What do bipolar people take

Several types of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. These include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and drugs that relieve anxiety. Your doctor may prescribe one or a combination of medications for maximum effect.

Finding the right medication or combination of medications will take some trial and error. You may need to change medications due to side effects. It can take up to eight weeks to see the full effects of each medication. Usually, only one medication is changed at a time. It helps control symptoms of acute mania. Common side effects include weight gain and digestive issues. The drug can also affect your thyroid and kidneys. Periodic blood tests are needed to monitor thyroid and kidney health.

Lithium is a category D drug that should be avoided in pregnancy if possible. However, in some instances the benefits may outweigh the potential risks. Anticonvulsants are mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder. They have been used since the mids. Anticonvulsant drugs include:. Common side effects of anticonvulsants include weight gain, drowsiness, and an inability to sit still.

Anticonvulsants are also associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Valproic acid is known to cause birth defects. You may be asked to keep a daily record of your moods, sleep patterns or other factors that could help with diagnosis and finding the right treatment. Criteria for bipolar disorder. Your psychiatrist may compare your symptoms with the criteria for bipolar and related disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 , published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Reilly-Harrington NA et al. Journal of Affective Disorders. Bipolar and related disorders. Arlington, Va. Accessed Dec. Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder in children and teens. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Rochester, Minn. Suppes T, et al. Bipolar disorder in adults: Clinical features. Axelson D, et al.

Pediatric bipolar disorder: Overview of choosing treatment. Birmaher B. Pediatric bipolar disorder: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and course. Picardi A, et al. Psychotherapy of mood disorders. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health. Fountoulakis KN, et al. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

In press. Beyer JL, et al. Nutrition and bipolar depression. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. Qureshi NA, et al. Mood disorders and complementary and alternative medicine: A literature review. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.

Sansone RA, et al. Getting a knack for NAC: N-acetyl-cysteine. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience. Sylvia LG, et al. Nutrient-based therapies for bipolar disorder: A systematic review. Each of these co-occurring conditions requires a thoughtful and individualized treatment plan.

Children with bipolar disorder usually receive psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions before medications are considered. The identification of a new mental health condition, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder DMDD , could affect how bipolar disorder is diagnosed in children.

DMDD better describes children who are intensely irritable, have temper tantrums, but do not have classic symptoms of mania. Early evidence suggests children with DMDD do not have an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder as adults, but they may have other co-occurring illnesses like depression.

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Advocacy Public Policy Reports. Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder Overview Treatment Support Discuss Proper treatment helps most people living with bipolar disorder control their mood swings and other symptoms. Psychotherapy Psychotherapy, support groups and psychoeducation about the illness are essential to treating bipolar disorder: Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT helps change the negative thinking and behavior associated with depression.

The goal of this therapy is to recognize negative thoughts and to teach coping strategies. Family-focused therapy helps people with bipolar disorder learn about the illness and carry out a treatment plan.