Side Effects of Medications for Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder, you will probably need medicatiom. You will probably need to take medication for the rest of your life; since there is no cure for it.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness. Taking medication is just like taking medication for heart disease or any other serious physical.
Psychiatrists use a number of different classes  and typesof medications depending on the frequency and severity of the symptoms .  Treatment for bipolar mania may include lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines.
Maintenance therapy for bipolar disordeconsists of the right medication or combination of drugs along with psychotherpy for crisis intervention. Many people who have bipolar disorder keep taking these medications for years or decades.

Medication really is the most effective treatment available for bipolar disorder. Scientific studies an point to this. Unfortunately, the potential side effects of the medications sometimes make bipolar disoder episodes the better of the two. For some people the decision to take medication is easy to make. For others it can be very difficult. Side effects are the reason people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medications. Many people to give up on medications entoirely, the hospitals become a revolving door switching with the episodes they are having. Though it may take a long time, most people eventually do discover medications they can tolerate. The response to a medication can change with age most bipolars find themselves sympomtom free for longer periods with less severe symptoms over time. Someone with bipolar disorder may take multiple drugs at once, such as a combination of Lithium for bipolar mania and Lamictal for bipolar depression. Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal . . The three are anticonvulsant drugs that just happen to work well for bipolar disorder management, but they are all called mood stabilizers in terms of bipolar disorder use. Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol are antimanic drugs, while Lamictal is used for bipolar depression.

Mood stabilizers have variety of side effects, but they are the most effective antimanic drugs. Lithium is often prescribed first as it’s inexpensive and an excellent drug when it works. Common Lithium side effects include tremors, excessive thirst, memory loss and difficulty reading. Toxicity is common 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 problems with equilibrium.

Possible Lamictal side effects include shortness of breath, neck problems, jerky body movements, itching and a skin rash. There are two kinds of potential 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 tend to get better over time.

Thorazine , Haldol and Trilifon are antipsychotic drugs.. These were effective but caused a lot of concerns due to the motor side effect called tardive dyskinesia. The newer antipsychotics are Clozaril , Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, and Abilify.

Antipsychotics are used to treat psychosis, prevent mania and sometimes treat depression. Side effects include rapid weight gain, especially around the stomach, lethargy, restlessness , dulled senses, tremors, impaired thinking, slow speech, shuffling the feet, and concentration problems. The main concern with Clorazil, Zyprexa and Seroquel is that they can cause metabolic syndrome, a condition that relates to possible diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

While some of these potential side effects can be very strong, Many people eventually find the right anti psychotic with few side effects. They can return to the workfoce and live their lives relatively symptom free.

During a depressive episode you may need other medications. Lithium and other mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, and are used to treat bipolar depression.

A mood-stabilizing medication works on improving mood, social interactions, and behavior. Mood stabilizers are effective in the treatment and prevention of bipolar mood states of alternating recurring episodes of depression and mania.

Bipolar patients with severe mania or mixed episodes are usually treated with an antipsychotic medication combined with either lithium or  the anticonvulsant Depakote..
Lithium is one of the oldest and cheapest mood-stabilizing mediations for bipolar disorder. Lithium is a natural salt.
Studies show that Lithium is effective in reducing symptoms and frequency of episodes for most bipolar patients.
While taking Lithium, you need to have regular blood levels of the drug monitored by your doctor, as the medication can be toxic in high doses.

Anticonvulsants are another treatment for those with bipolar disorder.  Anticonvulsants may be combined with lithium or with other anticonvulsants for those unresponsive to Lithium these may be used with better results.

Some commonly used anticonvulsants include Lamictal , Depakote, Tegretol , and Trileptal.

Some of the most popular antidepressants are Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin These drugs are extremely effective for depression treatment, but must be used with extreme caution in people with bipolar disorder, as they have a high risk of inducing mania. Antidepressants can lead to increased rapid cycling and severe mania in people with bipolar disorder, and should never be used alone. They can be used, however, in conjunction with with effective results in some people.antipsychotics. Common antidepressant side effects include agitation, weight loss or weight gain, headache, stomach upset, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual side effects, loss of appetite, leg-shaking, sleepiness, and oddly enough suicidal tendencies Anti anxiety drugs are such as Ativan , Klonopin, Xanax and Valium. Anti anxiety medications can be addictive and some doctors are wary about prescribing them but many people with bipolar disorder have anxiety and sleep problems, they should not be ruled out simply because there is a chance of addiction.

The Cause of Bipolar Disorder

The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely know. Genetic, neurochemical probably predispose thedisorder and environmental issues probably play a role in the progression of bipolar disorder. This seems to be a predominantly biological disorder in a specific part of the brain with a malfunction of the neurotransmitters in the brain.Neurotransmitters are the chemical part of the brain that controls thoughts and emotions. Since it is a biological disorder, it may be spontaneous or it may be triggered by stressors in life.

Reseachers are working to find the exact cause of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder usually runs in families. Studies show that as much as half the people with bipolar disorder have a family member with a mood disorder usually depression.

Having one parent, a fraternal twin increases the chance that a person will have bipolar disorder.

A person who has an paternal twin with bipolar disorder has an even greater risk of developing the illness than a fraternal twin.

Studies of where a child whose biological parent had the illness is raised by another family without bipolar disorder helped researchers learn more about the genetic causes causes.

Bipolar disorder is due to the dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)in the brain. These chemicals may are norepinephrine, serotin and many others. As a biological disorder, it may be triggered by external factors such as social circumstances or psychological stressors.

A life event may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic makeup for bipolar disorder.

Even without the specific genetic factors, changes in health habits, alcohol or drug abuse, or hormonal problems can trigger an episode.

Substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder but it can worsen the recovery of the disorder. Use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce more severe depressive phases.

Some medications like antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Depressive episodes in some persons must be treated carefully when those people have had manic episodes. Because a depressive episode can turn into a manic episode when an antidepressant is taken, an antipsychotic drug is also used to prevent a manic episode. Protecting the person from antidepressant-induced mania.

Other medications can produce a symptoms that resembles mania. Appetite suppressants may trigger increased energy, decreased need for sleep and increased talkativeness. The difference is that after stopping the medication the person returns to his normal mood.

Illicit drugs such as cocaine, such as Ecstasy and amphetamines.

Excessive doses of over-the-counter drugs, including appetite suppressants and cold preparations.

Nonpsychiatric medications, such as medicine for thyroid problems excessive caffeine can mimic the appearance of mania .

If a person is has bipolar disorder, stress, frequent use of stimulants or alcohol, and lack of sleep may trigger the disorder. Certain medications also may set off a depressive or manic episode.

An imbalance in naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters plays a significant role in bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. Imbalanced hormones may be involved in causing or triggering bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a blood relative with the illness.

Stress, abuse, significant loss or other traumatic experiences can cause a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Reserchers are looking at hereditary as a cause of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is not passed from one generation to another genetically. There is a complex group of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.

Stress is a significant contributor to the development of bipolar disorder.