| For many disorders, bipolar disorder | | | | Although lithium and valproate appear to |
| included, there is not just one but many | | | | have similar efficacy in treating |
| drug treatments available. Here are | | | | bipolar disorder, there have been no |
| three of the most popular drug | | | | head to head clinical trials between the |
| treatments currently being used to treat | | | | two so a definitive conclusion cannot be |
| bipolar disease. | | | | reached. However, because valproate is |
| Lithium | | | | less stressful to the human body, this |
| Lithium is commonly known as the first | | | | may be a natural drug preference for |
| mood stabilizer. Although it was | | | | some. |
| discovered in 1817, it was not until | | | | A second concern with using valproate is |
| much later in the century that it was | | | | that while it has been proven to be |
| found to have mood stabilizing | | | | effective against bipolar mania, it has |
| properties, specifically anti-manic | | | | been less effective against bipolar |
| capabilities. By 1969 it was the | | | | depression. |
| preferred method of treating manic | | | | Carbamazepine |
| depression. | | | | In Europe, carbamazepine, introduced in |
| It is not known exactly how lithium | | | | the early 1960s, is the second most |
| works with the brain to stabilize moods. | | | | popular drug used for treating bipolar |
| It's theorized that those afflicted with | | | | disorder. Although, studies have proven |
| bipolar disease have a chemical | | | | it to be effective for bipolar disorder, |
| imbalance in the part of the brain that | | | | it has not been approved worldwide. |
| controls emotions and that lithium helps | | | | And as with the drug valproate, |
| to restore the correct balance. | | | | carbamazepine while effective for |
| Today, lithium is usually the first drug | | | | treating bipolar mania, has also been |
| treatment attempted when treating | | | | less effective at treating bipolar |
| bipolar disorder. It is especially | | | | depression. |
| effective if there is a family history | | | | Conclusion |
| of bipolar disorder. If a family history | | | | Of the top three drugs used to fight |
| does not exist, Lithium tends to be less | | | | bipolar disease, they all seem to be |
| effective and other treatments may be | | | | relatively equal in treating bipolar |
| attempted instead. | | | | mania. However, when it comes to |
| Recently, because of its toxicity and | | | | treating bipolar depression and in |
| other negative effects, some medical | | | | reducing feelings of suicide, lithium |
| professionals have begun to shy away | | | | appears to have the clear edge. |
| from prescribing lithium. | | | | Unfortunately, many of the studies that |
| Valproate | | | | current bipolar treatment is based on |
| In the United States, valproate is the | | | | are 15 or more years old and are very |
| second most popular drug used to fight | | | | much out of date. |
| bipolar disorder. This seems to be | | | | Fortunately, the scientific community, |
| mainly a direct result of the many | | | | recognizing this, is becoming more |
| lithium side effects and concerns. Even | | | | interested in studying new treatments |
| among doctors that prefer lithium as a | | | | for bipolar mania. There are many |
| first choice, valproate is usually a | | | | medical trials underway that will test |
| strong second choice. Also, as mentioned | | | | the potential for a new class of bipolar |
| above, lithium is not always effective | | | | drugs and hopefully lead to much needed |
| for treating bipolar disorder. In these | | | | help for families dealing with this |
| cases, valproate is often considered a | | | | emotional wrenching disease. |
| good alternative treatment. | | | | |