What type of medication is prescribed for bipolar

If you're already taking medicine for bipolar disorder and you develop depression, your GP will check you're taking the correct dose. If you're not, they'll change it. Episodes of depression are treated slightly differently in bipolar disorder, as taking antidepressants alone may lead to a relapse.

Most guidelines suggest depression in bipolar disorder can be treated with just a mood stabiliser. But antidepressants are commonly used alongside a mood stabiliser or antipsychotic. Find out more about antidepressants. If your GP or psychiatrist recommends you stop taking bipolar disorder medicine, the dose should be gradually reduced over at least 4 weeks, and up to 3 months if you're taking an antipsychotic or lithium.

If you have to stop taking lithium for any reason, talk to your GP about taking an antipsychotic or valproate instead. In the UK, lithium is the main medicine used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium is a long-term treatment for episodes of mania and depression. It's usually prescribed for at least 6 months. If you're prescribed lithium, stick to the prescribed dose and do not stop taking it suddenly unless told to by your doctor. For lithium to be effective, the dosage must be correct.

If it's incorrect, you may get side effects such as diarrhoea and getting sick. Tell your doctor immediately if you have side effects while taking lithium. You'll need regular blood tests at least every 3 months while taking lithium. This is to make sure your lithium levels are not too high or too low. Your kidney and thyroid function will also need to be checked every 2 to 3 months if the dose of lithium is being adjusted, and every 12 months in all other cases.

While you're taking lithium, avoid using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen , unless they're prescribed by your GP.

In the UK, lithium and the antipsychotic medicine aripiprazole are currently the only medicines that are officially approved for use in teenagers with bipolar disorder. But the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that other bipolar medicines may be prescribed for children if recommended by their doctor.

These medicines are sometimes used to treat episodes of mania. They're also long-term mood stabilisers. Anticonvulsant medicines are often used to treat epilepsy , but they're also effective in treating bipolar disorder. A single anticonvulsant medicine may be used, or they may be used in combination with lithium when bipolar disorder does not respond to lithium on its own. Valproate is not usually prescribed for women of childbearing age because there's a risk of physical defects in babies, such as spina bifida, heart abnormalities and cleft lip.

There may also be an increased risk of developmental problems, such as lower intellectual abilities, poor speaking and understanding, memory problems, autistic spectrum disorders, and delayed walking and talking.

Learn more about the risks of valproate medicines during pregnancy. In women, your GP may decide to use valproate if there's no alternative or you have been assessed and it's unlikely you'll respond to other treatments.

They'll need to check you're using a reliable contraception and will advise you on the risks of taking the medicine during pregnancy. Find out more about pregnancy and taking medicine for a mental health condition. However, there are many different antipsychotic medicines, including a mixture of benzodiazepines and mood stabilizers.

Some of the common side effects include sweating, confusion, slowed breathing, jitteriness, and increased heart rate. Common medications for Bipolar Disorder treatment include antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants , which are commonly prescribed in combinations.

In addition to the common side effects described above, these drugs can cause patients to have driving and insomnia problems. A few antidepressants, such as clomipramine also known as Anafranil and fluoxetine also known as Prozac , have serious side effects, including mania and hallucinations.

Suppose a patient is on an antidepressant and begins to exhibit symptoms of mania or hypomania. In that case, it is important to immediately stop the antidepressant and seek emergency help, as these conditions can be fatal. There are many ways to find out more about these Bipolar Disorder treatment.

A physician can prescribe you the proper remedy. You can also do further research on your own to learn more about handling different types of Bipolar Disorder symptoms. Various websites offer advice and suggestions on how to deal with Bipolar disorders. If you need more information, you can go through the medical references provided.

Before taking any medication, it is essential to know how it affects your body. A doctor will tell you what side affects you should expect when using any prescribed medications. Some websites offer advice on reducing the side effects of drugs that you may be prescribed for Bipolar Disorder treatment. It is always advisable to take medicines under the guidance of a Physician or Psychologist. This will help you understand how your medication works and what side effects it may have.

The use of mood stabilizers in the treatment of Bipolar Disorders is relatively everyday and effective. It has been proven that this type of medication can successfully treat and even prevent the recurrence of mania or depression. However, it is also important to note that mood stabilizers can cause sedation. They can affect patients with a tendency to drink. Before you decide on medication for bipolar Disorder, it is advisable to talk to your Physician and your Psychiatrist. You may be advised to try out various medications for Bipolar Disorders before deciding on the drug to use.

This will help you determine which medicines are the most effective and what side effects you may face. A lot of times, people tend to take medications for Bipolar Disorder for the wrong reasons. If you are taking these medications unnecessarily, it will put your health at risk and prevent you from getting better faster. Lamotrigine Lamictal is the most effective mood stabilizer for bipolar depression, although it is not as effective for mania.

Lamotrigine should be started at a very low dose and gradually raised over four weeks or more. Medications for Bipolar Disorders can help a person suffering from this Disorder from having severe mood swings and experiencing suicidal thoughts. But this type of treatment can have some severe side effects that patients need to know about. The medications used to treat this condition can alter the way how the brain works. There are also risks involved with these drugs, especially if they are taken for an extended period.

There are three major classes of medications for Bipolar Disorder. The first is an antidepressant. When a patient takes these medications, it changes their brain chemistry so that they feel good. In fact, you should be seeing a mental health professional regularly, even if you feel fine. Treatment usually includes a combination of medication and talk therapy. Psychiatrists typically recommend medications as initial treatment to control symptoms as quickly as possible.

Maintenance treatment also reduces the chance of minor shifts in mood developing into mania or depression. Several types of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. These include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and drugs that relieve anxiety. Your doctor may prescribe one or a combination of medications for maximum effect. Finding the right medication or combination of medications will take some trial and error.

You may need to change medications due to side effects. It can take up to eight weeks to see the full effects of each medication. Usually, only one medication is changed at a time.

It helps control symptoms of acute mania. Common side effects include weight gain and digestive issues. The drug can also affect your thyroid and kidneys. Periodic blood tests are needed to monitor thyroid and kidney health. Lithium is a category D drug that should be avoided in pregnancy if possible.

However, in some instances the benefits may outweigh the potential risks. Anticonvulsants are mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder. They have been used since the mids.