Bipolar Disorder is a chronic condition that requires long term treatment. Each individual suffering form Bipolar may find their own type of treatment program. Most individuals search for Professional help so that they can be put on a medication which will help stabilize their moods. Because of the illness, a single medication may not be enought to control all the symptoms during an episode.
Mood stabilizers are the most commonly used type of drug treatment for bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are used to treat manic, mixed, and hypomanic episodes. Mood stabilizers are mostly used as long term treatments to prevent a relapse and delay further mood episodes. Many mood stabilizers take two or three weeks before the effects can be seen in the patient.
The most commonly used mood stabilizer is lithium. This drug is the oldest and most commonly used drug for bipolar.
Treatment for Depression
Antidepressents are used in the depressed phase of the illness. There are several types of antidepressents, each one of these medications can be used differently:
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors)
Tricycle's
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
Bupropion
There are some cases in which antidepressants can cause "switching" into mania if they are used alone. Mood stabilizers and antidepressents are used together to prevent this from happening. Most antidepressants take several weeks to take effect.
ECT(Electro Convulsive Therapy) is also a treatment for depression which is used when a patient is treatment resistant.
For most cases of depression, hospitalization is necassary because of the risk of suicide.