Updated On: May 3, 2024
Updated 5/16/2022
If you haveĀ bipolar disorder, medication may be an essential component of your bipolar disorder treatment plan as well as seeing an in-person orĀ online psychiatrist. People who have bipolar disorder often experience changes in mood that can be either mild with irritability, agitation or severe with extreme anger, rage, and risky behaviors. They also tend to have wide swings in energy levels, behavioral traits, and attention spans.
The right bipolar medication can help stabilize mood changes while reducing other commonĀ bipolar disorder symptoms. Further, bipolar disorder medications can help prevent or reduce the severity of both manic and depressive episodes that are disruptive and interfere with daily life.
If you were recently diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder and your symptoms are not being resolved to the point where youāre finding it difficult to manage day-to-day functioning, itās time to discuss medication options with your psychiatrist. Finding the right combination of medications and other treatments like therapy can take some time. Most people find a combination ofĀ talk therapyĀ and medication to be the most effective in treating their bipolar disorder. However, your mental health care provider will be able to create the best treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Read on to learn what you need to know about bipolar medications that can help you manage your daily life.
There are several types of medications for bipolar disorder. The following are some options to be aware of.
Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder when antidepressants or mood stabilizers arenāt effective in reducing or alleviating symptoms. Antipsychotics can be used either in combination with or in place of mood stabilizers.
Some antipsychotic drugs can help people with bipolar disorder by regulating different brain neurotransmitters and settling the brain circuit functioning that regulates mood, thinking, and perception. While itās not totally understood how or why they work for bipolar disorder, antipsychotics can improve manic episodes quickly, which makes them a good option for some people.
Anticonvulsants are a type of medication that have been used since the mid-1990s to treat bipolar disorder. Theyāre prescribed either alone, with an antipsychotic drug, or in combination with antidepressants. They primarily work to control hypomania or mania by calming hyperactivity in the brain.
Itās not fully understood how anticonvulsants work to treat bipolar disorder, but itās thought that with regulating various chemical changes and neuromodulation they are able to reset the abnormal electrical discharges occurring in the brain.
Types of anticonvulsants to treat bipolar disorder:
Antidepressants can be complicated when weāre looking at bipolar medication options. Thereās widespread controversy about when (or if) they should even be used at all to treat bipolar disorder. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tetracyclic antidepressants all might be prescribed to help manage depression symptoms in bipolar disorder.
However, antidepressants are also known to trigger manic episodes, so they most often would be prescribedĀ in addition toĀ an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. The prescription and monitoring by an expert psychiatrist is needed in order to have a well regulated combination to address the complicated bipolar symptoms.
*NOTE: MAOIs are not often prescribed for bipolar disorder. The exception can be in cases where someone has had a less than optimal response to either SSRIs or SNRIs. Side effects of MAOIs might include sleep interference, reduced libido, increased appetite, gastrointestinal issues, dry mouth, or menstrual problems.
Benzodiazepine is an anti-anxiety medication that can help with insomnia or anxiety. Although they are a fast-acting sedative, they can take several weeks to be fully effective. Theyāre also highly addictive, so caution should be used, especially if you have a substance abuse history. These are used in conjunction with major mood stabilizers to address the anxiety symptoms that can be complicating the bipolar presentation.
Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that work by slowing brain activity to help you gain control of anxious thoughts and symptoms. Theyāre not usually the main treatment for manic episodes, but they can be taken for a short time period.
There are a wide variety of medications used to treat bipolar disorder. The following bipolar medication list can help you understand the different types of medications a provider might prescribe you.
Talk to your psychiatrist or healthcare professional about the possible risks and benefits associated with the above medications before starting treatment.
Name Brand | Generic | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Risperdal | Risperidone | Antipsychotic | Treats certain mood disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. |
Latuda | Lurasidone | Antipsychotic | A once-a-day bipolar medication thatās been proven effective for children, teens, and adults. |
Vraylar | Cariprazine | Atypical antipsychotic | An atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and bipolar depression. |
Depakote | Valproic acid | Anticonvulsant | Can treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. |
Lamictal | Lamotrigine | Anticonvulsant | Prescribed for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder. More effective against depressive episodes than manic. |
Topamax | Topirramate | Anticonvulsant | Works in the brain and is sometimes used to treat bipolar disorder. |
Trileptal, Oxtellar XR | Oxcarbazepene | Anticonvulsant | Not approved by FDA to treat bipolar disorder, but might be an effective off-label treatment for manic episodes. |
Celexa | Citalopram | SSRI ā antidepressant | SSRI that improves energy levels and feelings of well-being. |
Pristiq | Desvenlafaxine | SNRI ā antidepressant | Not specifically approved to treat bipolar disorder, but prescribed off-label to treat manic episodes. |
Norpramin | Desipramine | Tricyclics ā antidepressant | Most often prescribed in conjunction with a mood stabilizer to reduce the chance of manic symptoms developing. |
Nardil | Phenelzine | MAOIs ā antidepressant | Not approved for use in treating bipolar, but sometimes prescribed with other medication. |
Managing your bipolar disorder may mean multiple things. A combination of therapy and medication is often the most effective route. You should talk to your doctor if youāre thinking about starting bipolar meds or think they may be helpful.
Take the following steps if youāre looking for treatment with a bipolar disorder medication:
Only you can make the decision about whether or not itās time to begin medication to treat your bipolar disorder. The most important thing is talking to your provider and psychiatrist to help you decide and gather all the information you need.
Through your conversations, youāll be able to learn more about the medications your prescriber might be considering. Then you can start to learn how each might affect you. You can also learn about other forms of treatment that you are able to pair with medication in order to get the best results.
If you are interested in finding the right medication to treat bipolar disorder, connect with a prescriber at Talkspace today.
Dr. Muhammad Munir, MD, DFAPA, has over 20 years of clinical experience specializing in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, panic disorder, and ADHD. Dr. Munir believes in āback to basicsā the therapeutic alliance between the physician and patients. The hallmark of this alliance is the emphatic process whereby the patient is not only enabled, but educated and encouraged, to take an active role in their psychiatric care and wellbeing.