As a Bipolar you will have to have infinite patience, determination and a total commitment to medication. It is the most effective way to recover from Bipolar Disorder. The earlier medication is started the sooner you will be able to continue with your life with a fewer chances of relapses. Not all people respond to medication alone; sometimes psychotherapy is needed. But for a chance at full recovery medication is the only answer. Do research on the medication that is prescribed; keep track of side effects, moods, and physical changes in your body. You are ultimately in charge of Bipolar Disorder and your medication. Do not let it be in charge of you.
Medication is the most effective treatment available for Bipolar Disorder; nothing is perfect, and for most people bipolar medications work well. For others it can be very difficult. Side effects are the number one reason people with Bipolar Disorder stop taking their medications. And they can cause many people to give up on medications altogether. Before finding the right one or the right combination that works there is trial and error which can be frustrating. It may take a long time, but most people eventually do discover medications they can tolerate with few side effects and that can control their mood swings.
When treating Bipolar Disorder you have to find the right drug or combination of drugs for each symptom. There are drugs for mania and psychosis, depression and anxiety, and some drugs that help with all these symptoms. There is no strict rule a person may need only one drug, or they may need more than one. There may be no side effects , or there may be many side effects. Finding the right combination of medications and the right doses that work for you can take months to years. For the very rare there is no complete absence of all symptoms and that is where therapy comes into play.
There are medications that are called Mood Stabilizers these include Lithium, Depakote (divalproex), Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Lamictal (lamotrigine). Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol are antimanic drugs, while Lamictal is used for bipolar depression. You may take multiple drugs at once, such as a combination of Lithium for bipolar mania and Lamictal for bipolar depression.
Mood stabilizers have various possible side effects, but they are the most effective antimanic drugs , which is why most people with Bipolar I need to remain on mood stabilizers. Lithium is often prescribed and is an excellent drug when it works. Common Lithium side effects include tremors, excessive thirst. Toxicity can also lead to kidney problems, and so monitoring Lithium blood levels is needed. The most common side effects of Depakote and Tegretol are weight gain, headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, eye problems and unsteadiness.
Lamictal side effects include shortness of breath, jerky body movements, itching and a skin rash. There are two kinds of rashes associated with Lamictal. One is benign the other is very serious. Treatment must be stopped if the second one occurs. Lamcital does not cause weight gain and the side effects are reduced in time.
Older antipsychotics are Thorazine (chlorpromazine), Haldol (haloperidol) and Trilifon (perphenazine). These were effective but caused a motor side effect called tardive dyskinesia. The newer antipsychotics are Clozaril (clozapine), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Risperdal (risperidone), Geodon (Ziprasidone) and Abilify (aripiprazole).
Antipsychotics are used to treat psychosis, prevent mania and sometimes treat depression. Side effects that may occur are usually rapid weight gain, especially around the stomach, lethargy, restlessness, dulled senses, tremors, impaired thinking, slow speech, shuffling the feet, and concentration problems. Clorazil, Zyprexa and Seroquel can cause what is called metabolic syndrome, a condition that leads to possible diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The antipsychotics with the lowest risk of metabolic syndrome are Abilify and Geodon. Risperdal.
These potential side effects can be very strong, although antipsychotics medications can give a persona second chance to work and function in society. If you have psychosis and/or full blown mania antipsychotics should be given multiple trials. The treatment is to start with low doses and then go up as needed. Many people eventually find the right antipsychotic with few side effects.
Antidepressants are many Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Wellbutrin (bupropion), Effexor (venlafaxine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Celexa (citalopram), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram), These drugs are extremely effective for depression treatment in people with bipolar disorder they have a high risk of inducing mania. Antidepressants can lead to rapid cycling and severe mania in people with bipolar disorder. They can be used in conjunction with other mood stabilizers. Common antidepressant side effects include agitation, weight loss or weight gain, headache, stomach upset, sexual side effects, loss of appetite, leg-shaking, sleepiness, and suicidal tendencies.
Some of the medications used are different and are called anti anxiety drugs some are Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam). Anti anxiety medications can be addictive; but considering many people with bipolar disorder have anxiety and sleep problems, they should not be ruled out as part of treatment. Common benzodiazepine side effects include tiredness, memory loss, trouble concentrating, excessive sleepiness and lack of coordination. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can also cause very serious effects.
Treatment with medications has one goal in mind to help the person return to their lives as with the highest ability of functioning as possible. Medications can and do work and although the possible side effects can range from annoying to life threatening medications are truly the only option for recovery for the Bipolar patient.
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