olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal) are used to take the place of anti-seizure medications when anti-seizure medications are ineffective.