Which medicines treat bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is serious mental health illness characterized by extreme mood changes. Typically, the patient experiences mania or hypomania (a euphoric psychological state) and depression (the psychological state of sadness and hopelessness). Several kinds of drugs are available to treat bipolar disorder. Some of the most prominent ones are listed below. However, it is essential that the medicines are taken only through prescription. • Mood Stabilizers: Mood stabilizers target the unusual highs and lows associated with bipolar disorder. Lithium, a well-known medicine in this class of drugs, exerts a mood stabilizing effect on the brain. It is helpful in treating acute mania and bipolar disorder. The medicine is better known as lithium carbonate (tablet or capsules form) and lithium citrate (liquid form). • Anticonvulsants: These drugs help treat mania and bipolar disorder. When anticonvulsants are prescribed for bipolar disorder, they are referred to as ‘mood stabilizers’ by medical professionals. Some examples of this class of drugs are divalproex sodium, lamotrigine, valproic acid, carbamazepine (CBZ), and topiramate. • Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics can be useful in treating bipolar disorder, particularly if the mania or depression episodes involve psychotic characteristics. Quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, asenapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole are some antipsychotic medicines prescribed for bipolar disorder. • Antidepressants: This class of medications target the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, thereby managing bipolar depression symptoms. Various classes of antidepressants act on a different neurotransmitter or a set of neurotransmitters. A mood stabilizer may be recommended to limit the risk of mania and extreme mood swings, if you are taking antidepressants to treat bipolar disorder. Few antidepressants that may relieve bipolar disorder symptoms are MAOIs, tricyclics and tetracyclics, SNRIs, and SSRIs. • Anti-Anxiety Drugs: Anti-anxiety medications are recommended for a short span of time. They may help a bipolar disorder patient sleep well. Benzodiazepines like alprazolam, clonazepam and diazepam are examples of anti-anxiety medications. Bipolar disorder fatigue treatment Between the severe mood and behavior swings, a bipolar patient is likely to feel fatigued. This means lacking the energy and desire to do even the simplest of tasks or activities. Although more common during the depressive episodes, the manic periods can also be accompanied by fatigue. Bipolar disorder fatigue can be countered by making certain lifestyle modifications, such as staying hydrated, exercising, limiting caffeine intake, and consuming more of vitamin B-12.
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