| Bipolar disorder is a mental illness | | | | not taking a mood stabilizer. Common |
| requiring prolonged treatment. People | | | | antidepressants are monoamine oxidase |
| with this disorder experience extreme | | | | inhibitors (MAOIs) such as isocarboxazid |
| emotional highs (mania) and lows | | | | (Marplan), tricyclics such as imipramine |
| (depression.) Numerous advancements in | | | | (Tofranil), and selective serotonin |
| bipolar disorder treatments have been | | | | reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as |
| made over the past few decades. | | | | fluoxetine (Prozac.) Antipsychotic drugs |
| Physicians, however, still do not know | | | | are used in severe cases where mania and |
| exactly what causes the illness. The | | | | depression are strong enough to cause |
| disorder is now effectively treated | | | | psychosis. The most commonly used |
| through a combination of medication and | | | | antipsychotic drugs are risperidone, |
| psychotherapy. Since it is a recurrent | | | | quetiapine, and olanzapine. Some of them |
| illness, lifelong preventive treatment | | | | have mood-stabilizing properties. |
| is strongly recommended. | | | | Psychotherapy, together with drug |
| Bipolar disorder medications include | | | | treatment, provides many additional |
| mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and | | | | benefits. It helps patients resolve |
| antipsychotics. Mood stabilizers can | | | | their work and relationship problems. |
| effectively control manic and depressive | | | | The most common psychotherapy |
| moods in many patients. Lithium | | | | interventions attempted are cognitive |
| carbonate, Valproic acid, Lamotrigine, | | | | behavioral therapy, interpersonal |
| Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine, and | | | | therapy, and family-focused therapy. |
| Topiramate are the commonly used mood | | | | Proper nutrition also helps control the |
| stabilizers. The majority of mood | | | | mood swings associated with bipolar |
| stabilizers are anticonvulsants, with | | | | disorder. Research indicates that high |
| the exclusion of lithium. Mood | | | | doses of nutritional supplements such as |
| stabilizers are sometimes used in | | | | glyconutrients cure symptoms of manic |
| combination with one another. | | | | depression. Alternative treatments such |
| Bipolar disorder is also treated with | | | | as acupuncture and orthomolecular |
| antidepressant medications. However, | | | | therapy are also used in the treatment |
| they carry a high risk of inducing | | | | of bipolar disorder. |
| mania, particularly in patients who are | | | | |