Treatment FAQ

what the main treatment methods for bipolar disorder

by Dan Rau Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The primary treatments for bipolar disorder include medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to control symptoms, and also may include education and support groups.
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These include:
  • Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). ...
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). ...
  • Psychoeducation. ...
  • Family-focused therapy.
Feb 16, 2021

Medication

  • The goal of maintenance treatment is to prevent future manic or depressive episodes.
  • Because of the relapsing and remitting nature of bipolar I disorder, maintenance treatment is indicated after the first manic episode.
  • The focus of maintenance treatment is long-term medication management, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes.

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Therapy

  • Improve ability to identify and intervene early with warning signs of recurrences
  • Increase acceptance of the illness
  • Enhance adherence with drug regimens
  • Enhance ability to cope with environmental stressors associated with symptoms
  • Stabilise sleep and wake rhythms and other daily routines
  • Re-engage with social, familial, and occupational roles

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Which type of therapy is best for treating bipolar disorder?

Natural remedies for treating bipolar disorder

  • Lifestyle changes. Counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and a range of lifestyle changes can help people with bipolar disorder to manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
  • Alternative remedies. ...
  • Clinical support and treatment. ...
  • Takeaway. ...

What is the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder?

Remeron is a brand name for the drug mirtazapine. Mirtazapine is rarely tried in the bipolar disorder community. It has been reported as tried by less than 1% of the members with mixed effectiveness reports. Ranked #34 most tried and #28 most effective.

How to treat bipolar disorder naturally without drugs?

How effective is Remeron for Bipolar II disorder?

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What is the best treatment for bipolar disorder?

The most effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Most people take more than one drug, like a mood-stabilizing drug and an antipsychotic or antidepressant.

How long does it take for antidepressants to relapse?

After remission from an acute episode of bipolar disorder, a person is at an especially high risk for relapse for about 4-6 months. Thus, continuation and maintenance of ...

Can you take antidepressants with bipolar?

Research has not shown that antidepressants are as reliably safe and effective in people with bipolar disorder as in other forms of depression, making their use more controversial.

Can medication be continued for manic episodes?

Once your doctor has helped stabilize the moods of the acute phase of the disorder (either a manic or depressive episode), medication therapy is usually continued indefinitely -- sometimes at lower doses.

Is bipolar a lifetime disorder?

Anyone who has experienced two or more manic or hypomanic episodes generally is considered to have lifetime bipolar disorder. That person should have maintenance therapy to minimize the risk for future episodes.

What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is treated with three main classes of medication: mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and, while their safety and effectiveness for the condition are sometimes controversial, antidepressants. Typically, treatment entails a combination of at least one mood-stabilizing drug and/or atypical antipsychotic, plus psychotherapy.

How to help someone with bipolar disorder?

If someone you live with has bipolar disorder, maintain a calm environment, particularly when that person is in a manic phase. Keep to regular routines for daily activities -- sleeping, eating, and exercise. Adequate sleep is very important in preventing the onset of episodes. Avoid excessive stimulation.

What is the most important thing to know about bipolar?

IMPORTANT! Help and Support. In the manic phase of bipolar disorder, patients may engage in risky activities, such as fast driving or certain risky sports. They should be monitored and prevented from taking chances, especially in a car.

What is the name of the drug that is used to treat schizophrenia?

Haloperidol ( Haldol Decanoate) or other newer antipsychotic medications, such as aripiprazole ( Abilify ), asenapine ( Saphris ), olanzapine ( Zyprexa, Zyprexa Relprevv, and Zyprexa Zydis ) or risperidone ( Risperdal ), are often given to patients as an alternative to lithium or divalproex.

What is the best medication for bipolar?

The antipsychotic quetiapine ( Seroquel) is approved to treat bipolar I or II depression .

What are the different types of depression?

The newer types of nonpharmocological treatments of depression are: 1 VNS (Vagus or Vagal Nerve Stimulation) involves implantation of a device that sends electrical signals to the vagus nerve in order to treat depression. 2 TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a procedure which involves the use of an electromagnetic coil to create electrical currents and stimulate nerve cells in the mood centers of the brain as a treatment for depression. 3 Light therapy has proved effective as an additional treatment when bipolar disorder has a connection to seasonal affective disorder. For those people who usually become depressed in winter, sitting for 20 minutes to 30 minutes a day in front of a special light box with a full-spectrum light can help treat depression.

What is the best antiepileptic drug for depression?

Lamotrigine ( Lamictal), another antiepileptic drug, has been shown to have value for preventing depression and, to a lesser degree, manias or hypomanias. Other antiepileptic drugs, such as gabapentin ( Neurontin), oxcarbazepine ( Trileptal ), or topiramate ( Topamax ), are regarded as experimental treatments that sometimes have value ...

What are the objectives of psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder?

Common objectives of psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder. Improve ability to identify and intervene early with warning signs of recurrences. Increase acceptance of the illness. Enhance adherence with drug regimens. Enhance ability to cope with environmental stressors associated with symptoms.

What drugs were used to treat manic recurrence?

manic recurrence. Open in a separate window. Treatment of mania. The pioneering trials of lithium and chlorpromazine were done in the 1970s and were followed by a focus on antiepileptics (eg, valproate and carbamazepine) in the 1980s and 1990s.

How can depression be enhanced?

Long-term maintenance and possibly acute stabilisation of depression can be enhanced by the combination of psychosocial treatments with drugs. The development of future treatments should consider both the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying the disorder.

