Pharmaceutical companies have been aggressively campaigning and raising awareness of bipolar disorder to the public. Although radio and television has been limited in the information they can convey to the public, a lot of people have come to hear and know about this illness, but have not really understood this sickness or its medication.

First, it is important to understand the basic bipolar symptoms and bipolar medications before delving on the whole issue of bipolar. A brief overview of bipolar illness and its medication is provided.

One of the most basic signs of bipolar disorder is the extremes of highs and lows also called swinging of moods. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a persons mood, energy, and ability to function. In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, and significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized. Depending on each individual, episodes of mania or depression can take weeks or months, while for others, mood swings are shorter but more frequent. Below is a brief overview of bipolar disorder and its symptoms:

Manic Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder

-Being excessively irritable these people experience delusions of grandeur and euphoric feelings of being “high” that can lead to overly optimistic.

-Being unusually energetic to the point it can create difficulties concentrating, sleeping, or making adequate judgment decisions. Speech can also come so rapid that it becomes difficult for people to understand what is being said.

-With thoughts experienced as racing. The “racing thoughts” of bipolar disorder are also sometimes described as “crowded thoughts”.

-Sufferers may go on spending sprees or engage in behavior that is quite abnormal for them.

Bipolar Disorder ” Depressed Symptoms

-Extremely low energy levels combined with feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or despair.

-Usually these people are very tired and quickly irritated, and do not have any sleeping patterns whatsoever.

-Guilt pervades ones thoughts with excessive shame.

-Loss of or increase in appetite.

-In extreme cases, the individual may suffer from suicidal thoughts.

Medicine for Bipolar

When it comes to the pharmaceutical treatments of bipolar disorder, there is no standard, uniformed combination of bipolar medication that will deliver the same results in different patients. However, there is a finite pool of drugs that are utilized to aid in calming the negative effects of bipolar disorder. These medications generally include anti-depressants, mood stabilizers/anti-psychotic, and anti-anxiety drugs.

Some of the most common anti-depressant prescribed drugs include Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Effexor. These medications are for raising the patients mood and their levels of energy.

Lithium, Seroquel, Risperdal and Geocodon are the most commonly prescribed drugs for anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers. These drugs are used for the toning down of the manic side of the bipolar illness. With this medication the patients life is somehow restored not to 100% at least to near normal level.

While some doctors do not like to give anti-anxiety drugs to their patients there are others who still prescribe Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin to their patients. These medications help in bringing down excessive highs and panic attacks in the manic side of bipolar.

A monthly visit to your psychiatrist is advised to determine whether your medication should be modified or continued, because drugs are prescribed in various dosages and combinations.