There is no cure for those suffering from bipolar disorder. To make things worse, there is no "one sure" treatment or therapy that could stabilize your condition. It is a trial and error process that may take months or even years.
The two episodes of bipolar disorder will make the person either feel "high" or "low." Treatment for bipolar disorder can only be administered once the doctor identifies what may have triggered the attack. This means observing the patient for some time and in his or her absence, the person will have to write this down in a journal so this can be reviewed for analysis later on. There's that journal again. Think it's important?
The high is known as mania and here are some of the common treatments given to a patient. It is possible that the doctors will use an antipsychotic drug like benzodiazepine to quickly take control of your hostility, hyperactivity, irritability, or sleeplessness.
In some cases, mood stabilizers will also be prescribed to help control mood swings and to prevent them from happening and can even be taken by people who are at risk of committing suicide. Two of the most common around are lithium a few other anticonvulsant drugs.
Aside from medication, hospitalization may be necessary if doctors feel the patient is a threat to others or him or herself. If the situation does not improve, doctors will have no choice but to use ECT or electroconvulsive therapy.
Aside from drugs and hospitalization, there is also psychotherapy or talk therapy which enables the patient to interact with health professionals and their loved ones.
Unlike mania, depressive episodes are far more challenging and controversial. This is because the use of antidepressants may make the person experience a mania episode. In October 2004, the FDA came out saying that antidepressant drugs may increase the risk of suicidal thinking in children and teens suffering from depression.
To avoid this from happening, the doctor should carefully prescribe the dosage and then decide later on whether to increase or decrease it.
Six years ago, the American Psychiatric Association has suggested using lithium or anticonvulsant drugs like Lamictal to help patients suffering from depressive episodes. If this does not work, the doctor may recommend Zyprexa, another antipsychotic drug or something similar but tests have shown that this is only effective in varying degrees.
As a last result, the doctor may also recommend ECT or electroconvulsive therapy. Studies have shown that it has helped 75% of patients.
Again, non-drug treatments like psychotherapy can also be used to help patients experiencing depressive episodes.
The type of treatment for each patient depends on the type of bipolar disorder. If episodes are not that frequent, the best to prescribe is lithium. However if the individual experiences 4 or more mood swings in one year, then it is best to use anticonvulsant mood stabilizers.
The drugs given will not work instantly and it may take several days or weeks before they take effect. This is the reason that the doctor must observe the patient carefully together with the help of their family to determine the next course of action.
Should things workout for the better, the doctor will recommend a maintenance drug that the patient must take regularly. At times, more than one is given for best results but if things go the other way, then it is time to find a better solution.
Until such time that there is a cure of bipolar disorder, doctors and patients will have to rely on medication, psychotherapy and ECT. Given that this illness is a long-term condition, it requires lifelong treatment even when the person has not felt an episode take place after a long period of time.
Apart from the psychotherapist who is the authority figure in this matter, the patient may also seek help from psychologists, health workers, nurses and family members. The person should just keep an open mind and not lose hope because if modern medicine has been able to find cures for some illnesses, it is only a matter of time before there will also be an answer for this one.
The two episodes of bipolar disorder will make the person either feel "high" or "low." Treatment for bipolar disorder can only be administered once the doctor identifies what may have triggered the attack. This means observing the patient for some time and in his or her absence, the person will have to write this down in a journal so this can be reviewed for analysis later on. There's that journal again. Think it's important?
The high is known as mania and here are some of the common treatments given to a patient. It is possible that the doctors will use an antipsychotic drug like benzodiazepine to quickly take control of your hostility, hyperactivity, irritability, or sleeplessness.
In some cases, mood stabilizers will also be prescribed to help control mood swings and to prevent them from happening and can even be taken by people who are at risk of committing suicide. Two of the most common around are lithium a few other anticonvulsant drugs.
Aside from medication, hospitalization may be necessary if doctors feel the patient is a threat to others or him or herself. If the situation does not improve, doctors will have no choice but to use ECT or electroconvulsive therapy.
Aside from drugs and hospitalization, there is also psychotherapy or talk therapy which enables the patient to interact with health professionals and their loved ones.
Unlike mania, depressive episodes are far more challenging and controversial. This is because the use of antidepressants may make the person experience a mania episode. In October 2004, the FDA came out saying that antidepressant drugs may increase the risk of suicidal thinking in children and teens suffering from depression.
To avoid this from happening, the doctor should carefully prescribe the dosage and then decide later on whether to increase or decrease it.
Six years ago, the American Psychiatric Association has suggested using lithium or anticonvulsant drugs like Lamictal to help patients suffering from depressive episodes. If this does not work, the doctor may recommend Zyprexa, another antipsychotic drug or something similar but tests have shown that this is only effective in varying degrees.
As a last result, the doctor may also recommend ECT or electroconvulsive therapy. Studies have shown that it has helped 75% of patients.
Again, non-drug treatments like psychotherapy can also be used to help patients experiencing depressive episodes.
The type of treatment for each patient depends on the type of bipolar disorder. If episodes are not that frequent, the best to prescribe is lithium. However if the individual experiences 4 or more mood swings in one year, then it is best to use anticonvulsant mood stabilizers.
The drugs given will not work instantly and it may take several days or weeks before they take effect. This is the reason that the doctor must observe the patient carefully together with the help of their family to determine the next course of action.
Should things workout for the better, the doctor will recommend a maintenance drug that the patient must take regularly. At times, more than one is given for best results but if things go the other way, then it is time to find a better solution.
Until such time that there is a cure of bipolar disorder, doctors and patients will have to rely on medication, psychotherapy and ECT. Given that this illness is a long-term condition, it requires lifelong treatment even when the person has not felt an episode take place after a long period of time.
Apart from the psychotherapist who is the authority figure in this matter, the patient may also seek help from psychologists, health workers, nurses and family members. The person should just keep an open mind and not lose hope because if modern medicine has been able to find cures for some illnesses, it is only a matter of time before there will also be an answer for this one.
If the medication to help control your mania doesn't work, your doctor could either increase the dosage or make you start using something else. If you are looking for the newest and effective kind of treatment for bipolar disorder that was developed in the recent years, then why not read more about it at http://bipolardisorder.bestreferenceguide.com
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