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Signs and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

April 9th, 2009 | Add a Comment

Thanks to aggressive media campaigns from the pharmaceutical companies, public awareness of bipolar disorder has been raised significantly. However, television and radio spots are limited in the information they can convey. So, while more people have become aware of bipolar disorder, they may not truly understand what exactly the condition is and what the common bipolar symptoms and bipolar medication are.

First, it is important to understand the basic bipolar symptoms and bipolar medications before delving on the whole issue of bipolar. A brief overview of bipolar illness and its medication is provided.

One of the most basic signs of bipolar disorder is the extremes of highs and lows also called swinging of moods. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a persons mood, energy, and ability to function. In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, and significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized. Depending on each individual, episodes of mania or depression can take weeks or months, while for others, mood swings are shorter but more frequent. Below is a brief overview of bipolar disorder and its symptoms:

Manic Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder

-Being excessively irritable these people experience delusions of grandeur and euphoric feelings of being “high” that can lead to overly optimistic.

-Being unusually energetic to the point it can create difficulties concentrating, sleeping, or making adequate judgment decisions. Speech can also come so rapid that it becomes difficult for people to understand what is being said.

-Racing thoughts travel through the mind so fast that ideas move from one to the other with little coherence.

-Sufferers may go on spending sprees or engage in behavior that is quite abnormal for them.

Bipolar Disorder Depressed Symptoms

-Extremely low energy levels combined with feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or despair.

-Usually these people are very tired and quickly irritated, and do not have any sleeping patterns whatsoever.

-Excess shame or guilt pervades one’s thoughts.

-Eat a lot or hardly eating anything (from one extreme to the other).

-Always contemplating suicide.

Medicine for Bipolar

There is no standard, uniformed combination of bipolar medication that will deliver the same results in different patients when it comes to the pharmaceutical treatments of bipolar disorder. To aid in the calming effects of bipolar disorder, however, there is a finite pool of drugs that are utilized. Included in these drugs are anti anxiety, mood stabilizers/anti-psychotic and anti depressants drugs.

To help raise the individuals mood and energy levels, anti-depressants are prescribed. Wellbutrin, Effexor and Zoloft with other anti-depressant medicines are the most prescribed drugs given to patients with bipolar.

In terms of anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers, Lithium, Seroquel, Risperdal, and Geocodon are among the most commonly prescribed. These prescriptions help “tone down” the manic components of the condition. This can greatly restore help calm the patient down and reduce dangerous, impetuous actions.

Anti-anxiety drugs have fallen out of favor with some psychiatrists as a treatment for bipolar disorder. However, there are still many doctors that prescribe it to bring down excessive highs and panic attacks. Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin.

Drugs that are prescribed to patients are given in different dosages and combinations. To determine whether the treatment should be modified or continued; monthly visits to the doctors is highly advised.

About the Author:

Ken P Doyle has had a keen interest in the study of Bipolar Disorder for many years. For more information on his findings, notably in Bipolar Symptoms and Bipolar Medication, check his online web site today.