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With the advancements in medicine and psychiatry in recent decades, bipolar disorder treatments have come a long way. Not only in medication, but in therapy as well, and even diagnosis.Below, we’ll list some of the more popular drugs used to help treat bipolar disorder, as well as their side effects.
Tegretol (carbamazepine)Perhaps the most popular bipolar medication, even though it does not have FDA approval in the US. Tegretol is used to stabilize mood. The side effects are mostly physical, rather than emotional, and they include, most commonly, dry mouth, constipation, decreased sense of taste, dizziness, impaired urination, indigestion, diarrhea, and vomiting. In rare cases, individuals experienced clumsiness, excess of body fluids, skin rash, double vision, and cardiovascular complications.
It should be noted that side effects are not considered the norm, rather, they are what might occur if your body disagrees with a medication. Tegretol has been shown to have an adverse effect when coupled with Prozac, Luvox or lithium.Tegretol should not be taken with MAOIs, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and is not intended for women who are nursing or pregnant.Periodic blood count monitoring is mandatory when taking Tegretol.
Lamictal (lamotrigine) Lamictal is used as a mood stabilizer and antidepressant. Side effects may include weight gain, hair loss, dizziness, sleepiness, rash, vomiting, double vision, dizziness, headaches, unsteadiness and nausea.Lamictal can be safely taken with MAOIs, but taking Lamictal and Tegritol at the same time may be detrimental.
Neorontin (gabapentin) Proven to be an effective mood stabilizer. Side effects may include weight gain, hair loss, sleepiness, unsteadiness, rapid involuntary eye movement, double vision, and tremors.Neorontin is specifically effective against mania, and is recommended for four times a day dosage.Neorontin has not been reported to interact negatively with any drug as of yet.
Topamax (topiramate) Topamax has been shown as being effective against manic depression. Studies have shown Topamax to actually help people lose weight, though it can cause certain cognitive side effects, including dizziness, sleepiness, vision problems, speech problems, slowing motor sckills, prickly sensations, nervousness, nausea, memory problems, tremors, confusion, and unsteadiness. Topamax can interact with most other drugs safely, though it has been shown to lower plasma levels when used with Depakote or Tegretol.
ABS-103 ABS-103 is in preclinical phases right now. It is being tested as a treatment against mania, as well as epilepsy and migraine headaches. Early studies have shown the drug to be as effective as Depakote with fewer side effects.
Zyprexa Originally intended as a drug to treat schizophrenia, Zyprexa was actually turned down by the FDA as a potential bipolar drug, recently. However, Zyprexa has been shown to be effective as an antimanic medication.The most notable side effect is weight gain, which can serve to discourage users from adhering to the medication.
Seroquel Studies remain inconclusive regarding Seroquel (a schizophrenia medication) and it’s potential as an anti-bipolar drug.
Substance P-blockers Substance P Blockers are a fairly new development within medicine. It is said to show promise with regulating mood. The drug derives its name from how it works. Substance P Blockers work by blocking the brain chemical known as, of course, Substance P.
Substance P was originally discovered in the early twentieth century, and chemicals to block Substance P have always been experimental with limited success in treating chronic pain, migraine headaches, anxiety and even asthma.Recently, a new substance P blocker called MK-869 has been shown effective, and with less side effects than Paxil.
Do Not Experiment! We should stress here that you should not self-medicate. Do not try any psychiatric medications without a doctor’s prescription. You are a human being, not a guinea pig, do not experiment on yourself. |
