Disease: bipolar disorder
Question: for bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder treatment?
Answer: Several treatments can help you manage bipolar disorder symptoms. These include
medications, counseling, and lifestyle measures. Some natural remedies can also have benefits.
Medications
Recommended medications may include:
mood stabilizers, such as lithium (Lithobid)
antipsychotics, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa)
antidepressant-antipsychotics, such as fluoxetine-olanzapine (Symbyax)
benzodiazepines, a type of anti-anxiety medication used for short-term treatment
Psychotherapy
Recommended therapy approaches may include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that helps you identify and address unhelpful thoughts and change unwanted behavior patterns.
Therapy offers a safe space to discuss ways to manage your symptoms. Your therapist can also offer support with:
understanding thought patterns
reframing distressing emotions
learning and practicing more helpful coping strategies
Get tips on finding the right therapist.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is a therapeutic approach centered around helping you learn about a condition and its treatment. This knowledge can go a long way toward helping you and the supportive people in your life recognize early mood symptoms and manage them more effectively.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy focuses on regulating daily habits, such as sleeping, eating, and exercising. Balancing these everyday basics could lead to fewer mood episodes and less severe symptoms.
Online therapy options
Interested in online therapy? Our review of the best teletherapy options can help you find the right fit.
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Other options
Other approaches that can help ease symptoms include:
electroconvulsive therapy
sleep medications
supplements
acupuncture
Natural remedies for bipolar disorder
Some natural remedies might also help with bipolar disorder symptoms.
You�ll always want to check with your doctor or psychiatrist before trying these remedies, though. In some cases, they could interfere with any medications you�re taking.
The following herbs and supplements may help stabilize your mood and reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder when combined with medication and therapy:
Omega-3: Some 2016 research
suggests that taking an omega-3 supplement may help with symptoms of bipolar I. However, a 2021 study found weak support for using the supplement to treat depression symptoms in bipolar disorder.
Rhodiola rosea: A 2013 review
suggests this plant may help with moderate depression, so it could help treat depression associated with bipolar disorder, but this, too, has not been substantiated with newer research.
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe): SAMe is an amino acid supplement that may help ease
symptoms of major depression and other mood disorders. However, it can induce mania and may interact with other medications.
You should consult with a doctor before trying SAMe or any other herbal or natural remedies to help you manage your bipolar symptoms.
Looking for more options? Consider these 10 alternative treatments.
Lifestyle changes
Some studies suggest that lifestyle measures can help reduce the severity
of your bipolar disorder symptoms. These can include the following:
eating a balanced diet
getting at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
managing your weight
getting weekly counseling or therapy
That said, the improvements reported by many of these studies were not significant
, indicating that lifestyle interventions alone may not be enough to manage the condition. They may work better when combined with other treatments.