About Bipolar Disorder: All About Bipolar Medications

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Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping and Support From Marcia Purse, your Guide to Bipolar Disorder This morning on the About Bipolar Disorder Facebook page I asked fans how many medications they were taking for bipolar disorder. Most commonly the answers were three or four (I take four myself). And since bipolar medications are a hot topic, I thought this was a good time to review them. Mood Stabilizers These are the workhorses - the medications that do the most to control mania and hypomania. Some have more effect on depression than others. Lithium and anti-seizure medications are the most common, but there are some other drugs that fall into the mood stabilizer category as well. See More About:  mood stabilizers  anticonvulsants  lithium Antidepressants Most people think of the names Prozac and Paxil when they think of antidepressants, but there are many other. For some patients, the older antidepressants - monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclics work better than the newer ones. Others respond best to "atypical" antidepressants or the class that includes Cymbalta. See More About:  antidepressants  depression  medications Antipsychotics Because bipolar 1 disorder and schizoaffective disorder include psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions in their makeup, it makes sense that antipsychotic medications are used in treatment. But many of these drugs have other beneficial effects, so they are often prescribed to people with bipolar 2 disorder and cyclothymia as well. See More About:  antipsychotics  side effects  psychosis Anti-Anxiety Drugs Anxiety is a common symptom in bipolar disorder. In addition, more than half of persons with BP have co-occurring anxiety disorders. Thus, controlling anxiety becomes an important part of treating bipolar disorder. See More About:  antianxiety medications  anxiety attacks  anxiety disorders Bipolar Disorder Ads Bipolar Bi Polar Symptoms Mania Depression Mania Symptoms Bipolar I Disorder Featured Articles Children and Medication - Swallowing Pills Tips Teen Medication Issues Got a Love/Hate Relationship With Your Meds? Medication Safety About Bipolar Disorder on Facebook Follow on Twitter   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. More> This newsletter is written by: Marcia Purse Bipolar Disorder Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Bipolar Disorder newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Medications Resources Medications A to Z Side Effects Library Financial Assistance for Medicactions Advertisement