The Top Bipolar Drug On The Market Today
Posted by Depressed - 07/03/10 at 02:03 amWith bipolar disorder, as with many other diseases, it is not a surprise that there is more than one effective medication used to treat it. But, today, the most prescribed drug is the medication lithium.
Generally, the drug Lithium is considered to be the first mood stabilizer. Even though it was discovered almost two centuries ago, it was not until much later in the century that it was found to have mood stabilizing properties, specifically anti-manic capabilities. By 1969 it was the preferred method of treating manic depression.
As is true with many drugs, it is not known precisely how lithium affects the brain in order to stabilize moods. However, it is theorized that those afflicted with bipolar 1 disorder have a chemical imbalance in that portion of the brain that controls emotions and that lithium helps to restore the correct balance.
Recently, because of its toxicity and other negative effects, some medical professionals have begun to shy away from prescribing lithium.
Of the top drugs used to fight bipolar disease, all seem to be relatively equal in treating bipolar mania. However, when it comes to treating bipolar depression and in reducing feelings of suicide, lithium appears to have the clear edge.
Regrettably, a lot of of the research studies that current bipolar treatment is based on are at least fifteen years old and very much out of date.
Fortunately, the scientific community, recognizing this, is becoming more interested in studying new treatments for bipolar mania. There are many medical trials underway that will test the potential for a new class of bipolar drugs and hopefully lead to much needed help for families dealing with this emotional wrenching disease.
For more information about bipolar support groups and assistance, please visit the web site.
