Posts Tagged ‘Lithium’

All About Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Bipolar disorder treatment is not new. Men of medicine were treating for it before they even knew what it was. Yet every year new medications and methodologies are added to the bipolar disorder treatment.

Although first recognized in the second century A.D., bipolar disorder has struggled as a diagnosis to become accepted. Bipolar disorder treatment up to and through the 1960′s, if any, was usually comprised of either locking the patient away or leaving him or her to fend for him or herself.

In the 1970′s manic-depression, as it was then called, began to become seen as an accepted diagnosis and therefore, bipolar disorder treatment began in earnest. At that time, laws were enacted and standards set to help those who sought bipolar disorder treatment.

In bipolar disorder treatment, the first thought may be the use of medications. They are, actually, a powerful tool in the management of the disorder. One only needs look at the vast array of medications that is available to see that medication has been extensively used in bipolar disorder treatment.

Lithium carbonate was the first major breakthrough in the medications for bipolar disorder treatment. It belongs to a class of medications called “mood stabilizers”. These medications help to prevent or ease manic episodes. They also help to ward off the extremes of depression, such as suicide.

Bipolar disorder treatment may also include the use of other mood stabilizers that were originally used as anticonvulsants. These have been shown to have a great effect on mood. Some of these, such as valproic acid and carbamazepine, are tried and true. Lamotrigine, gabapentin, and topiramate have also been used for this purpose but not conclusively proven effective.

Caution must be taken in the use of antidepressant therapy as a part of bipolar disorder treatment. Mood stabilizers are usually tried first, because antidepressants can trigger manic episodes or rapid-cycling. If an antidepressant must be used, there are certain ones which are less likely to cause these problems. One of these is bupropion.

The treatment of psychotic symptoms has evolved quickly in modern times. At first, there were powerful anti-psychotics. The first of these were said to put the mind in a “mental strait-jacket”. They virtually stopped all thought. They also had an intense side effects known as tardive dyskinesia. This causes permanent neurological damages. Researchers, then were trying to find alternatives that would cause less, or even no, damage in bipolar disorder treatment.

Other anti-psychotics were tried, and found to have fewer neurological effects. The newest of these medications are actually relatively safe when used as prescribed. They are also very helpful in bipolar disorder treatment both in psychotic episodes and even in simple mania. Some of the newer ones are risperidone and olanzapine.

Talk therapy is also used in bipolar disorder treatment. It can be useful to help a person to recognize and deal with symptoms of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help a person to identify destructive patterns of thinking and behavior, and help him or her to act in ways that will have a positive influence on his or her disease process.

Other types of talk therapy are used in bipolar disorder treatment to help a person to deal with the devastating consequences of the illness and to explore the history of that person’s disease. Talk therapy has been used successfully in bipolar disorder treatment.

All of these components constitute a lifelong process. Medication and talk therapy can contribute to effective bipolar disorder treatment today. No one knows what science will bring to bipolar disorder treatment in the future.

Bipolar Disorder Types – Useful Facts Revealed

There are various types of Bipolar Disorders which differ. Doctors are able to distinguish one type from another as there are specialised categories for the Bipolar Disorders. This helps them to discuss with their patient what problems they are having. Hypomania belongs to the family of Bipolar disorders and is usually overlooked. The reason for this is that hypomania does not a cause a problem for many, so usually treatment is not sought after beacause it is not needed. It can in fact help a person as they can think faster, which makes them more outgoing and optimistic about the future.

Bipolar I is the most common disorder associated with Bipolar Disorders. Included in this group are those who alternate from states of mania to depression. Those who suffer from Bipolar I can have a high opinion of themself one moment then swing the opposite way, having little or no consideration for themselves. They also alternate from having periods of fast paced activity which can seem strange and outrageous, to lows where they feel desperate with thoughts of wishing to die.

Bipolar I is thought to be the most difficult to treat. It is useful to treat patients with anticonvulsants or such mood stabilisers like lithium. With depression or mania in particular, a person can sometimes have a psychosis, so they will need to be prescribed antipsychotic medication, so the patient can be brought back to reality.

