Manic Depression Medications

Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is a chronic illness that can cause wide mood swings ranging from emotional highs to lows. The cause is not known, and therapy has been aimed at treating the symptoms. Lithium has been used for many years to reduce the symptoms of the highs (called mania) seen with bipolar disorder. A number of other drugs are used in combination with lithium as mood stabilizers. Carbamazepine (also known as Tegretol), valproate (also known as Depakote) and a growing number of anticonvulsant drugs are used as mood stabilizers along with lithium. More recently, psychiatrists have begun to prescribe newer antipsychotic drugs, referred to as atypical antipsychotics. Examples include Zyprexa, Risperdal and Abilify, which have been studied in both adults and children with bipolar disorder. These drugs work in some but not in all people with bipolar disorder.