The Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder

The Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print Mood Stabilizers Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Updated on January 19, 2020 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights David Malan / Photographers Choice / Getty Images If you have bipolar disorder, medication will be a key part of your treatment regimen along with therapy, healthy lifestyle choices, and other coping strategies. Mood stabilizers are one of the most important medications for treating bipolar disorder, and they will likely be prescribed to you. These medications control the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder, primarily reducing the risk of  mania and hypomania, but some mood stabilizers also have antidepressant effects. Mood Stabilizers Lithium was the first mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder and it is still used today.??  Anticonvulsant medications, originally used to treat seizure disorders and eventually found to help stabilize moods,  are used for this purpose as well. Other medications, such as  calcium-channel blockers, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics  also have mood-stabilizing effects and may be used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer Lithium is an excellent treatment for both mania and hypomania and it also  has antidepressant effects. Although it is the oldest mood stabilizer, it is still a staple in the medical arsenal for treating bipolar symptoms.??  Today, lithium remains the only medication that was approved  first  for bipolar disorder, rather than being developed for other conditions or symptoms and later found to work as a mood stabilizer. If your doctor chooses to prescribe lithium, you will need to have regular blood tests to make sure your lithium blood levels are in a therapeutic range, as levels that are too high can be toxic. Lithium is processed by the kidneys, so you will also need your kidney levels checked while on this medication.?? In addition, being dehydrated can cause lithium blood levels to rise, so be sure to drink enough fluids while on lithium. Anticonvulsants Anticonvulsants are shown to relieve the symptoms of mania. They also called anti-epileptic drugs, as they were developed to treat seizure disorders.?? A very commonly used anticonvulsant for bipolar disorder is called Depakote (valproic acid). People who cannot tolerate lithium, or who have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, tend to do well with this medication. Antipsychotics Acute episodes of mania result in psychosis in as many as 50% of those with bipolar disorder.?? In these people, antipsychotics are used frequently. They are also often used to decrease symptoms of mania until mood stabilizers,  such as lithium or valproate,  can take full effect. In some people, these medications may be used long-term. Several  atypical antipsychotics, the newer generation of antipsychotics, also have antidepressant properties. Calcium Channel Blockers There is evidence that certain calcium channel blockers, typically  used to treat high blood pressure,  irregular heartbeats  and other heart problems,  are effective as mood stabilizers. Because they have fewer side effects than lithium and anticonvulsants, they may be an option for people who cant tolerate those medications.?? However, calcium channel blockers must be taken at higher doses and more frequently, up to 4-6 times daily, in order to be effective for bipolar disorder. They may also be less effective than the first-line medications above. Benzodiazepines Anti-anxiety drugs in a class called benzodiazepines are sometimes used to gain rapid control of manic symptoms as mood stabilizers more slowly take effect. The benzodiazepines are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and fast-acting sedatives. These medications are primarily used to induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and prevent seizures. They may also be used to help restore a normal sleep schedule. Remember That BPD Medications Take Time to Become Effective Its important to note that most of these medications, with the exception of fast-acting benzodiazepines, typically take more than one month to become fully effective. As you wait for your medications to kick in, therapy, exercise, a solid sleep schedule, a good social support network, and a healthy diet can all make a big difference in how you feel. Trial and Error for Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder If you have rapid-cycling bipolar, which means you have at least four mood episodes a year, it may take even more trial and error to find the right medications to stabilize your symptoms. Try to be patient and give it time until you find the right combination.