Bipolar Illness

Posted by Rinda on 01/07/2009

Bipolar Illness Medication

By Rinda Ismar

Bipolar illness is classified as a mood disorder, a condition whereby the prevailing emotional mood is distorted or inappropriate to the circumstances. Bipolar illness is generally seen as an adult disorder that typically starts in adolescence. Bipolar illness is underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Bipolar illness is more common in families. It is estimated that 50% of bipolar patients have a parent with some kind of mood problem that requires treatment.  Bipolar illness is relatively common in the migraine population.
Patients with mild bipolar episodes may be able to function adequately during a period in which they demonstrate most of the symptoms of a manic episode. In such cases, factors such as psychological coping mechanisms, social supports, and socioeconomic status influence the outcome as much as response to medication. Patients spend a disproportionate amount of their time in either full-blown major depressive states or subclinical dysphoric conditions that are very painful and disabling; depression is also, of course, the road to fatality and suicide.
Treatment directed primarily at controlling and preventing mania or substance abuse can fail to tackle depressive symptoms. A recent survey of over 7,500 bipolar patients presented at the 2007 American Psychiatric Association meeting shows over half of bipolar patients treated between 2001 and 2004 received an antidepressant drug alone as their initial therapy.
Medication, especially lithium has been successful in addressing body chemistry imbalance, which is seen as a common cause. Research is currently underway to find a gene for the disease and this may spark new treatments in the future. Medications consist primarily of mood stabilizers, such as lithium and valproic acid, that moderate the intensity of mood swings. The most extensively studied mood-stabilizing agent is lithium, which is often the first choice of treatment for bipolar affective disorder.
Lithium salts have been used to treat adult bipolar disorder for nearly 50 years and remain the treatment of choice for acute mania. In addition, lithium is a first-line treatment for preventing subsequent manic episodes (Keltner & Folks, 1997). Lithium and Depakote can result in hair loss, weight gain, and acne - huge issues for kids. Many Depakote users also had polycystic ovary syndrome to contend with.
The mood stabilizers (such as sodium valproate) are beneficial for many of the bipolar patients, both for moods and for headache.
Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, restlessness, or extreme hyperactivity. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have thoughts of suicide or if any of these symptoms are severe or occur suddenly.

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings

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