Medications commonly used to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder
are called mood stabilizers, and they include lithium (Eskalith or
Lithobid) and divalproex sodium (Depakote).
* Lithium has long been used as a first line treatment for acute
mania in people with bipolar disorder. Lithium is effective for
preventing episodes of mania from occurring and for treating an episode
after it has begun. However, for some individuals, lithium is
ineffective and for others, lithium has a variety of side effects that
may make it an undesirable treatment option.
* Depakote is an anticonvulsant that has been used to treat
epilepsy since 1983, but it was approved as a treatment for manic
episodes of bipolar disorder in 1995. Depakote seems to be as effective
as lithium for treating mania and it has fewer side effects, although it
may not be appropriate for people with a history of liver problems.
* Other anticonvulsant medications have also been used to treat
mania, including lamotrigine (Lamictal) which was approved by the Food
and Drug Administration for treatment of bipolar disorder.
* These anticonvulsant medications include carbamazepine
(Tegretol) and topiramate (Topamax). However, these two medications have
not been officially approved by the FDA for the treatment of bipolar
disorder and have their own side effects.
* Mania may also be treated acutely with antipsychotic
medications. This class of medications includes Olanzapine (Zyprexa),
which is FDA approved for the treatment of acute mania.
According to a 1992 article by Williams and Wilkins published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease over one-quarter of the individuals with psychiatric...
Mental Health Basics Medications used to treat mania. Medications commonly used to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder are called mood stabilizers, and...
Mental Health Basics Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, involves overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social ...
Mental Health Basics The onset of the first episode of major depression may not be obvious if it is gradual or mild. The symptoms of major depression ...
Mental Health Basics Borderline Personality Disorder is a severe, chronic, disabling, and potentially lethal psychiatric condition. People who suffer with this...
Mental Health Basics Eating is controlled by many factors, including appetite, food availability, family, peer, and cultural practices, and attempts at ...
Mental Health Basics TYPES OF DEPRESSION Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. This...
Mental Health Basics Holiday Depression & Stress The holiday season is a time full of joy, cheer, parties, and family gatherings. However, for many people, it...
Mental Health Basics What Is the Course of Bipolar Disorder? Episodes of mania and depression typically recur across the life span. Between episodes, most...
Mental Health Basics Timeline History tells us that mental illness has existed since early times of civilization. While we are still learning much about...
Mental Health Basics Antisocial Personality Disorder A person with this disorder shows a lack of concern for the rules and expectations of society, and...
Mental Health Basics Schizoaffective Disorder Psychiatrists use the term schizoaffective disorder to describe people who have prominent features of both a mood...
Mental Health Basics Schizoaffective disorder Schizoaffective disorder symptoms look like a mixture of two kinds of major mental illnesses that are usually...
Mental Health Basics There are four major dissociative disorders: Dissociative amnesia Dissociative identity disorder Dissociative fugue Depersonalization...
Mental Health Basics Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals you feel you can't control. If you have OCD, you may be...
Mental Health Basics PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME Q: What is Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)? A: PWS is a complex genetic disorder that typically causes low muscle tone,...
Mental Health Basics <http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe06.html> Histrionic Personality Disorder A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and...
Mental Health Basics Definition Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder of involuntary movements caused by long-term use of antipsychotic or neuroleptic...
Mental Health Basics Schizophrenia is a chronic and often debilitating mental illness. The disease can cause you to withdraw from the people and activities in...
Mental Health Basics Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability...
Mental Health Basics Williams Syndrome Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic condition whose clinical manifestations include a distinct facial appearance,...
Mental Health Basics Capgras (Delusion) Syndrome Capgras Syndrome, named for its discoverer, the French psychiatrist Jean Marie Joseph Capgras. The person's...
What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome? Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening, neurological disorder most often caused by an adverse reaction to...
Mental Health Basics Wernicke's aphasia Description: The aphasia syndrome, as described by Wernicke in 1908, consists of loss of comprehension of spoken...
Mental Health Basics Shared Psychotic Disorder Shared psychotic disorder is a very rare condition in which people close to a mentally ill person share his or...
Mental Health Basics Schizophreniform Disorder Schizophreniform Disorder is characterized by the presence of the symptoms of schizophrenia, including...
Adjustment Disorders An adjustment disorder is a debilitating reaction, usually lasting less than six months, to a stressful event or situation. The ...
Having problems with message search?
Fill out this form to ensure your group is one of the first to be migrated to the new message search system.
Offline 
Send Email