Drugs for treating bipolar disorder

People are under a lot of pressure nowadays, so their emotions fluctuate greatly, and sometimes they feel bad for no reason. There are a lot of people suffering from bipolar disorder nowadays, and some of them cannot get good treatment, which may even be life-threatening. Therefore, once bipolar disorder occurs, it must be treated promptly and controlled as quickly as possible, otherwise accidents are likely to occur. So, what are the medications for treating bipolar disorder?

Drug treatment

① Treatment is mainly based on mood stabilizers, which can treat and prevent seizures. On the basis of mood stabilizers, other drugs can be combined according to the condition;

② Monitor the effects and side effects of drugs in a timely manner, adjust the drugs according to the situation, and pay attention to the interactions between drugs when taking drugs in combination;

③ For manic states, a mood stabilizer is the first choice for treatment. If necessary, a combination of medications should be used in a timely manner, such as another mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, or benzodiazepine;

④ For patients with depression, antidepressants should be used with caution on the basis of mood stabilizers. Antidepressants with less mania-inducing effects should be selected. The pros and cons should be weighed during treatment to avoid switching back and forth between mania and depression. Lamotrigine and lithium carbonate are effective in treating depression.

⑤ For mixed states, stabilize mood with valproate or second-generation antipsychotics;

⑥ Commonly used mood stabilizers include lithium carbonate and anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants include sodium valproate, magnesium valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine;

⑦ Antipsychotics are mainly new atypical antipsychotics (such as quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, etc.)

⑧ Antidepressants bupropion, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors;

⑨ Sedatives, hypnotics and antianxiety drugs, such as benzodiazepines (diazepam, etc.), buspirone, etc.

Treatment principles

① Early identification, early treatment, adequate treatment course, and full treatment can reduce acute pain and improve long-term prognosis.

② Adopt comprehensive treatment, including drug therapy, physical therapy, psychosocial intervention and crisis intervention, to improve efficacy, improve treatment compliance, prevent self-harm and suicide, and improve social function.

③ Long-term treatment: The relapse rate of bipolar disorder is very high, so it is necessary to establish the concept of long-term treatment;

④ Patients and their families participate in the treatment together, because families need to provide support and help to patients.