Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that is characterized by mood changes alternating from depression to euphoria or agitation. It was previously called "manic depression" and most frequently appears during the late teen or early adulthood years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), bipolar disorder may affect nearly 6 million Americans; there are a number of effective medications for bipolar disorder.
Lithium
Lithium is the most well-known medication used to treat bipolar disorder. It is often effective but causes a number of side effects including memory impairment, weight gain and tremor. Other potential adverse events may include kidney and thyroid toxicity. Because of these side effects, lithium use requires occasional blood testing to monitor blood concentration levels.
Valproic Acid
Valproic acid was approved in 1995 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder. It is also approved to treat a wide range of seizure disorders. Side effects may include weight gain, drowsiness and foggy thinking, but the patient may also experience more serious effects such as liver and pancreatic toxicity, blood disorders and increased testosterone levels. Use of valproic acid often requires periodic blood testing for metabolic disorder.
Anticonvulsants
Gabapentin, topiramax, oxcarbazepine and lamotrigine are anticonvulsant medications that have been used for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Though many have found anticonvulsants to be effective alternatives to lithium and the drugs not cause as many serious side effects, clinical studies as of early 2010 have not confirmed that they are more effective. Common side effects may include memory difficulty, sedation and weight changes.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone and risperidone are medications known as atypical antipsychotics, which have been used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, but have also been used to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder. They commonly cause side effects such as sedation, weight gain and breast tissue development in both men and women. Antipsychotics, including the atypical variety, may also cause tardive dyskinesia and other movement disorders that occur after long-term use and are often irreversible.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are often combined with anti-manic agents in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Antidepressants are used to combat symptoms and prevent recurrence of the depression phase of the illness. Commonly used antidepressants include fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion and sertraline, along with many others. Antidepressants are not given alone and are most always combined with lithium or another antimanic agent because the antidepressant may increase the chance of developing mania. According to a study conducted by NIMH, for many patients antidepressants combined with mood-stabilizers may not be more effective than mood stabilizers alone and not all patients will need them. Antidepressants may cause common side effects such as changes in eating and sleep patterns along with a decrease in sex drive.