Is quetiapine effective for depression?

Antipsychotic drugs are effective in the acute treatment of mania; their efficacy in the treatment of depression is variable with the clearest evidence for quetiapine.

Do bipolar patients respond to treatment?

Up to a third of patients with bipolar disorder do not respond to treatments in naturalistic studies;4,5,7these figures probably underestimate the proportion of treatment-resistant patients with depression in clinical practice.

What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?

Treatment for bipolar disorder aims to reduce the severity and number of episodes of depression and mania to allow as normal a life as possible.

What is the best treatment for depression?

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – this is most useful when treating depression. family therapy – a type of talking therapy that focuses on family relationships (such as marriage) and encourages everyone within the family or relationship to work together to improve mental health.

How to know if you have bipolar disorder?

Learning to recognise triggers. If you have bipolar disorder, you can learn to recognise the warning signs of an approaching episode of mania or depression. A community mental health worker, such as a psychiatric nurse, may be able to help you identify your early signs of relapse from your history.

What is the best medicine for mania?

Antipsychotic medicines. Antipsychotic medicines are sometimes prescribed to treat episodes of mania. They include: aripiprazole. olanzapine. quetiapine. risperidone. They may also be used as a long-term mood stabiliser. Quetiapine may also be used for long-term bipolar depression.

How long does depression last?

Episodes of depression tend to last longer, often 6 to 12 months. But with effective treatment, episodes usually improve within about 3 months. Most people with bipolar disorder can be treated using a combination of different treatments. These can include 1 or more of the following:

How to deal with depression and improve relationships?

psychological treatment – such as talking therapies, which help you deal with depression and provide advice on how to improve relationships. lifestyle advice – such as doing regular exercise, planning activities you enjoy that give you a sense of achievement, and advice on improving your diet and getting more sleep.

Can you take bipolar medication while pregnant?

Pregnancy and bipolar medicines. One of the main problems is that the risks of taking bipolar medicines during pregnancy are not well understood. If you're pregnant and you have bipolar disorder, a written plan for your treatment should be developed as soon as possible.

What mood stabilizers are prescribed for bipolar?

If you have one of these forms of the condition, your doctor may prescribe one of the following mood stabilizers: ( 2) Depakote (divalproex sodium) Lamictal (lamotrigine) Lithobid (lithium)

What are the best supplements for bipolar disorder?

Several alternative treatments, or home remedies, have been recommended for bipolar disorder, although there is limited scientific evidence of their effectiveness in managing symptoms. Most of these approaches involve taking herbal or dietary supplements, including these substances: 1 Amino acids 2 Magnesium 3 Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil or flaxseed oil) 4 St. John's wort (for depression)

What is the best medication for depression?

Fluphenazine. An antidepressant may also be used to manage depressive episodes, along with a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic. The drug Symbyax (fluoxetine and olanzapine), for example, combines the antipsychotic olanzapine with the antidepressant fluoxetine.

What amino acids are good for depression?

Amino acids. Magnesium. Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil or flaxseed oil) St. John's wort (for depression) Commonly recommended amino acids ( 4 ) and St. John's wort ( 5) may interact with antidepressants or trigger episodes of mania or hypomania in some people.

Can you live with bipolar disorder?

Living With Bipolar Disorder and Learning to Manage the Condition. Living with bipolar disorder isn't without its challenges, but with the right treatment, education, and support, it's possible to lead a quite normal and productive life with the condition.

Can bipolar be treated in hospital?

Hospitalization may be required in some cases of bipolar disorder, but in most cases, the condition can be successfully treated in an outpatient setting, ideally by seeing a psychiatrist. Most people with bipolar disorder can lead productive lives if they continue with their treatment and regularly see their doctor.

Can you stop taking bipolar medication?

Most importantly, don't stop taking prescribed medications even if you're feeling better .

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Abhimanyu Chandak
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Bipolar disorder lasts for a lifetime, with treatments aiming at managing the symptoms by psychotherapy and medication.
Medication

Mood stabilizers: Helps control extreme mood variations.

Carbamazepine . Lamotrigine . Valproate


Antipsychotic drugs: Help reduce symptoms of psychosis such as illusion, hallucination, etc.

Olanzapine . Quetiapine . Lurasidone . Cariprazine


Antidepressants: Helps stabilize the mood swings.

Sertraline . Fluoxetine . Citalopram . Desvenlafaxine . Duloxetine . Levomilnacipran . Venlafaxine


Antianxiety drugs: Reduces anxiousness.

Alprazolam . Clonazepam . Diazepam . Lorazepam . Oxazepam

Therapy

Psychotherapy:Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, Psychoeducation and Family-focused therapy are used.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):Passing mild electrical current to the brain to alter its chemistry and functioning. Usually given in severe cases.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS):Applying a magnetic field to the brain to alter its functions; still being tested. Usually given in severe cases.

Specialist to consult

Psychiatrist
Specializes in the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Coping and Support

  • To determine if you have bipolar disorder, your evaluation may include: 1. Physical exam.Your doctor may do a physical exam and lab tests to identify any medical problems that could be causing your symptoms. 2. Psychiatric assessment.Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist, …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Treatment is best guided by a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions (psychiatrist) who is skilled in treating bipolar and related disorders. You may have a treatment team that also includes a psychologist, social worker and psychiatric nurse. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms. Dependin…
See more on mayoclinic.org

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