What are the Medications for Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder can be a truly disruptive mental health condition. Consisting of a range of symptoms from manic highs, depressive lows, irrationality, and hallucinations, these effects can be a real challenge to maintain. With that, you may wonder what are the medications for bipolar disorder.

We are going to explore these medications, come to understand what the classifications are and how these medications for bipolar disorder work to counteract the unpleasant and disruptive symptoms.

Bipolar Medication List

There are common medications for bipolar disorder and that can be broken down into specific categories. These meds help treat the underlying symptoms of bipolar disorder, like mood swings, lifting depressive lows, and aiding with manic convulsive activity.

However, there doesn’t exist a permanent cure for bipolar disorder. Therefore, the most effective treatment is often prescribed medications – sometimes a group of them, taken to address specific symptoms.

The purpose of these medications is to create a therapeutic response so that other treatment approaches, such as talk therapy, have the ability to work without said symptoms causing interruptions. Also, the prescriptions on this medication list allow for those suffering from bipolar disorder to live a functional life and follow their regular routine. The bipolar medication list includes:

Lithium

Often utilized by mental health professionals in the case of bipolar disorder due to its ability to regulate mood. Lithium is known to help control the nervous system and aid those taking it to control emotions and cope better with mood swings. When bipolar patients shift from one episodic type to another, lithium helps in softening the blow of that change. ¹

It comes in a few different forms including capsules and a solution form, however, the most common type is a tablet. For pediatric and teenage bipolar patients, an extended-release lithium tablet is commonly prescribed. However, it’s not for older geriatric patients as it can interfere with certain kinds of medications related to heart, kidney, or liver complications.

This medication can interact poorly with specific kinds of medications and a full list of those interactions can be found here. However like with any medication, it is always best to consult with a physician and mental health professionals to see what is the best course of treatment is best suited for you or someone you love.

Anticonvulsants

Helping in controlling abnormal electrical activity within the brain, anticonvulsants have become a common treatment option for those that suffer from seizure activity, such as in the case of epilepsy. ² However, for bipolar patients, anticonvulsants can be incredibly helpful in soothing manic activity. ³

It is not uncommon for a bipolar patient to be prescribed a single anticonvulsant medication to start. Then, over time, combine that medication alongside a mood stabilizer, such as lithium, or an antidepressant.

Antipsychotics

An antipsychotic is a form of medication that aids in regulating mood and can help alter behavior. Antipsychotics can be extremely helpful for mania symptoms, delusions, as well as for hallucinations. Often such symptoms occur at the height of a mania episode or during severe depression.

Studies have shown that bipolar patients that suffer from severe mania-related effects have a therapeutic response to typical antipsychotics such as olanzapine and quetiapine. Those who find themselves experiencing severe depressive impact have had the benefit from olanzapine alone. ⁴

Antidepressants

Often a treatment for those suffering from clinical depression, antidepressants work by interacting as well as altering the inner mechanisms of the brain relating to dopamine. Antidepressants also have impacts on the nervous system and can aid in regulating atypical responses.

Antidepressants for those with bipolar disorder have shown great promise in managing the deep depressive dives that can occur directly following the high of a manic episode. While not a mood stabilizer, antidepressants can lift depressive-related symptoms and along with other prescribed medications, can create an overall improvement for specific episodic conditions. It’s common that a strong antidepressant can actually be more harmful than beneficial, spurring manic episodes while trying to treat depressive ones. ⁵

Benzodiazepines

A neuro-depressant medication, benzodiazepines are responsible for slowing down neurological as well as nervous system processing. For those with bipolar disorder, benzodiazepines can result in a calmer state, especially during manic episodes. Benzodiazepines also aid those with anxiety, epilepsy, and those that are experiencing addiction withdrawal. ⁶

Still, there are inherent risks of using benzodiazepines, as they can be habit-forming.

There also have been studies that have shown that while benzodiazepines may help with mania-related symptoms, they can also worsen depressive-related symptoms. ⁷ More doctors and mental health clinicians are opting to utilize mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants in the place of benzodiazepines for comprehensive bipolar treatment.

Symbyax

A combination of an atypical kind of antipsychotic, Zyprexa, and an SSRI antidepressant, typically Prozac. It’s specifically used to treat depression-related episodes in bipolar patients. Symbyax is not as common nowadays as utilizing Symbyax can produce undesirable results. A combination of lithium and an anticonvulsant is more common. ⁸

Symbyax also is a more restrictive drug than others. Those with pre-existing conditions, pregnant women, and those that drink alcohol are at higher risk of serious side effects. ⁹

The best way of figuring out which treatment is best for you is to talk with a medical and mental health provider.

Which Medicine is Best for Me

While we took a deep dive into the types of bipolar medication that are common, figuring out which is best for one’s own specific bipolar diagnosis is not a one size fits all approach. It’s true that some medications and medicine combinations are best for specific types of bipolar disorder, such in the case of Symbyax being more helpful for those with bipolar I disorder. ¹⁰

As previously mentioned, it’s common for a bipolar patient to take a combination of medications along with specific kinds of therapies including but not limited to psychotherapy, substance abuse treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The best way to figure out your treatment path is to talk with a medical and mental health provider.

Side Effects of Bipolar Medicine

As with any medication, there are side effects as well as risks to deal with. Side effects of all of these medications can be similar to one another however there are some that greatly differ from others. We have compiled a list of the most common side effects based on the type of medication. Note that this list is not an exhaustive one and that everyone’s experiences with these medications and treatment options are different.

Lithium ¹¹

Nausea
Dry mouth
Increase thirst
Gradual weight gain

Anticonvulsants ¹²

Dizziness
Fatigue
Increase or decrease in appetite
Nausea
Upset stomach

Antidepressants ¹³

Temporary increase in anxiety
Loss of appetite
Changes in sleep
Increase in fatigue
Reduced sex drive
Headaches
Dizziness
Stomach complications
Constipation or diarrhea

Benzodiazepines ¹⁴

Drowsiness
Lightheadedness
Confusion
Muscle weakness
Memory issues
Dry mouth
Nausea

Symbyax ¹⁵

Dizziness
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Constipation
Increased appetite and weight gain
Sleeping complications

Medication for Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy

Certain anticonvulsant medications are also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

One such anticonvulsant that is discouraged is valproate as use during or after pregnancy can create physical defects in the baby, including spina bifida and heart complications.

Symbyax is another medication that is not for pregnant or nursing mothers as it can lead to developmental complications for the fetus and further issues with a breastfeeding infant.

As with any medication during pregnancy, it is best to consult with a trusted OBGYN and physician to rule out any and all medications that can be harmful to the mother or the baby.

Final Word

Bipolar disorder is a complex and often misunderstood mental health condition. The changes in behavior, mood, and internal processing can make an already challenging diagnosis even more of a burden to bear during daily life. So, why should treating a complicated diagnosis be even more difficult?

We here at Bedlamite believe that it shouldn’t be more difficult and that it doesn’t have to be. Arming yourself with knowledge and a deeper understanding of what these medications are, how they function and interact with the body.

Your Questions

Do you still have questions about medications for bipolar disorder?

We invite you to ask them in the comments section below. If you have any further knowledge to share – whether personal or professional – we’d also love to hear from you.