Bipolar Disorder: Treatments for Bipolar Mania

Bipolar disorder is a serious diagnosis.  But it’s important to know that you’re not alone. More than 2 million American adults have bipolar disorder.  Unlike depression, bipolar disorder is equally common in men and women.  And although the onset of the condition typically occurs in the early 20s, the first symptoms can appear in early childhood or late in life.

Although some people may have only one episode, bipolar disorder is often a lifelong condition.  It’s usually marked by episodes of mania -- extreme and irrational highs -- and depression, often with long periods of normalcy in between the mood swings.

Though doctors don’t completely understand the causes of bipolar disorder, they do understand the condition much better than they did 10 years ago.  With that understanding has come targeted treatment, although there still is no cure. 

Treating Bipolar Mania

If you have bipolar disorder, you may be having a manic episode if you suffer three or more of these symptoms most of the day -- nearly every day -- for one week or longer:

• Increased activity
• Need less sleep to feel rested and energetic
• Excessively high, overly good euphoric mood
• Racing thoughts
• Talking very fast or talking more than usual; speech is pressured, loud, and often difficult to interpret
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity -- unrealistic beliefs in one’s ability, intelligence, and powers; may be delusional
• Increased reckless behaviors (such as lavish spending sprees, impulsive sexual indiscretions, abuse of alcohol or drugs or ill-advised business decisions)
• Distractibility

If you have four or more episodes of mania and depression in a year, it’s known as“rapid cycling.”

If you are suffering from mania, your doctor may initially treat you with an antipsychotic drug and/or lithium to quickly control hyperactivity, sleeplessness, hostility, and irritability. 

Your doctor will also likely prescribe a mood stabilizer (antimanic drug).  Mood stabilizers consist of a variety of medicines that help control mood swings, prevent recurrences, and reduce the risk of suicide.  They are usually taken for a long time, sometimes years, and include lithium and certain anticonvulsant drugs.

Treatment of mania often requires hospitalization as the risks for unpredictable, reckless behavior and noncompliance with treatment is high. For people with extreme mania, pregnant women with mania, or those people whose mania can’t be controlled with mood stabilizers, doctors sometimes also recommend electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

If mania occurs while on maintenance therapy for bipolar disorder, your doctor may simply change your medication dose or start an antipsychotic drug to lessen symptoms.

Nondrug treatments such as psychological therapy and establishing a well-ordered routine may help patients in their maintenance phase and are often suggested along with medication.

Here are summaries of each type of treatment.

Lithium

Lithium (brand names Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, and Lithotabs) is the most widely used and studied medication for treating bipolar disorder. Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of manic states and may also help relieve bipolar depression in some sufferers.