is the treatment of bipolar disorder different from the treatment of unipolar depression?
Yes. The critical difference is that bipolar disorder should first be treated with a mood stabilizing medication. Since antidepressants can trigger a manic episode, they should generally be avoided until a mood stabilizer has been started. Only 3 mood stabilizers are currently approved by the food and drug administration for the treatment of mania: lithium; valproic acid (Depakote); and olanzapine (Zyprexa). Other medications that have been shown in clinical trials to be effective in the treatment of mania include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and adjunctive antipsychotic medication. Trials are ongoing with several other agents that show promise in treating this disorder. Benzodiazepines in the short-term may help normalize sleep and reduce agitation.
