Choosing the correct medicine for bipolar disorder requires the intervention of qualified specialists since different drugs may have adverse effects. While drug administration for the treatment of the bipolar disorder is typically a first-line intervention, there is no universally effective drug. For Chicago bipolar disorder treatment, be sure to contact the providers at Uptown Psych. Your doctor will prescribe certain medications based on your medical history, adverse effects, and severity of the symptoms. Before seeking treatment for bipolar disorder, however, there are medications your doctor may prescribe for specific bipolar symptoms.
Severe manic psychosis
This condition is the worst form of the bipolar condition, as your safety may be at risk. Management and behavior control often requires sedation with a benzodiazepine to treat acute psychotic episodes.
Severe acute condition
If you have bipolar disorder with fewer complications or underlying issues, your doctor may prescribe lithium to treat depressive episodes, mood swings, and emotional highs.
Since the onset of bipolar is gradual, the symptoms are notable within the first ten days. Here, your doctor may also prescribe a second-generation antipsychotic or an anticonvulsant. If you have depression, the doctor may use the anticonvulsant, Lamotrigine, to treat the condition.
With bipolar depression, you can also be treated with Quetiapine or Lurasidone, or a combination of Olanzapine and Fluoxetine.
Administration of lithium
Lithium is administered at least three times a day and depends on your tolerance level and blood vessels. Within five days, your doctor may determine a stable dose for your condition.
During maintenance therapy, the target drug levels are lower. Higher maintenance levels protect against manic episodes but not depression, as they can result in adverse effects. Older patients are generally given lower doses than younger patients since their kidneys may not be in the best condition.
Remission
Should you experience a remission of symptoms, your doctor can use mood stabilizers to manage and help prevent the condition. Bipolar is the presence of either partial or full manic or depressive episodes.
If the episodes recur, the specialist may render maintenance therapy to determine your level of adherence. The doctor can then assess whether the adherence occurred before or after the remission.
Further investigations are done to evaluate the reason for the lack of adherence, with the findings helping the doctor decide whether switching to different medicine or simply changing the prescription can make the treatment more effective.
Mixed conditions
Most bipolar patients respond well to lithium to reduce depressive episodes and mood swings. Depending on the combination of mood stabilizers or lithium, however, there have been breakthroughs in people with mixed conditions. For instance, it works well for people with more than four mixed or manic episodes per year, as well as those with a combination of anxiety, a neurological disorder, or substance abuse.
Side effects of medication
It should be noted that lithium can cause cognitive impairment and sedation, however. Other complications include weight gain, diarrhea, fasciculation, weight gain, and subtle tremor. These are often temporary and may respond well when you reduce the dosage slightly.
After establishing the right dosage, you can take a full one before going to bed, with such medicines improving adherence. Your doctor might also prescribe a beta-blocker to control violent tremors.
In short, bipolar disorder can be treated with proper medication. Just work with your doctor to make sure they have the information needed to choose the right medicine depending on previous interventions and your specific tolerance level. Contact the experts at Uptown Psych for evaluation and treatment.