Bipolar disorder is often characterized by a state of depression with few patients experiencing suicidal tendencies. Patients with Bipolar disorder often suffer from depression, periods of elevated optimism, hyperactivity or sudden excitement.

Nearly 60% of the elevated excitement episodes appear in patients with Bipolar II disorder before or after a major depressive incident with characteristics that are unique to every individual. These signs however are reduced by 5% to 15% with advancing age. Researchers believe that disturbed sleep-wake cycle is the main cause which tends to trigger the episodes of hyperactivity or depression.

Neurotransmitters have been found to be responsible in the activity modifications leading to sudden mood swings. Thus, the treatment for Bipolar disorder aims to regulate these neurotransmitters in order to restore normal mood and cognition. This can be achieved by non-pharmacologic methods like meditation, relaxation and exercise that do not involve any medication but have the potential to increase endogenous opioid and nicotinic receptor function that helps restore normal behaviour.

Stress should be laid on the careful assessment of the symptoms as there are many psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, or amphetamines), and personality disorders that may coexist with bipolar disorder.Thorough physical examination must be conducted with focus on neurologic and endocrine systems, to rule out possibilities of other mood disorders.

A mental status examination (MSE) is often recommended as it assesses the patient’s general appearance and demeanor, speech, movement, and interpersonal relatedness with the examiner and others. It also identifies suicidal tendencies in patients and subtle forms of psychosis, such as paranoia or delusional states.

Drugs like lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines have been found to be successful in management of bipolar disorders.FDA has particularly approved Lithium for treatment of mania and bipolar disorder. It is a mood stabilizer, lowers suicide rate in patients with bipolar disorder and has been shown to mitigate relapse of bipolar disorder preventing occurrence of more manic episodes. However, it must also be noted that prolonged used of Lithium may have adverse effects like it can damage the small blood vessels in kidneys that clean the blood,can lower the activity of thyroid, goiter, and possibly cause cardiac rhythm disturbances, especially in patients with pre-existing cardiac disease.

Like Lithium, Anticonvulsants too are successful in the treatment of bipolar disorders as they decrease brain excitation and enhance inhibition by blocking low-voltage sodium-gated channels. The drug also tends to lower glutamate and other excitatory amino acids. Valproate, divalproex, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine are the anticonvulsants generally used in the treatment.

Antipsychotics have also demonstrated efficacy particularly in patients exhibiting hyperactivity or mixed states. These are either used as monotherapy or in combination with lithium, valproate, or carbamazepine. However, the biggest concern with antipsychotics is that they have a tendency to cause metabolic syndrome leading to weight gain, glucose intolerance, and diabetes mellitus.

Apart from these, antidepressants can also be used as a management option in bipolar diseases. Fluoxetine monotherapy provides relapse prevention benefit after recovery from Bipolar disorders ensuring that the mood swings do not resurface.

Researchers acknowledge the role of the pharmacist in counseling the patients on the use of non-pharmacologic methods as the first choice of treatment and informing the patients on the drugs available for the management of bipolar disorders and the need to be sure of the disease by ruling out all other possibilities of psychotic conditions. The problem can further be solved by educating the local population about possible adverse reactions of these drugs thus reducing the risk of hospitalization.

Reference:

1. Bipolar II Disorder in Adults: A Review of Management Options; Mary Soliman et al; US Pharm. 2011;36(11):HS17-HS24

2. Management, needs and expectations of patients suffering from bipolar Pubmed

Source-Medindia