Thursday, July 30, 2009

Type Of Bipolar Medication

By Anne Durrell

Bipolar treatment is needed on a frequently basis and it is generally part of a lifelong medication of the disorder. Medication is the best thing to do for keeping the warning signs at bay since there is no cure for bipolar.

Importance of Bipolar Medication

Bipolar medication will help a person with the disorder to elevate symptoms so they can live a normal life. Medication is usually combined with therapy to provide an overall treatment of the disorder.

If the disorder stops taking their medicine, though, it is very much likely that warning signs will return swiftly. The disorder should never go off their medication without consulting with the doctor.

Types of Medication Used

Bipolar syndrome is a mood disorder, which is characterize by the mood changes from very highs to very lows and Lithium is the common meds used for the disorders.

Occasionally, anti seizures and anti depressants medications are used, but generally, though, moos stabilizers are the very first thing and tried before other therapy.

It is very important for doctor to explain that the medication may take some time to work since it can take as long as two weeks for the mood stabilizing med to start working.

Lithium Medication

Since lithium is the most commonly used drug, and the oldest drug used, there is a lot known about how it works. It is generally very safe and any issues with the medication are caught quickly.

Here are the common side effects from lithium:

* Fatigue

* Bad Diarrhea

* Nausea

* Numerous urination

* Tremors

* Over weight

The bipolar medication used will be chosen based on the individual patient. In some people bipolar does not cause major mood swings, but rather the episodes are severe.

In those people, the depressive episodes are usually most severe and that is when a patient would be treated with an anti depressant. In general, though, a doctor will observe the patient's mood swings to see what the best bipolar medications would be.

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