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Why does my doctor want to prescribe seizure medication for my bipolar disorder?
Answered by:
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
They are often prescribed for people who have rapid cycling (four or more episodes of mania and depression in a year). Some of the anticonvulsants appear useful in targeting a variety of other syndromes that are often co-morbid with bipolar illness, including anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, migraine, eating disorders, and obesity. Lamotrigine and valproate are used to treat bipolar depression while topiramate is used for treating weight gain associated with other psychotropics.
Anticonvulsants used to treat bipolar disorder include:
Although anticonvulsants have shown efficacy in the treatment of bipolar disorder, only divalproex sodium and carbamazepine have received an indication for the treatment of acute mania, and to date, only lamotrigine has received an indication as a maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Despite this, many anticonvulsants are used "off-label" in the treatment of bipolar disorder, as helpful anti-manic agents or adjunctive treatments.Dr. Padder is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is currently medical director of two mental health clinics in Columbia, Maryland, and a consulting psychiatrist at Howard County General Hopsital, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Write to Dr. Padder at tanveerpadder@gmail.com.
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