Are There Bipolar Medication Treatment Options?
Author: Riley Hendersen
Treating bipolar disease is usually accomplished through a bipolar medication such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antipsychotic meds used in combination or alone. Such medications may also be coupled with psychotherapy to provide optimum results.
Because bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar disease or depression, is so difficult to identify and treat, it's important to know that the disease can strike any gender or age group. Normal high and low moments are experienced on a daily basis by millions of Americans every day, but bipolar disorder takes such feelings to an extreme. Ongoing and recurring episodes of both depression and happiness are often the first signs of the disorder, coupled with extreme feelings on both ends of the spectrum.
Mood stabilizing agents are the most common types of bipolar medication treatments. Antidepressants such as Lithium, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil and Valium are used to treat various levels of depression and offer mood-stabilizing benefits, though in some cases, they can cause mania. For more severe episodes, Haldol or Thorazine are used to control mania. However, such drugs as Haldol and Thorazine, known as neuroeptics, can cause side effects such as muscle spasms, difficulty speaking and tremors.
Lithium is the most commonly prescribed bipolar medication and is used for ongoing treatment, though its full effects may not be experienced for weeks, and sometimes, months. Lithium is also the oldest drug used to treat bipolar disorder. It may take four to ten days to achieve a therapeutic level within the bloodstream, and is not as effective on 'rapid-cyclers', or those who experience frequent and chronic episodes of depression coupled with mania. For 'rapid-cyclers', a bipolar medication known as Valproate is often prescribed.
In some cases, antipsychotic drugs such as Clozaril have been used as a preventative treatment in some bipolar patients, though it tends to cause a rapid heart rate, hypotension, weight gain and constipation. Risperdal is also a common antipsychotic medication that has been successful when used in low doses, and since 2004, it has become the drug of choice in a vast number of bipolar patients. Side effects associated with Risperdal are mild compared to the side effects of other bipolar medication choices used in the past.
Another antipsychotic drug known as Zyprexa, used in combination with lithium or valproate for severe manic episodes, may cause low blood pressure and dizziness. Another very common antipsychotic known as Seroquel has a long-term mood stabilizing affect, while its side effects may include dizziness and elevated blood sugar levels.
Most bipolar medication antidepressants may cause manic episodes in those suffering from bipolar disorder, so they are used only on a short-term basis. More often, the class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin reuptake Inhibitors, more commonly known as SSRI's, are prescribed, and include such drugs as the aforementioned Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil anti-anxiety drugs.
The most important aspect of treating bipolar disorder is to first recognize the symptoms of the disease and seek treatment. A doctor will decide which medication is right for each individual. However, it's good to know that bipolar medication is available which may aid thousands of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder to live relatively happy, normal lives.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/are-there-bipolar-medication-treatment-options-136982.html
About the Author
For more information on bipolar, try visiting http://www.bipolardetails.com - a website that specializes in providing bipolar related tips and resources to include information on bipolar disorder..
[TEMPLATE]cannibis[/TEMPLATE]
my sister who has SEVERE bipolar disorder ( need help )…..?
My sister, who is 27 has severe bipolar disorder. Yet she is a smart person (when she wants to be ), she is friggin gone people. It’s so bad, if you get into a conversation, over no matter what, she gets into a friggin battle, that can easily turn into a temper tantrum on the floor like a kid at toys r us. Also bear in mind that she is a daily user of percocet and valium, with and occasional dose of weed and coke, which she will ALWAYS lie about. im 22, i still live with her, which at this point sucks cause its realy stressful, and a pain in the ass, and when i say to my parents that we should do somethin, they always give me the line of ” What do you want me to do “?, even though they arent lazy people its still like…..wtf? i do fear that one night she could snap and either kill herself or my mom…..what can I do???? because i cant deal with this anymore
Hi I understand its hard for you as bipolar does not just effect the person that has it but all that are around them. But I want you to think about one thing, if you feel like this about it how the hell do you think she feels? If she is in such a mess then her medication needs to be sorted out as its clearly not helping her right now. tell your nun to get her some help. take care good luck
Is this the beginning of Bipolar disorder?
I went on Zoloft for 10 days and it made my symptoms worse, so now I’m on Clomipramine, and I’ve been on it for 4 weeks, to treat OCD. This morning I woke up at 5am with hypomania. I had less than 8 hours sleep, and less than 8 the night before too. I’ve been taking Xanax, Zyprexa, and Valium to settle me down. Is this the beginning of of a disease induced by the medications? Please help.
Is there a family history of bipolar? This is something that is familial, along with the ability to develop on it’s own. It sounds like it could be the meds, but you never know. Medications have general effects on people, but there are the few that have a reverse action. Just like my daughter with ADHD….. she gets speed to slow her down….Try talking to your Dr. If you can’t afford to go to your Dr, at least call them and talk to a nurse. Also, there are many boards you can post on other than Yahoo Answers…. try looking at the NIMH site.( National Institute of Mental Health)
Does My Dad Have Bipolar Disorder?
