Mental Health News

For many years those suffering from manic depression had only one option for treatment in the drug, lithium carbonate.  Doctors used this drug for almost 50 years in the treatment of bipolar depression in patients.  Although it’s an effective treatment, it doesn’t work for anyone.  So, many patients were left with no treatment at all to help them through the ups and downs of their manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder.

This condition runs its sufferer ragged and leaves them in the dumps.  The average person with manic depression can experience cycles of extreme highs or happiness and extreme lows or sadness, fatigue and depression.  A person with manic depression may spend their high periods partying, living in excess, living dangerously or making dangerous decisions for the excitement all in the extreme.  While this same person in a down period can feel so run down and depressed that they spend days in bed or it takes all of their energy and motivation to get ready for a new day of work.

Now, those with manic depression have other drug choices and alternatives when lithium carbonate doesn’t work or causes complications.  Doctors have begun prescribing anti-depressant and anti-psychotic drugs which work by altering the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain which are involved in helping maintain a person’s mood and are involved in other essential activities in the body.  These drugs can successfully keep manic depression sufferers on an even keel.  However, they can’t help those patients who don’t seek a doctor’s help and medical advice.