Bipolar medication guide

If someone close to you has bipolar disorder, your love and support can make a difference in treatment and recovery. You can help by learning about the illness, offering hope and encouragement, keeping track of symptoms, and being a partner in treatment. But caring for a person with bipolar disorder will take a toll if you neglect your own needs, so its important to find a balance between supporting your loved one and taking care of yourself.

The role of medication in bipolar disorder treatment

If you have bipolar disorder, medication will likely be the foundation of your treatment plan. Medication can bring mania and depression under control and prevent relapse once your mood has stabilized. You may not like the idea of taking bipolar medication long term, especially if youre struggling with unpleasant side effects. But just as a diabetic needs to take insulin in order to stay healthy, taking medication for bipolar disorder will help you maintain a stable mood.

However, do not expect medication alone to solve all your problems. There are plenty of other steps you can take to manage your symptoms and reduce the amount of medication required. Medication is most effective when used in combination with other bipolar disorder treatments, including therapy, self-help coping strategies, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Tips for getting the most out of medication for bipolar disorder:
• Avoid antidepressants. The treatment for bipolar depression is different than for regular depression. In fact, antidepressants can actually make bipolar disorder worse or trigger a manic episode. Try mood stabilizers first and never take antidepressants without them, as antidepressants can trigger mania and rapid mood cycling when used on their own.
• Take advantage of natural mood stabilizers. Your lifestyle has an impact on your symptoms. If you make healthy daily choices, you may be able to reduce the amount of medication you need. Mood stabilizers that dont require a prescription include keeping a strict sleep schedule, exercising regularly, practicing relaxation techniques, and developing a solid support system.
• Add therapy to your treatment plan. Research shows that people who take medication for bipolar disorder tend to recover much faster and control their moods better if they also get therapy. Therapy gives you the tools to cope with life's difficulties, monitor your progress, and deal with the problems bipolar disorder is causing in your personal and professional life.
• Continue taking medication, even after you feel better. The likelihood of having a relapse is very high if you stop taking your bipolar medication. Suddenly stopping medication is especially dangerous. Talk to your doctor before you make any changes, even if you believe you no longer need medication. Your doctor can help you make any adjustments safely.

Finding the right bipolar disorder medication

It can take a while to find the right bipolar medication and dose. Everyone responds to medication differently, so you may have to try several bipolar disorder drugs before you find the one that works for you. Be patient, but dont settle for a bipolar medication that makes you feel lousy, either.

Once you've discovered the right bipolar disorder drug or drug cocktail, it may still take time to determine the optimal dose. In the case of mood stabilizing medications such as lithium, the difference between a beneficial dose and a toxic one is small. Continue taking your medication even after you feel better as the likelihood of having a relapse is very high. Frequent office visits to re-evaluate your bipolar medication needs and careful monitoring of symptoms and side effects will help you stay safe.

Learn about your bipolar disorder medication
When starting a new medication for bipolar disorder, educate yourself about how to take it safely. Questions to ask your doctor about any new prescription include:
• Are there any medical conditions that could be causing or exacerbating my mood swings?
• What are the side effects and risks of the medication you are recommending?
• When and how should I take this medication?
• Are there any foods or other substances I will need to avoid?
• How will this drug interact with my other prescriptions?
• How long will I have to take this medication?
• Will withdrawing from the drug be difficult if I decide to stop?
• Will my symptoms return when I stop taking the medication?

Taking medication for bipolar disorder responsibly

All prescription drugs come with risks, but if you take your bipolar disorder medications responsibly and combine them with therapy and healthy lifestyle choices, you can minimize the risks and maximize your chances of treatment success.

Take your bipolar medication as prescribed
You may be tempted to stop taking your bipolar disorder medication if you're experiencing side effects. Or conversely, you may want to stop taking your pills because you feel great and don't think you need them anymore. However, stopping maintenance medication comes with a high risk of relapse. Stopping cold turkey is even more risky.
Before you make any bipolar medication changes, talk to you doctor. If you don't like the way the drug makes you feel or if it's not working, there may be other options you can try. And if you decide that medication is not for you, your doctor can help you taper off the drugs safely.

Keep track of side effects
Track any side effects you experience. Using a log, keep a record of your symptoms, when they occur, and how bad they are. Bring the worksheet to your doctor. He or she may have suggestions for minimizing the side effects. If side effects are severe, your doctor may switch you to another drug or change your bipolar medication dose.

Be aware of potential drug interactions
You should always check for drug interactions before taking another prescription medication, over-the-counter drug, or herbal supplement. Drug interactions can cause unexpected side effects or make your bipolar disorder medication less effective or even dangerous. Mixing certain foods and beverages with your bipolar medication can also cause problems.
Talk to your doctor about special precautions for the bipolar medication or medications youre taking. You can also learn about potential interactions by reading drug labels or talking to your pharmacist.

Tips for managing bipolar disorder medications:
• Use a daily reminder/medication saver system to make sure you are taking all of the necessary medications.
• Throw away old medications or those you are no longer taking.
• Realize that medications work best when you are making other healthy choices. Dont expect a pill to fix a bad diet, lack of exercise, or an abusive or chaotic lifestyle.
• Reduce or discontinue the use of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and makes recovery even more difficult. It can also interfere with the way your medication works.

Source: https://www.helpguide.org/