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