Ever since my dad has lost his job and been disabled, he got more aggressive(before was only yelling). Now, he goes into rages where he yells on the top of his lungs, blames my mom for everything, feels guilt for never divorcing her and feels helpless. He makes threats saying he’s going to kill himself or if my mom doesn’t pick up her phone, he’s going to throw things off the shelf. He does throw things off the shelf when he’s really mad and then spits, tries to vomit on purpose when he doesn’t get any attention from my mom. He even grabbed her yesterday. He starts crying usually after being angry. The next day, he’ll be happy and sociable. He’ll want to talk to others. He talks a lot like you can’t shut him up when he’s in a good mood. The bad things he does to my mom, he doesn’t do to the caretaker. He turns nice when she comes in the house. He’s on Ambien, Xanax and Valium (wasn’t on those before losing his job). So is he bipolar or it’s the meds? I don’t think meds would do that.
How to tell your doctor you think you may have Bipolar Disorder?
Do i say like “i think i have bipolar”?
I don’t know in what ways it might be affecting my life negatively as I have a number of other mental problems.
Could all my problems be treated by getting medicated for my potential bipolar? I have only taken anti-depressants & anxiety meds.
I have been diagnosed as having OCD, Social anxiety disorder, eating disorder, and depression, each being rather severe & seriously interfering with my life.
I have taken such as Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, Rivotril, Valium, even Mazindol, but I always ended up overdosing on them to numb my feelings.
And I don’t want to start again going to psychiatrist & taking meds because I would mess up anyway. And I don’t want to stop using drugs or drinking either because i need them to feel ok.
Well number one, the fact that you’re drinking and using drugs may be the issue, because you really don’t need them to be “okay”.
As far as talking to your doctor, you could simply say something like “I saw this commercial about Bipolar disorder…or I read online about it and it sounds like something I may have because (list your symptoms here).
You’ll probably have to be screened for it before they give you any medications, or at least I would hope so, especially because you have a history of O.D.ing on meds.
Help. Schizophrenia? Bipolar Disorder?
This is going to be quite a long post. Please bear with me.
Last year, July 29 I tried to kill my self with Valium in my condo near my college. I woke up 2 days later in a hospital. My father visited me(a surprise visit) and found me, he took me to the hospital. After that I had to go back home and take a leave on college (for a while until your OK, he promised me). I had been drinking a lot, smoking cigarettes and weed. I used other drugs like e and v’s once in a while.
I went to a shrink and they told me I had depression. They told me to stay with my family for a while and I was given some drugs to help with my withrawals from certain substances. They also gave me LEXAPRO for my OCD and depression. The thing is my environment here is making me just so much more depressed. My parents dont let me out of the house because their scared I might do something bad again. I spend my days on the computer, eating and sleeping. Its pathetic really and its not me.
To make things worse I told my parents that I no longer want to attend our church ( Jehovah’s Witness) and that I want to be disassociated from them. Because of this I dont think my father is ever sending me back to school. I think its just unfair because I was a very good student, and it reflected on my grades. I have a sister in college, awful grades, but they’re OK with her as long as she take care of her “spirituality”.
The thing is lately Ive been becoming violent. I have violent thoughts, I hate everything around me. I want to kill my self again. I want to kill my father. I think its because Im a social person and being stuck inside our house( boring house by the way. my parents confiscated my gaming consoles and they took away the cable tv) I just cant stand not talking to anyone. To top things off, im getting anxious because, as I said im getting my self disassociated from JW’s and theres actually a lot of pressure in doing so. I get paranoid a lot. Ive been interested in a lot of things that I know are going to get me into a lot of trouble lately.
So yeah, I checked the internet for symptoms of schizophrenia and I actually have a lot of these. Like I sometimes like to believe I have powers and shit. Also as a kid I saw some things that I just know couldnt possibly be there. Lately I cant feel any emotion aside from anger and hate. I am rarely motivated to do anything. The thing is I dont tell anybody because I know its silly. But then again, bipolar disorder is in the family so Im not sure what it is.
Im in a really tough spot here. I think Im going to explode one of these days. Can anybody help me? Especially with my anger Also could my environment be contributing to this? Appreciate the help.
There is always some overlap of the symptoms of bipolar and schizophrenia. Only a dr. can diagnose your condition.Since you recognize you are having a problem ,the first step is to go back to your psychiatrist (MD) asap and listen to him. Let him know about your anger and paranoia.He is there to help you.At least try what he suggests, It sounds like you are getting a little worse right now,maybe just from frustration,so I also think a visit to a psychologist for some therapy might be a very good idea so you’ll be able to talk out the pressure you feel from family issues.The DR and therapist visits are a lot cheaper than going to the hospital. If your parents see that you are really trying to get better ,than they will trust you move.Doing all those drugs has a consequence. Don’t do that anymore. It must have been a great shock for them to learn that you tried to kill yourself and now you say you feel like killing yourself again. Maybe your family can sense this and they want to keep a safe watch over you. Don’t have hate in your heart for them.Be patient and while you are at home do some studying on the subjects you want to learn when you go back to college.See if a used book store in your area has any used college books that might help-It’s better than getting stuck on the computer all day. Try any self calming activities.How about Haiku.That type poetry is a kind of a spiritual activity. It will give you something to focus on during the day and it doesn’t have to be perfect for you to think up your own poems..Keep well and don’t give up.