An outline of the various drug treatments for bipolar disorder and their potential side effects and limitations.

Medication is the most important treatment for bipolar disorders. I will outline the medication listed in the textbook and state their potential side effects and limitations in point form. Drug: Lithium Lithium is the first choice of treatment for bipolar disorders and it is indicated that Lithium is effective in the alleviation of manic and depressive episodes. 75-80% of patients who take Lithium as directed show improvement. One patient, on page 177 of the textbook, states …

…be more effective than Lithium for the treatment of rapid cycling patients and those with mixed symptoms of depression and mania in a single episode. Potential Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sedation. Limitations: There were no limitations listed in the textbook or lecture notes, but one can surmise that just like Lithium, not all will respond positively and there will be patients who will not take their medication regularly and/or stop it altogether.