Discovering the Most Effective Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Lithium: The most commonly prescribed mood stabilizer, proven effective for both manic and depressive episodes and long-term maintenance.

Valproate (Depakote): Often used for people who cannot tolerate lithium or for those with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

Lamotrigine (Lamictal): Particularly effective for preventing depressive episodes.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol): An option for patients who do not respond well to lithium or valproate.

Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Risperidone (Risperdal), and Aripiprazole (Abilify) are commonly used to manage acute manic episodes and maintenance.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluoxetine (Prozac) may be used in depressive episodes, but are often paired with a mood stabilizer to prevent triggering manic episodes.

Sometimes benzodiazepines like Lorazepam or Clonazepam are prescribed short-term for acute agitation or anxiety.