FDA Approves Rykindo, a Long-Lasting Injectable, for Schizophrenia and Bipolar I. With just 1 shot every 2 weeks, people may find this medication easier to manage than a daily pill.
Sublingual dexmedetomidine (Igalmi) was approved last year for acute agitation in adult patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder. Keep a look out for these medications, as xanomeline-trospium will be coming in 2023 and lumateperone, Rykindo, and Igalmi have been FDA-approved within the past year.
Caplyta is now FDA-approved for depressive episodes from bipolar I and II. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Caplyta (lumateperone) for the treatment of bipolar depression in adults.
ABILIFY MAINTENA is the first and only FDA-approved once-monthly* maintenance treatment for bipolar I in adults. It is an injection that is prescribed by your healthcare provider. Some adults with bipolar I may take a pill to manage their condition.
Lithium: The first mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are medications that help control the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. They are the cornerstone of treatment, both for mania and depression. Lithium is the oldest and most well-known mood stabilizer and is highly effective for treating mania.
Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) may be the most effective mood stabilizer for depression in bipolar disorder, but is not as helpful for mania. The starting dose of lamotrigine should be very low and increased very slowly over four weeks or more.
Risperidone extended-release injection (Risperdal Consta, Rykindo) is used alone or in combination with lithium (Lithobid) or valproate to treat people who have bipolar I disorder (manic depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of severe mania, and other abnormal moods).
Long-acting injection (LAIs) allow for the slow release of medicine into the blood. Injectable medications used for individuals living with mental illness include Abilify Maintena®, Aristada®, Haldol decanoate®, Invega Sustenna®, Invega Trinza®, fluphenazine decanoate, Risperdal Consta®, and Zyprexa Relprevv®.
Bipolar I disorder is the most severe form of the illness. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by predominantly depressive episodes accompanied by occasional hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes are milder than manic episodes but can still impair functioning.
Experts have established that living with any mental health condition reduces your life expectancy by anywhere from 7–10 years . The life expectancy for someone with bipolar disorder is approximately 67 years old.
“Untreated bipolar disorder can worsen with age, with both the frequency of mood episodes and their duration,” says Thomas Scary, MD, MA, staff psychiatrist, Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates in Philadelphia. “This is true even with treatment, but to a lesser extent.”
Lumateperone (Caplyta) and Quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR) is used for the short-term treatment of bipolar depression. Another option is olanzapine (Zyprexa) with fluoxetine (Prozac). The atypical antipsychotic lurasidone (Latuda) can be taken alone or with lithium or valproate for treating bipolar depression.
Midazolam is an injection that helps you relax or sleep before a surgical procedure. It can also block your memory of the procedure. A healthcare provider will inject this medication into a muscle or a vein in a hospital or clinic setting.
Although the possibility of gaining weight while taking lithium is well known, this side effect does not affect everyone who takes the medication. Approximately 25% of people gain weight from taking lithium, according to a review article published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
No two people with bipolar disorder share the same thoughts or experiences, but there are some common thought patterns among most folks who have it. This includes cyclical thinking, manic and/or depressive episodes, suicidal ideation, and psychosis.
Bipolar disorder is frequently inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition. Bipolar disorder is the most likely psychiatric disorder to be passed down from family. If one parent has bipolar disorder, there's a 10% chance that their child will develop the illness.
Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder, but a separate diagnosis. While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, individuals with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause significant impairment with substantial consequences.
Quetiapine covers ground that lithium does not. It is more effective against mixed manias, while lithium is preferred for the purer, euphoric highs. It also works better in acute depressive episodes.
There is no specific bipolar diet. Nevertheless, it is important to make wise dietary choices that will help you maintain a healthy weight and stay well. These choices include: Avoiding the "Western" style diet that's rich in red meats, saturated fats and trans fats, and simple carbohydrates.