It is very difficult to treat depression in someone who has Bipolar I. If a person has a tendency to become manic, antidepressants may be dangerous for them. They can trigger a cycle of alternating from depression to mania in a seemingly short time, and then back again, a problem that is prevalent in Bipolar I, of all the disorders.

Another type of Bipolar Disorder is Dual Diagnosis. This is where a Bipolar Disorder is combined with alcohol and or including drug abuse. Often a person will have started with a Bipolar Disorder, and undiagnosed, then gone on to either alcohol or drug abuse which would mask the problems of the underlying illness.

Substance abuse is usually taken on by a person with a Bipolar Disorder to help with any symptoms they feel. A person may seem to overcome depression by taking some sort of stimulant, and similarly alcohol, can act as a depressant, by lessening overactivity in someone who is manic, as an example. What these people don’t realise is that alcohol and drugs will eventually make their problems worse, and they end up with more severe episodes. For a person with a Bipolar Disorder, they need to avoid these substances as an answer to their problems.

Major Depression, or MDD, is one of the less obvious Bipolar Disorders. A person is depressed most of the time whilst they are ill, and may have minor or short episodes of mania. As depression dominates their lives, sufferers life is very difficult and the future looks grey, unrewarding and often at times become very unbearable. The periods of depression can last for months, and for some people it may be a number of years.

Most people respond well by being treated with antidepressants, some form of talk therapy and even exercise. Treatment is less complicated as there is not much chance of a manic episode, so there is less of a risk.

As there are many Bipolar Disorders, there are many treatments available for the differing disorders. It is tricky to marry the correct treatment for each patient, and to encourage them to take their medications. There are sometimes undesireable side effects which may require a change in medication or something to counteract it. Having all these disorders categorised makes it easier for doctors and other professionals to help those suffering from this type of mental illness.

The Most Popular Bipolar Drugs

Lithium, Valproate, and Carbamazepine are three of the most common drugs prescribed for those with bipolar disease. What are the differences between them and which is best for you?

Lithium

Lithium is commonly known as the first mood stabilizer. Although it was discovered in 1817, it was not until much later in the century that it was found to have mood stabilizing properties, specifically anti-manic capabilities. By 1969 it was the preferred method of treating manic depression.

It is not known exactly how lithium works with the brain to stabilize moods. It’s theorized that those afflicted with bipolar disease have a chemical imbalance in the part of the brain that controls emotions and that lithium helps to restore the correct balance.

Today, lithium is usually the first drug treatment attempted when treating bipolar disorder. It is especially effective if there is a family history of bipolar disorder. If a family history does not exist, Lithium tends to be less effective and other treatments may be attempted instead.

Recently, because of its toxicity and other negative effects, some medical professionals have begun to shy away from prescribing lithium.

Valproate

In the United States, valproate is the second most popular drug used to fight bipolar disorder. This seems to be mainly a direct result of the many lithium side effects and concerns. Even among doctors that prefer lithium as a first choice, valproate is usually a strong second choice. Also, as mentioned above, lithium is not always effective for treating bipolar disorder. In these cases, valproate is often considered a good alternative treatment.

Although lithium and valproate appear to have similar efficacy in treating bipolar disorder, there have been no head to head clinical trials between the two so a definitive conclusion cannot be reached. However, because valproate is less stressful to the human body, this may be a natural drug preference for some.

A second concern with using valproate is that while it has been proven to be effective against bipolar mania, it has been less effective against bipolar depression.

Carbamazepine

In Europe, carbamazepine, introduced in the early 1960s, is the second most popular drug used for treating bipolar disorder. Although, studies have proven it to be effective for bipolar disorder, it has not been approved worldwide.

And as with the drug valproate, carbamazepine while effective for treating bipolar mania, has also been less effective at treating bipolar depression.

Conclusion

Of the top three drugs used to fight bipolar disease, they all seem to be relatively equal in treating bipolar mania. However, when it comes to treating bipolar depression and in reducing feelings of suicide, lithium appears to have the clear edge.

Unfortunately, many of the studies that current bipolar treatment is based on are 15 or more years old and are very much out of date.

Fortunately, the scientific community, recognizing this, is becoming more interested in studying new treatments for bipolar mania. There are many medical trials underway that will test the potential for a new class of bipolar drugs and hopefully lead to much needed help for families dealing with this emotional wrenching disease.