what meds are best for bipolar with mania?

Question

i need to be stable.i have children.

Answer 1

Lithium (Carbolith, Duralith, Lithobid, Lithizine, Eskalith, Lithane) is one of the standard mood stabilizing drugs for bipolar disorder. Lithium is extremely helpful for most patients and it significantly reduces the rate of hospitalizations in bipolar disorder. Some studies report the following advantages of lithium:

Lithium is effective in 60 - 80% of all hypomanic and manic episodes. (Valproate may be better in patients with multiple manic episodes, mixed episodes, and rapid cycling.)
It helps to prevent relapses.
It helps psychosocial functioning.
It may help reduce the risk for suicide regardless of its effects on stabilizing mood.
It may act directly on the nerve clusters affecting the circadian rhythm and slow down the cycle of this "biologic clock." (There is some evidence that patients with bipolar disorder have a faster biologic clock.)
It works well for most patients even if they have discontinued taking it and wish to restart treatment.

Antiseizure drugs, also called anti-epileptics or anticonvulsants, affect the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps prevent nerve cells from over-firing. These drugs may be an alternative for patients (especially substance abusers) who do not tolerate or respond to lithium. They also may be used in combination with lithium, atypical antipsychotics, or other drugs.

Standard Antiseizure Drugs.

Valproate (Depakote), also called valproic acid or divalproex, is now a first option for many bipolar disorder patients. Valproate also helps migraine headaches, a common problem among patients.
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is approved for maintenance treatment of adults with bipolar I disorder. It also appears to be be better for treating bipolar depression than other mood stabilizers.
Carbamazepine (Epitol, Tegretol) is a standard alternative antiseizure drug used for mood stabilizing. In 2004, the FDA approved an extended release form of carbamazepine (Equetro). Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) is another drug that is similar to carbamezepine.

Atypical antipsychotics are standard drugs for schizophrenia. They are now proving to be beneficial for bipolar disorder when used alone or in combination with the mood stabilizers that treat mania. These drugs include clozapine (Clozaril) (the first atypical antipsychotic), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), aripiprazole (Abilify) and ziprasidone (Geodon).

Olanzapine was the first atypical antipsychotic approved for treatment of bipolar disorder. In 2000, the FDA approved it to treat bipolar mania and mixed states. In 2004, the drug became the first atypical antipsychotic approved for bipolar maintenance treatment.
Symbyax, a drug that combines olanzapine and the antidepressant fluoxetine, was approved in 2003 for treatment of bipolar depression.
Risperidone, ziprasidone, and ariprazole have been approved for treatment of bipolar mania and mixed states. Quetiapine is approved only for treatment of bipolar mania but is also being investigated for bipolar depression.
Clozapine has not yet been approved for treatment of bipolar disorder, but has shown promise in investigative studies. However, this drug has more significant side effects than other atypical antipsychotics. It poses a risk of white blood cell reduction (agranulocytosis) and has the highest risk of weight gain of all atypicals.

Antidepressants are sometimes used for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, but their use is controversial. They trigger mania in 12 - 28% of patients. In addition, a number of studies report no additional benefits from antidepressants. A 2002 study suggested that they may be helpful for patients whose depression occurs after an episode-free period (rather than after a manic or hypomanic episode.) Specific antidepressants may be beneficial in certain circumstances. However, any patient on antidepressants who develops symptoms of hypomania should stop taking these drugs, since hypomania is often a sign of impending mania. All antidepressants should be tapered off after the mood has been stabilized for a month.

Bupropion. The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) appears to pose a lower risk for triggering mania than do other antidepressants. Side effects include restlessness, agitation, sleeplessness, headache, rashes, stomach problems, and in rare cases, hallucinations and bizarre thinking. Initial weight loss occurs in about 25% of patients. High doses may cause seizures. This side effect is uncommon and tends to occur in patients with eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia) or those with risk factors for seizures.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil), are sometimes used to treat bipolar depression, but their benefits have not yet been established. They may be useful in patients whose depression does not respond to lithium; they do not appear to be useful as an add-on treatment to lithium.

Answer 2

Wow i feel for you i once lived with a Bipolar person and know a few more and grew up with my older sister being Bipolar as well (at that time they did not know what it was) some drugs make them much worse but they all had one thing in common and that is smoking pot which seemed to help the best i don't and never did smoke it so i am not saying that because i believe in it but it seemed to work the best hope this helps Michael

Answer 3

I have bipolar and have been lucky with only one medication. But, others I know have taken the same medication and haven't been that lucky. Everyone is different. And a pill won't cure everything. Therapy and other types of therapy need to be addressed as well when taking meds.

Answer 4

Lithium.
Eflexor-8.

Answer 5

Only your doctor can tell you what is best for you. I could give you a whole list of medications used for these conditions. But a doctor needs to evaluate your symptoms and decide what medications are best for you. Check out these web sites for Bipolar disease and Mania
www.webmd.com
www.medscape.com

Answer 6

That is something you would have to discuss with your doctor. One kind of medication could work great for one person, and not help the other at all. Doctors sometimes try different ones until they find one that works. A lot of people don't like the way some medications make them feel, it's all about finding the right one.

Answer 7

My daughter was diagnosed at 17 and lithium worked for almost 10 years for her. In her 30 s and now 40 s so has had to adjust her meds multiple times along with ECT. Recently she was able to ween herself off of all but three drugs, lithium being one of them. She remained stable for 6 months and then she started to have trouble sleeping and lots of anxiety. Unfortunately, she has had to restart clozapine which she feels makes one feel like a walking zombie. It is a day to day battle for those suffering from any form of mental illness. Seeing her continue to fight this demon, makes me extremely proud to call her my daughter.

Answer 8

we are all different depending on too many factors to name

I take lithium, wellbutrin and lexapro

it has been working for a long time now

good luck and listen to your doctor, don't fight the meds they will help you keep your sanity in the end

Answer 9

There is no one med that is best for everyone. What works for me, may not work for you.

Paxil and Zoloft are the most popular. Again, they may or may not work for you.

Answer 10

Lithium.

Answer 11

hello my daughter has had the best luck with a medication called geodon. she is 23 and was diagnosed at 16 best of luck to you