Bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depression, causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs and lows. When you’re depressed, you may feel hopeless or lose interest in most activities. On the other hand, when your mood shifts to an emotional high (mania or hypomania), you’ll typically feel euphoric or full of energy. These drastic mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, and the ability to think clearly.

Mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may experience none at all.

This article will discuss the most effective treatments for bipolar disorder.

Treating bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder treatment is typically guided by a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Depending on your diagnosis and history, you may have a treatment team that includes a psychologist, social worker, and psychiatric nurse.

Treatment can typically include:

• Medications: You’ll generally start taking medications to balance your mood swings immediately.
• Continued treatment: Bipolar disorder requires lifelong treatment with consistent medications. Those who skip maintenance treatment are at risk of relapsing or having minor mood changes turn into full-blown mania or depression.
• Day treatment programs: Your doctor or treatment team may recommend a day treatment program, which provides support and counseling while you get your symptoms under control.
• Substance abuse programs: If you have problems with drugs or alcohol, you’ll need to receive substance abuse treatment. Otherwise, it will be challenging to manage your bipolar disorder.
• Hospitalization: You may need to be hospitalized if you behave dangerously, feel suicidal, or become detached from reality. Getting psychiatric treatment at a hospital can help you stabilize your mood and keep you calm and safe.

Medications

Many medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. The doses prescribed by your doctor will be based on your symptoms. Medications can include:

• Mood stabilizers. This type of medicine helps control manic or hypomanic episodes. It generally includes medications like lithium, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, and lamotrigine.
• Antipsychotics. If your mania or depression persists despite other medications, your doctor may add an antipsychotic drug like olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, or lurasidone to help. These medications may be prescribed alone or in conjunction with a mood stabilizer.
• Antidepressant. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help manage your depression. Because antidepressants can sometimes trigger episodes, it’s usually prescribed with a mood stabilizer.
• Anti-anxiety medications. Benzodiazepines can help with anxiety and improve sleep, though they are usually prescribed on a short-term basis.
• Ketamine. If other medications have not worked, your doctor may tell you to try ketamine infusion therapy. It’s been shown to reactivate existing brain connections and grow new ones, helping the brain get out of negative thoughts and shift out of depression. While it can be administered in many ways, IV infusion is the most common.

Do you want to learn more about the most effective treatments for bipolar disorder?

If so, Long Island Ketamine Infusions has all the answers you need. We use a revolutionary therapeutic approach to treating depression and anxiety disorders because your mental health is our top priority. It’s all headed by Dr. Michelle Curro, who received her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and specializes in psychiatry to help her patients.

If you struggle with any mental health issues, the team at Long Island Ketamine Infusions is here to help. You can learn more about how our Long Island depression treatments work online, or check out our FAQ for more answers.