What Are the Treatments for Mixed Bipolar Disorder?
Mixed manic episodes generally require treatment with medication. Unfortunately, mixed bipolar disorder is more difficult to control than other forms of bipolar disorder. The main drugs used to treat mixed manic episodes are mood stabilizers and antipyschotics. Mood stabilizers Lithium is highly effective at controlling mania. Lithium has been used for more than a century to treat bipolar disorder. It can take weeks to work fully, making it better for maintenance treatment than for sudden manic episodes. Blood levels of lithium must be monitored to avoid side effects. Depakote is an antiseizure medication that also levels out moods. It has a more rapid onset of action, often making it more effective for sudden mania than lithium. Depakote can also be used for prevention of mixed manic episodes. Some other antiseizure drugs, such as Tegretol, are also effective mood stabilizers. Antipsychotics For some mixed manic episodes, antipsychotic drugs may be necessary. Zyprexa is often used, an
