Anxiety & Bipolar Medications

Common Anti-Anxiety Medications:

• Klonopin (clonazepam)

• Ativan (lorazepam)

• Xanax (alprazolam)

• Serax (oxazepam)

• Valium (diazepam)

• Buspar (buspirone)

Most of these medications are benzodiazepines, which reduce anxiety by sedating the brain and nervous system. These drugs generally work very well for treating the symptoms of anxiety. Benzodiazepines are addictive and can cause serious withdrawal reactions if discontinued suddenly. Buspar acts differently, is not addictive like benzodiazepines, and can be much safer and easier to taper off. 

Other Types of Anti-Anxiety Medications:

• Compazine (prochlorperazine)

• Dilantin (phenytoin)

• Adapin (doxepin)

• Catapres (clonidine)

These are anti-seizure or sedative drugs, which have been used for people with anxiety disorders because of their sedating effect. Some patients do well with these medications, however, many people report that they do not feel like themselves while on these drugs. These medications can have a profound effect of sedation, and can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. 

Common Bipolar Medications:

• Lithium carbonate

• Lamictal (lamotrigine)

• Depakote (valproic acid)

• Tegretol (carbamazepine)

• Abilify (aripiprazole)

• Seroquel (quetiapine)

• Geodon (ziprasidone)

• Zyprexa (olanzapine) 

• Risperdal (risperidone)

• Saphris (asenapine)

• Latuda (lurasidone)

Bipolar disorder medications can have more serious side effects, because they tend to affect the nervous system and neurotransmitters on multiple levels rather than altering one neurotransmitter at a time. Anti-psychotic medications such as Zyprexa or Seroquel are used to create a sedating effect on patients with mania or schizophrenia. Thus, fatigue is a very common side effect of these drugs.

Lithium is a medication used to stabilize bipolar symptoms. In high doses, it can be used to treat bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, the therapeutic dose is also very close to the toxic dose of lithium, so it is essential to have blood levels of lithium checked regularly to avoid an overdose. Lithium must not be taken during pregnancy, and can cause tremor, nausea, or heart arrhythmias at high doses. This medication is also available in a safer low dose (5-10 mg) as a natural supplement. At this low dose, it has been shown to act as a neuroprotectant, meaning that it can help to protect the brain cells from damage or degradation.

Zyprexa, Abilify, and Seroquel are antipsychotic medications, and affect a combination of serotonin and dopamine. This class of medications can be very helpful for people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorder. Common side effects of these medications are sedation, emotional “numbness,” restlessness, and tremor. Less common but more dangerous symptoms caused by taking antipsychotic medications include increased risk of suicidal thoughts (especially among teens), potentially permanent involuntary muscle movements, elevated blood sugar, and increased risk of heart attacks or infections in elderly patients with dementia. 

Lamictal is an anti-seizure drug, so it can have similar effects to the atypical anti-anxiety medications listed above. Many patients benefit from Lamictal as a mood stabilizer. In my professional experience, it has the lowest side effect profile of the medications in its class. Some people are allergic to Lamictal and have a serious rash if they take it. As long as it is started at a very low dose and titrated up slowly, Lamictal is often well-tolerated. 

These medications can be very helpful in some cases for people with severe bipolar symptoms, to help them get through the day. For some patients these drugs can work very well, however, other options should be considered, because of the possible risks of side effects.

Conventional medications may help reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression, but these medications can cause unwanted side effects such as fatigue, restlessness, insomnia – symptoms that people with anxiety or depression usually already have! If you are interested in alternatives to the above medications, there are a variety of natural treatment options that are highly effective for improving your mood and helping you to feel like yourself again. 

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