| Treating bipolar disease is usually | | | | medication known as Valproate is often |
| accomplished through a bipolar | | | | prescribed. |
| medication such as antidepressants, | | | | In some cases, antipsychotic drugs such |
| anticonvulsants and antipsychotic meds | | | | as Clozaril have been used as a |
| used in combination or alone. Such | | | | preventative treatment in some bipolar |
| medications may also be coupled with | | | | patients, though it tends to cause a |
| psychotherapy to provide optimum | | | | rapid heart rate, hypotension, weight |
| results. | | | | gain and constipation. Risperdal is also |
| Because bipolar disorder, also known as | | | | a common antipsychotic medication that |
| bipolar disease or depression, is so | | | | has been successful when used in low |
| difficult to identify and treat, it's | | | | doses, and since 2004, it has become the |
| important to know that the disease can | | | | drug of choice in a vast number of |
| strike any gender or age group. Normal | | | | bipolar patients. Side effects |
| high and low moments are experienced on | | | | associated with Risperdal are mild |
| a daily basis by millions of Americans | | | | compared to the side effects of other |
| every day, but bipolar disorder takes | | | | bipolar medication choices used in the |
| such feelings to an extreme. Ongoing and | | | | past. |
| recurring episodes of both depression | | | | Another antipsychotic drug known as |
| and happiness are often the first signs | | | | Zyprexa, used in combination with |
| of the disorder, coupled with extreme | | | | lithium or valproate for severe manic |
| feelings on both ends of the spectrum. | | | | episodes, may cause low blood pressure |
| Mood stabilizing agents are the most | | | | and dizziness. Another very common |
| common types of bipolar medication | | | | antipsychotic known as Seroquel has a |
| treatments. Antidepressants such as | | | | long-term mood stabilizing affect, while |
| Lithium, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil and | | | | its side effects may include dizziness |
| Valium are used to treat various levels | | | | and elevated blood sugar levels. |
| of depression and offer mood-stabilizing | | | | Most bipolar medication antidepressants |
| benefits, though in some cases, they can | | | | may cause manic episodes in those |
| cause mania. For more severe episodes, | | | | suffering from bipolar disorder, so they |
| Haldol or Thorazine are used to control | | | | are used only on a short-term basis. |
| mania. However, such drugs as Haldol and | | | | More often, the class of drugs known as |
| Thorazine, known as neuroeptics, can | | | | Selective Serotonin reuptake Inhibitors, |
| cause side effects such as muscle | | | | more commonly known as SSRI's, are |
| spasms, difficulty speaking and tremors. | | | | prescribed, and include such drugs as |
| Lithium is the most commonly prescribed | | | | the aforementioned Prozac, Zoloft, and |
| bipolar medication and is used for | | | | Paxil anti-anxiety drugs. |
| ongoing treatment, though its full | | | | The most important aspect of treating |
| effects may not be experienced for | | | | bipolar disorder is to first recognize |
| weeks, and sometimes, months. Lithium is | | | | the symptoms of the disease and seek |
| also the oldest drug used to treat | | | | treatment. A doctor will decide which |
| bipolar disorder. It may take four to | | | | medication is right for each individual. |
| ten days to achieve a therapeutic level | | | | However, it's good to know that bipolar |
| within the bloodstream, and is not as | | | | medication is available which may aid |
| effective on 'rapid-cyclers', or those | | | | thousands of people diagnosed with |
| who experience frequent and chronic | | | | bipolar disorder to live relatively |
| episodes of depression coupled with | | | | happy, normal lives. |
| mania. For 'rapid-cyclers', a bipolar | | | | |