Bipolar Disorder Treatment: Medications and Therapy
Bipolar disorder treatment is quite simple: the main difficulty lies in defining the right dosage or combination of drugs. People with bipolar disorder need to take their medications and follow the guidelines of their doctor all their life. As the illness may affect different aspects of your life, – such as social, business and private ones, you shouldn’t be afraid to seek professional and other support from other people; it’s normal and in the long term will help you to carry on with normal life.
Here are the most common methods of treatment for bipolar disorder:
Bipolar disorder medications
There are many kinds of bipolar disorder medication. It’s highly efficient for most people and helps you to keep the symptoms under control, but it’s not recommended to “prescribe” yourself anything before talking to your doctor. Only together you will be able to find a perfect combination that will help you continue with your life without worrying.
Bipolar disorder medication options are the following:
§ Mood stabilizers. These are the most common drugs for treatment of bipolar disorder. They are available if you have your doctor’s prescription and prevent you from swinging between mania and depression, staying mentally balanced. Lithium is the most popular and efficient drug, while the most commonly used names are Eskalith and Lithobid.
§ Anti-seizure bipolar disorder medications. These can be prescribed by your doctor to prevent frequent and sudden mood swings that interfere with your life, which is especially true for people with cycling bipolar disorder. Such medications as divalproex (Depakote), valproic acid (Depakene), and lamotrigine (Lamictal) are used to correct your mood and keep it under control.
§ Antidepressants. Although antidepressants used to be common for treatment of bipolar disorder, it’sthey are now a controversial issue. Your doctor must assess your situation very carefully before prescribing antidepressants, as some studies have shown in some people they can even cause episodes of mania. Every patient needs to think before taking these drugs whether the benefits outweight possible side effects and consequences.
§ Other medications. Other kinds of medication used for bipolar treatment include risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa), known for their powerful antipsychotic effects and high efficiancyefficiency in patients that had to give up anti-seizure medications. There is a drug that received the approval of the American US Food and Drug Administration - – quetiapine (Seroquel); it can be used for both depression and manic episodes.
You need to always remember, that no matter how effective the drugs are, there are some side effects you may experience during the period of bipolar disorder treatment. Some medications can increase the probability of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Your doctor needs to monitor your health regularly to make sure your condition is not worsening.
Bipolar disorder therapy: psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the most efficient bipolar disorder therapy aimed at helping the patient deal with his or her condition more effectively. There are some kinds of psychotherapy that have proved quite helpful:
§ Cognitive behavioral therapy. This method focuses on the individual, his personal needs and problems; it is aimed at replacing negative and unhealthy beliefs and behaviors with happy and positive ones.
§ Family therapy. This is especially important if your family wants to help you but you feel that you can’t handle the situation without professional help. Talking to a psychiatrist together will help you find mutual understanding and make it less painful for you and your loved ones.
§ Group therapy. When you are in a support groups, you have a unique chance of participating in a discussion of typical problems, sharing your worries with other members – all that under the supervision of a professional doctor.
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