What are the Medications to treat bipolar disorder?

A variety of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. They include:

  • medications used as mood stabilizers (e.g., lithium, certain anticonvulsants)
  • medications used to treat psychotic symptoms (antipsychotics)
  • medications used to treat other specific symptoms, such as anxiety and insomnia (benzodiazepines and sedative hypnotics)

In general, lithium and certain anticonvulsants are used as first-line treatment for acute manic episodes and as maintenance therapy.

Antipsychotics are used as adjunctive therapy in severe cases where psychosis is present or as a sedative to treat insomnia, anxiety, and agitation. In addition, recent research has indicated a role for the newer atypical antipsychotics as mood stabilizers.

Benzodiazepines are anxiolytic (antianxiety) drugs that can be used as adjuvant therapy for people with agitation or insomnia.

Antidepressants may be used in combination with a mood stabilizer for treatment of major depressive episodes. However, antidepressants must be used with care. If bipolar depression is misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, the use of antidepressants alone may induce mania or rapid cycling.