1. Cope With the Highs and Lows
Bipolar disorder is often referred to as manic depression or manic-depressive personality disorder. People with this disorder experience severe mood swings. Everyone has highs and lows, but bipolar disorder personalities experience erratic mood swings which can range from high to low in a matter of minutes. Mania presents as happy, often euphoric feelings. Depression goes beyond the "blues" or just another sad day. It is a sadness that can immobilize. Bipolar depression interferes with daily life, your ability to function and can produce feelings of utter hopelessness. Sufferers often require bipolar disorder medications to stabilize their moods.
2. Get Through the Jumble
People with bipolar disorder may experience diverse, even conflicting emotions simultaneously. The happy and sad feelings can shift back and forth within minutes. Some sufferers experience mania that creates irrational behavior that may be expressed in spending sprees and poor judgment. When extreme manic episodes interfere with daily life and threaten relationships, sufferers often act irritable and anger easily. Lithium is a mood-stabilizing medication doctors prescribe to treat these extreme shifts. For the first few days of lithium treatment, some antipsychotic medications also may be administered until the lithium has time to stabilize the mood. This is considered a long-term treatment, and it may take weeks or months for the medication to balance bipolar personalities.
3. Opt for Short-Term Stabilizers
Bipolar disorder may be treated with medications that also treat seizures. Anticonvulsants are effective for extreme manic episodes when Lithium doesn't work, or the patient has not been on Lithium or any other mood stabilizer. Anticonvulsant drugs work short-term to get the mania under control quickly. Some short-term medications used to stabilize moods during manic episodes include Tegretol, Lamictal, Neurontin and Topamax.
4. Experiment With Your Medications
Not all medications work in every person coping with bipolar disorder. Experimenting with different drugs and combinations is often necessary. Sometimes medications called "atypical antipsychotic" drugs work, but only in the beginning stages of severe manic episodes. However, these medications also may work long-term in certain cases. Use antidepressant drugs with caution because they may trigger manic episodes in some people.
5. Be Aware of the Side Effects
As with most medications, bipolar disorder medications can produce side effects. These symptoms vary in severity among individuals. Lithium may cause nausea, extreme thirst and frequent urination, fatigue, drowsiness, weakness and lethargy. Some people also may experience hand tremors. Anticonvulsant medications may cause headaches (sometimes severe), dizziness, double vision, anxious feelings and confusion. Many of these symptoms often gradually subside as the body adjusts to the medications. People who require long-term medication for bipolar disorder must have regular blood tests to check liver and kidney function.
