Bipolar Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bipolar - Assignment Example There are certain forms of medication that are used to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder It is important to note that, bipolar has different types of medications that can help control its symptoms. However, not every patient with bipolar disorder responds to medications in a similar manner. This means that doctors could prescribe different medications before coming to the ones that work best for a particular patient. The types of medications generally used in the treatment of bipolar disorder include atypical antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and antidepressants (Grunze, et.al, 2013). Mood stabilizers are normally the first choice in the treatment of bipolar. Patients with bipolar generally use mood stabilizers for years. There are several mood stabilizers that are good for people with bipolar. First, lithium also known as Lithobid or Eskalith is an effective mood stabilizer for bipolar patients. It treats both manic and depressive episodes. However, lithium could have side effects including restlessness, bloating, dry mouth, acne and joint and muscle pain among other side effects. The doctor should first check the amount of lithium in the body before prescribing the medication. Secondly, anticonvulsants are also used as stabilizers for people with bipolar disorder. They help control moods. Examples of anticonvulsants include Valproic acid, Lamotrigine, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine and topiramate. However, anticonvulsants could have side effects including drowsiness, headache, dizziness, heartburn, constipation and mood swings (McCance & Huether, 2010). Atypical antipsychotics are used to treat the symptoms of bipolar, however, not all the time. They are prescribed among other medications such as antidepressants and they include olanzapine, aripiprazole and quetiapine. These also have side effects that include dizziness, drowsiness, sensitivity to the sun, menstrual problems for women and rapid heartbeat