Bipolar Treatment – Side Effects in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Posted by Charles Kelley
Prescribed medicines used in the treatment of bipolar disorder are effective. However, there are negative effects on the body from bipolar treatment that alarm patients.
According to the FDA, antidepressants are generally safe but some studies suggest that they may have unintentional effects on some people, particularly in adolescents and young adults. It is important to observe patients taking antidepressant drugs closely regardless of age particularly in the first two weeks of treatment for possible side effects. Observe for worsening depression, onset of suicidal thinking or behavior, or any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social functions. The family or caregiver should report any suspicious change in behavior to the patient’ doctor immediately.
If a patient is taking mood-stabilizing drugs like lithium, he can suffer from its common side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, mood swings, stuffed or runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms.
Patients taking antipsychotic drugs should refrain from driving because of the following side effects, drowsiness, and dizziness when changing positions, blurred vision, and rapid heartbeat, sensitivity to the sun, skin rashes and menstrual problems for women.
There are rare cases wherein the long-term use of atypical antipsychotic drugs causes tardive dyskinesia or involuntary muscle movement usually around the mouth. In severe cases, patients only partially recover after stopping the drug.
Studies show that patients taking olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, develops a tendency to gain weight. Side effects like this may increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease.
A patient who develops side effects from medication during bipolar treatment
must tell his doctor about it immediately so that the doctor may alter the dosage or prescribe a different medicine. Under no circumstance should a patient stop his medication because it may lead to a rebound or a dangerous worsening of his condition.
Bipolar Treatment – Psychotherapy Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Patients
Posted by Charles Kelley
Psychotherapy is a non-medical approach in the bipolar treatment process. Patients who undergo psychotherapy can learn systematic methods of coping with their condition. It is much like an athlete taking instructions from his coach.
However, the effectiveness of psychotherapy may vary among patients depending on a number of underlying factors. These factors range from physical and psychological components, which can be resistant to psychological intervention most particularly in cases of bipolar disorder in comparison with unipolar depressive illnesses that respond to psychotherapy without difficulty.
In view of this, doctors use psychotherapy treatment in conjunction with medications in cases of bipolar disorder due to the complexity of the disorder and the seriousness of the symptoms. Bipolar patients may refuse to accept psychotherapy at the onset of the illness. Thus, psychotherapy approaches like the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may become beneficial to bipolar patients only when they start to undergo the period of recovery from the symptoms. Still, it may vary in individual cases.
Psychotherapy has many benefits for bipolar disorder patients. Patients see therapy as a good venue to unload their inhibitions and talk about how their disease has affected their lives, relationships, and families. Psychotherapy also provides factual monitoring, analysis, and encouragement from a trusted therapist of their condition and state of mentality. Therapists can motivate patients to maintain their medications especially in times when they seem to get tired of taking them. Psychotherapy could offer valuable coping mechanisms, which could strengthen their ability to socialize with other people and help them have productive lives.
There are multiple approaches in psychotherapy with different tools that medical professionals have used in the treatment of mental disorders. In the case of this disorder, studies have developed three effective approaches for bipolar treatment: the cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and interpersonal or social rhythm therapy.
Bipolar Treatment – Recognizing and Understanding the Different Types of Bipolar Disorder
Posted by Charles Kelley
One of the toughest parts of proper bipolar treatment is actually determining the correct diagnosis. One of the largest reasons for this is the fact that there are several types of bipolar disorder. Also the characteristics of the episodes are so diverse from patient to patient that it could take a long time to determine an actual pattern in which to base a diagnosis on.
The different types of bipolar disorder are characterized by the patterns in the frequency, length, and severity of episodes of depression and/or mania. Determining which type of bipolar disorder is present is necessary to accurately prescribe medication for treatment.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder
This form of bipolar disorder is the most severe of all the types. It is characterized by having at least one episode of both mania and depression with each lasting more than a week with little to no break in symptoms. The most extreme cases of mania are found in bipolar I disorder.
Bipolar II Disorder
Unlike Bipolar I, this type of the illness consists of milder episodes of mania, known as hypomania, along with depression. The mania involved here is so mild that it is often overlooked as a problem, and could go unrecognized for quite some time. Long periods of no symptoms often occurs in this form of bipolar disorder.
Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder
This is made up of at least 4 mood episodes in a single year. It is not uncommon for patients with rapid cycling to experience these mood shifts as frequently as weeks or even days. Rapid cycling most commonly develops over time and can occur even after diagnosed with another type of bipolar disorder.
Cyclothimic Disorder
This disorder is characterized by extremely mild episodes of both mania and depression. It is possible for this condition to worsen over time.
Mixed Bipolar Disorder
Mixed Bipolar is determined by experiences of both mania and depression occuring at the same time. A patient with this form would have upshifts in mood and energy with depressive thoughts present, or vice versa. This has a potential to be very dangerous for suffers, as being pulled in both directions at once is such a physical and mental strain, moreso than other forms of bipolar disorder.
Uncatagorized Bipolar Disorder
Uncatagorized is for bipolar suffers whose mood shifts fall into no pattern identifiable with other types of bipolar. This makes bipolar treatment difficult because with most forms you develop a pattern and you tend to become aware of whats coming, but with uncatagorized you are constantly guessing.
Understanding and recognizing the different types of this disorder helps tremendously with bipolar treatment.
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