How are are the medications for bipolar disorder?

Bipolar: Mood stabilizers such as lithium, lamictal, depakote, tegretol. Also psychotropics such as abilify, seroquel, risperdal, geodon (ziprasidone). Also antidepressants cautiously for depressed phases. Also anti-anxiety medications such as Ativan for agitation.

They're Effective: There are two main classes of drugs used to treat bipolar d/o-the mood stabilizers & the anti-psychotics. Older drugs are called a 1st generation antipsychotics. The newer, 2nd generation antipsychotics tend to have fewer side-effects, especially for a condition called: tardive dyskinesia. There are few differences in effectiveness between the 1st and 2nd generations. Some folks need combinations.

Bipolar Medications: Mood stabilizers, as referred to in my previous response are the main ones for mood cycling. Antipsychotics are for manic phase with psychotic symptoms or the depressed phase with psychoses. Antidepressants are used cautiously in severe depressed phases, and sedating agents are used for aggression or agitation.

Mood stabilizers: Mood stabilizers are used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium and depakote would be two examples of mood stabilizers but there are others, depending on symptoms, and depending on what works for the patient.