Bipolar II disorder is the second type of bipolar disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Patients diagnosed with bipolar II disorder have depression and hypomania symptoms; hypomania is a lesser form of mania, which is classified as an elevated mood. Since the majority of bipolar II disorder symptoms are depression, patients may be misdiagnosed with major depression; however, the medication for bipolar depression is different from those used to treat other forms of depression.
Anticonvulsants
One type of medication used to treat bipolar II disorder is anticonvulsants, which the Mayo Clinic states is a mood stabilizer. While anticonvulsants are effective in regulating mania symptoms (and hypomania symptoms), they are also beneficial in minimizing mood swings. Examples of anticonvulsants used for bipolar disorder are valproic acid, divalproex and lamotrigine.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are the first choice in medication for unipolar depression; however, patients with bipolar disorder should be wary when using them. The NIH notes that antidepressants can cause mood swings, such as a rapid change from depression to mania. Melinda Smith, MA and Jeanne Segal, PhD, authors of the article "Bipolar Medication Guide," mention a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) study that found that antidepressants do not work better than placebo pills. If bipolar II disorder patients choose to take antidepressants under the guidance of their doctors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like buproprion and venlafaxine are prescribed; patients also need to take a mood stabilizer to minimize the risk of mood cycling.
Other Mood Stabilizers
Another mood stabilizer option is for bipolar II disorder is lithium. Smith and Segal note that while lithium is the first choice for mania treatment, the drug can also be effective in managing depression symptoms. The authors state that lithium can help with bipolar depression when patients also take antidepressants.
Antipsychotics
In cases of bipolar II disorder where the patient "[loses] touch with reality during a manic or depressive episode," according to Smith and Segal, an antipsychotic can be prescribed. Antipsychotics can also be used if mood stabilizers are not reducing symptoms. Examples of antipsychotics used for bipolar II disorder include ziprasidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine and ariprazole.
