Medications Used to Treat Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, effects almost 3 percent of the American adult population. The condition is characterized by oscillating bouts of depression and manic behavior, and therefore requires a variety of medications to adequately control.

Anti-Depressants

• Anti-depressants, such as Prozac or Zoloft, are commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder as they can both decrease the severity of depressive episodes and reduce the frequency of manic episodes. Bipolar patients should take them continually regardless of how they feel to ensure optimal results.

Mood Stabilizers

• Mood stabilizers, such as lithium, are prescribed to reduce the strength and number of manic episodes. While they are very effective, mood stabilizers can produce several undesirable side effects, such as emotional detachment.

Anti-Psychotics

• Anti-psychotics are powerful medications that may be prescribed for individuals who do not notice an improvement in their mood shifts on anti-depressants and mood stabilizers. Anti-psychotics handle particularly violent manic episodes which border on psychotic breaks.

Sleep Aides

• It is common for bipolar patients to experience prolonged and severe sleep disturbances, particularly during manic episodes. Prescription sleep aides may be used to handle this element of the condition.

Additional Treatments

• In addition to these types of medications, individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder also benefit from other forms of treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy and electroconvulsive therapy.