Manic depression (bipolar disorder) is a serious mood disorder illness that affects around 1% of the adult population. We do not really know what causes manic depression, but we DO know that once the illness has been diagnosed, it can be successfully treated using a range of different medications. So what is the medication for manic depression and are there any known side effects you should be concerned about?
In order to successfully treat a patient suffering from manic depression, it is important that the illness is correctly diagnosed in the first instance. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms seen in patients suffering from manic depression can be attributed to other mental health disorders, so duration of the symptoms, plus a detailed family history will all need to be taken into account before a bipolar disorder treatment plan is initiated.
What is the medication for manic depression?
Bipolar is characterized by two phases: depression and mania. During the depressive stage of the illness, the patient will typically feel extremely low in mood and may even have suicidal thoughts. The manic phase is at the other end of the mood spectrum and can be just as difficult to deal with, not only for the patient, but also for their friends and family
As such, medications used to treat manic depression will vary depending on the symptoms, and some medications used to treat the depressive stage of the illness can have a tendency to trigger an episode of mania. But before any type of medication is prescribed for manic depression, the medical history will be examined in order to ensure that the patient is unlikely to suffer any adverse reactions to the medications.
Because bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder, the most popular medications used it to treat the symptoms are anti-depressants. These fall into two different groups: monoamine oxidase inhibiters and tricyclics, and because the use of anti depressants can inadvertently cause manic episodes, they are normally prescribed in conjunction with mood stabilizing and anticonvulsant medications such as valproate and lithium.
Manic episodes would normally be treated with mood stabilizing drugs. However, in severe episodes of mania where the patient is exhibiting the symptoms of psychosis, anti psychotic medications will be prescribed.
What is the medication for manic depression short term treatment?
Benzodiazepines, for example Valium and Xanax, are sometimes prescribed as short term treatments for the symptoms of manic depression as they can help reduce anxiety and aid sleep. However, benzodiazepines are not recommended for long term use because they are highly addictive.
Antipsychotic drugs are normally used to bring the symptoms of mania under control, but they can be prescribed for long term use if the patient is experiencing psychotic episodes.
What is the medication for manic depression long term treatment?
Lithium has long been the medication of choice for the long term treatment of bipolar disorder as it can be used to treat depression and mania in manic depressive patients. Valproate is another popular medication for the treatment of the symptoms of manic depression and like lithium, is a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant.
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