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Bipolar Disorder / Manic-Depression treatment

Description

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by extreme mood swings that involve anxiety and depression. People suffering from bipolar disorder experience anxiety and excitement during the manic phase, which can sometimes turn into violent behavior and extreme depression during the depressive phase which can result in suicide.

Causes

Heredity where genetic material is passed down from parents to children and people with a family history of bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of inheriting the condition; abnormal levels of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter is also considered responsible for causing bipolar disorder; prolonged cocaine abusers are found to suffer from this condition, therefore chronic drug abuse especially c View more...

Prevention

While it might not be possible to completely prevent bipolar disorder from occurring or recurring, one can effectively control the factors triggering bipolar disorder and thereby decrease its effect; and some of the factors that can prevent the extent of bipolar disorder are
Eating a balanced diet; establishing an exercise routine including aerobics; dance; etc; curbing the use/abuse of recreati View more...

Common Symptoms

The characteristic features of bipolar disorder are highly dramatic mood swings marked by extremely contrasting phases comprising of a manic phase and a depressive phase:
The manic phase is characterized by: high levels of irritation; euphoria; excessive talking; speeding thought patterns; glorified sense of self; high levels of energy; insomnia; hyperactivity like high-speed driving; reckless dr View more...

Rare Symptoms

Physical violent behavior during the manic phase and attempted suicide or suicide during the depressive phase.

Traditional Treatment

Lithium; anticonvulsant drugs like carbamazepines like Tegretol; valproates; antidepressants like SSRIs like citalopram (Celexa); Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex); Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat); Fluoxetine (Prozac); Fluvoxamine (Luvox); Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral). MAOIs like Isocarboxazid (Marplan); Moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix);
Phenelzine (Nardil); Selegiline (L-Deprenyl); (Eldepryl, Zelapar, View more...

Alternative Treatment

Diet high in vitamin C, folic acid, vitamins B3, 6, and 12, omega-3 fatty acids help combat the depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder.’
Herbal remedies: St John's Wort; 5-HTP; SAM-e; Inositol; Gingko Biloba.
Homeopathic remedies: Aurum Metallicum; Anacardium Orientale; Hyoscyamus Niger; Lachesis Mutus; Pulsatilla; Staphysagria; Stramonium; and Tarentula Hispana.

Treatment Comparison

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Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Abilify	7.12	5.98	4.82	8
Lithium Carbonate	5.78	5.88	5.46	9
Seroquel	5.55	6.56	6.12	11
Lamictal	4.27	5.16	4.63	11
Depakote	3.91	4.16	5.8	11
Nortriptyline Hydrochloride	0	0	0	0

View All	About these Scores
	Choose a condition to compare treatments based on user feedback. You can sort by Effectiveness, Holistic Benefits or Side Effects RateADrug user scores, or the number of Ratings. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close