What does bipolar medication do

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by extreme changes in mood, behavior, energy, and thought patterns. A person with bipolar disorder will experience severe highs mania and lows depression in their mood. The National Institute of Mental Health estimate that 2. Doctors often find bipolar disorder challenging to treat because everyone responds to medications differently.

Many people with bipolar disorder will try several medications before they find one that works for them. Some people will also need to take more than one class of drug to manage their symptoms. There are different classes of drugs, and each of these contains several medications that can safely and effectively treat bipolar disorders.

These include:. Lithium goes by the generic names lithium carbonate capsules and tablet form and lithium citrate liquid form , as well as several trade names, such as Eskalith, Eskalith CR, and Lithobid. Lithium works in the brain to help stabilize moods. Doctors may prescribe it to help treat bipolar disorder and acute mania.

Lithium can take weeks to months to start working. A person must take it every day for it to be effective. The dose is usually between and 1, milligrams mg of lithium carbonate daily. Doctors have prescribed lithium to treat bipolar disorder for decades, but it still has many possible side effects.

These can include:. It is essential that people taking lithium stay hydrated to prevent their lithium blood levels becoming too high and toxic. If someone has symptoms of lithium toxicity, call or the local emergency number.

Lithium overdoses can result in coma and even death. A doctor will also check the blood creatine levels of people taking lithium.

This is to ensure their kidneys are handling the drug well. Creatinine is a waste product that the kidneys create. When blood creatinine levels are high, it is often a sign that the kidneys are not working correctly. Anticonvulsants treat conditions that cause seizures, but they can also help manage mania and bipolar disorders. When a person is taking anticonvulsants to treat bipolar disorder, doctors often call them mood stabilizers. Doctors may not prescribe valproic acid to anyone who is pregnant, as it may cause some congenital abnormalities.

Doctors typically prescribe antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia. However, antipsychotics can also help manage bipolar disorders, especially those accompanied by periods of psychosis during severe depression or mania.

Off-label means the U. These severe mood swings can result in serious consequences. They may even require psychiatric hospitalization. Living with bipolar disorder requires lifelong maintenance and professional treatment. Sometimes bipolar disorder or the treatments used for the condition may cause long-term effects on the body.

Bipolar disorder medications can have different effects. Like with most medications, bipolar disorder medications come with typical side effects. However, they can also have effects that come from long-term use. All of these medications can have an impact on the body. For example, side effects of antipsychotics can include:.

Lithium is one of the most frequently prescribed medications for bipolar disorder. That is because it works on your brain as a mood stabilizer. It can help control both mania and depression. It can reduce symptoms of mania within two weeks of starting it. However, it comes with several side effects. These may include:. If antidepressants are used at all, they should be combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium or valproic acid. Taking an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer is likely to trigger a manic episode.

Antidepressants can increase mood cycling. Many experts believe that over time, antidepressant use in people with bipolar disorder has a mood destabilizing effect, increasing the frequency of manic and depressive episodes. The new focus in bipolar depression treatment is on optimizing the dose of mood stabilizers. If you can stop your mood cycling, you might stop having depressive episodes entirely.

If you are able to stop the mood cycling, but symptoms of depression remain, the following medications may help:. DO NOT stop taking your antidepressant suddenly, as this can be dangerous.

Talk to your doctor about slowly tapering off the antidepressant. The tapering process should be done very slowly, usually over the course of several months, in order to reduce adverse withdrawal effects. If you lose touch with reality during a manic or depressive episode, an antipsychotic drug may be prescribed. They have also been found to help with regular manic episodes. Antipsychotic medications may be helpful if you have tried mood stabilizers without success.

Often, antipsychotic medications are combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium or valproic acid. Sexual and erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of antipsychotic medications, one that often deters bipolar disorder patients from continuing medication.

However, a study in Vellore, India concluded that the medication Sildenafil citrate Viagra is safe and effective in the treatment of antipsychotic-induced erectile dysfunction in men. Other medications your doctor may recommend include benzodiazepines, calcium channel blockers, and thyroid medications.

Mood stabilizers can take up to several weeks to reach their full effect. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting sedatives that work within 30 minutes to an hour.

Because of their high addictive potential, however, benzodiazepines should only be used until your mood stabilizer or antidepressant begins to work. Those with a history of substance abuse should be particularly cautious. Traditionally used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure, they also have a mood stabilizing effect. They have fewer side effects than traditional mood stabilizers, but they are also less effective. People with bipolar disorder often have abnormal levels of thyroid hormone, especially rapid cyclers.

Lithium treatment can also cause low thyroid levels. In these cases, thyroid medication may be added to the drug treatment regimen. While research is still ongoing, thyroid medication also shows promise as a treatment for bipolar depression with minimal side effects. Bipolar medication is most effective when used in combination with other bipolar disorder treatments , including:. People who take medication for bipolar disorder tend to recover much faster and control their moods much better if they also get therapy.

Getting regular exercise can reduce bipolar disorder symptoms and help stabilize mood swings. Exercise is also a safe and effective way to release the pent-up energy associated with the manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Stable sleep schedule. Studies have found that insufficient sleep can precipitate manic episodes in bipolar patients. To keep symptoms and mood episodes to a minimum maintain a stable sleep schedule. It is also important to regulate darkness and light exposure as these throw off sleep-wake cycles and upset the sensitive biological clock in people with bipolar disorder.

Healthy diet. Omega-3 fatty acids may lessen the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and drugs as they can adversely interact with bipolar medications. Social support network. Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, and having a solid support system in place can make all the difference in your outlook and motivation.

Participating in a bipolar disorder support group can give you the opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others. Support from loved ones also makes a huge difference, so reach out to your family and friends. They care about you and want to help. Authors: Melinda Smith, M. Reviewed by Damon Ramsey, MD. DSM Library.

American Psychiatric Association, Gitlin, Michael J. Gitlin, Michael, and Mark A. Goodwin, Charles Bowden, Rasmus W. Cascade, Elisa F.

Kalali, and Nassir Ghaemi. Vardi, Kalya, Jessica L. Warner, and Noah S. Pacchiarotti, Isabella, David J. Bond, Ross J. Baldessarini, Willem A. Nolen, Heinz Grunze, Rasmus W. Licht, Robert M.