Joseph Calabrese, M.D., University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Question: What classes of medication are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder?
Answer: So when treating folks who have bipolar disorder, the biggest class of course is mood stabilizers -- medicines like lithium, or some of the anticonvulsants, or some of the atypical antipsychotic agents.
But there are other medicines as well. Not infrequently, a traditional antidepressant needs to be added to a mood stabilizer. However it's very important to recognize that the treatment of bipolar disorder with just a traditional antidepressant is almost never adequate, and that when these medicines are used they should only be used in concert with a mood stabilizer.
Next: How Does The Bipolar Medication Regimen Change Depending On The Phase Of Illness?
Previous: Is Medication, Therapy, Or Both More Effective In Treating My Bipolar Disorder?
