do you know the most commonly prescribed meds for people with bi-polar disorder?

Question

a family member has bi-polar disorder and i was wondering what kind of medication they take.

Answer 1

This is an endless list. There are many off-label uses for different medication when it comes to bipolar disorder. Since Bipolar Disorder is so complex, particularly when it comes to symptoms, there are many medications that have made there way onto the scene;

Mood Stabilizers
Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal

Antidepressants
Lexapro, prozac, paxil, effexor

Anti-convulsants
Tegretol, Topamax

Anxiolytics
Xanax, clonazepam, valium

Answer 2

There are so many medicines for bi polar disorder-usually one is started
> on a mood stabiliser, like lithium, the old stand by. Originally, many of
> these mood stabilisers were first used to prevent seizures in epileptics,
> but they also have mood stablising effects. Valproic acid is usually used
> in epilepsy, but is also used for the treatment of bipolar disorder,
> especially acute mania. There are two forms of this: valproic acid
> (Depakote) and the slightly more expensive divalproex sodium form,
> (Depakene). Then there's carbamazepine (Tegretol). Other newer drugs used
> for anticonvulsants/mood stabilisers include drugs that are GABA
> stimulators: Neurontin (gabapentin), valproic acid (mentioned earlier),
> Gabatril (tiagabine), Sabril (vigabatrin), and several others. GABA
> stimulators tend to cause sleepiness. The anticonvlulsants that inhibit
> glutamate tend to cause stimulation and anxiety. Medications in this
> catagory include Felbatol (felbamate), Lamictal (lamotrigine), Topamax
> (topiramate), and several others. Sometimes more than one anticonvulsant
> is used.

> Then there are the antipsychotics, like Zyprexa (olanzapine). Then there
> are the benzodiazepines, like Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, etc. which help
> reduce anxiety. Klonopin also has anticonvulsant actions, so this may be
> the best choice amongst the benzo. drugs.

> Sometimes an anticonvulsant is combined with an antidepressant, such as
> Effexor (venlafaxine), or Wellbutrin (bupropion). I've read of some people
> that have said Effexor worked very well for a while, then they had a
> manic-episode while on it, so they had to stop taking it.

Answer 3

Thorazine, Lithium & Prozac are 3 of the most commonly used medications for Bi-polar disorder.

Answer 4

Lithium. Many people with Bi-polar disorder are deficient in this mineral. At least that is what my doctor told me. But I am one of the few that have trouble taking any medication.

Answer 5

i have been on several of them. seroquel is what i've used for about three years and works fine against acute panic disorder and generalized anxiety and depression. Begin with 25 mg (expect to get very sleepy) and then youwill eventually work your way up to 200 mg tabs and they won't interfere with your life at all. Effexor is okay too, but not nearly as powerful. zoloft is the most mild drug i've been perscribed, and perhaps, you should start with zoloft because you won't 'notice' it as much.

the two drugs which I've been on and would NOT recommend are Depakote and Abilify (which is obviously the brand name). They were very unplesant. best wishes!

Answer 6

I don't know why people haven't mentioned this, but Seroquel is a very common med for bi-polar disorder. I take it for sleep, because it makes you very sleepy.

Answer 7

well I'm no Physician, but I have alot of personal experience instead. There's prozac, paxil, zoloft, effexor, lexapro, wellbutrin, celexa, pamelor, and a bunch more that would take some time to sit here and tell you. The person taking the meds and the dr. treating them should know more than anyone.

Answer 8

Depakote, Geodon, Lithium carbonate

Answer 9

GENERIC NAME
TRADE NAME

carbamazepine
Tegretol

divalproex sodium
Depakote

lithium carbonate
Eskalith

lithium carbonate
Lithane

lithium carbonate
Lithobid

lithium citrate
Cibalith-S

and the list grows everyday

Answer 10

I have bipolar disorder and I've taken risperadal which is an anti-psychotic (helps with voices and hallucinations), but my mood stablizer is Lamictal. Other drugs include lithium, seraquel, and lorazapan.