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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Medication Alone Sufficient To Treat Bipolar Disorder?

hello Doctor, my sister aged 37 years is suffering from bipolar disorder for past 10 years and we are taking the treatment for last 7 years.since there is no significant improvement due to the medication we had changed 2 psychiatrists (approximately 3 years with each) and we are consulting the 3rd doctor for past 1 year. since now also no improvement we are in a idea of changing the doctor.Is this right decision. Is medication itself enough for bipolar disorder or any other treatments are available,please advise.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Tue, 4 Nov 2014 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 4 Nov 2014 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello

She is on treatment since last 7 years and you have also taken opinion form 3 psychiatrists with no improvement in clinical outcome. Bipolar disorder is a disorder with symptoms of both mania and depression. It can be treated with medicines but some times few individuals respond to medicines poorly.

Mood stabilisers like Sodium Valproate, Lithium Carbonate, Carbamazepine etc are used commonly in bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar depression are usually given medicines like Lamotrigine.

If a patient don't respond to these drugs then antipsychotics at low doses are started. Drugs like Olanzapine, Risperidone etc are commonly used.

Even with medicines some patients fails to respond then other modality of treatment is Electroconvulsive therapy. ECT is a good option in resistant cases. It is being labelled as shock treatment which is very harmful but over all this is a safe treatment and have very good response. Consult her psychiatrist again for proper treatment.

Thanks
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Is Medication Alone Sufficient To Treat Bipolar Disorder?

Hello She is on treatment since last 7 years and you have also taken opinion form 3 psychiatrists with no improvement in clinical outcome. Bipolar disorder is a disorder with symptoms of both mania and depression. It can be treated with medicines but some times few individuals respond to medicines poorly. Mood stabilisers like Sodium Valproate, Lithium Carbonate, Carbamazepine etc are used commonly in bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar depression are usually given medicines like Lamotrigine. If a patient don t respond to these drugs then antipsychotics at low doses are started. Drugs like Olanzapine, Risperidone etc are commonly used. Even with medicines some patients fails to respond then other modality of treatment is Electroconvulsive therapy. ECT is a good option in resistant cases. It is being labelled as shock treatment which is very harmful but over all this is a safe treatment and have very good response. Consult her psychiatrist again for proper treatment. Thanks