Antipsychotics for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Each of these medicines has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat bipolar disorder. Some medicines work better for some people than for others. Second-generation antipsychotic medicines may have fewer side effects than first-generation antipsychotic medicines. Be sure to talk with your doctor about how the medicine is working for you. Sometimes you might need to try more than one type of medicine before you find one that works best for you.

These medicines have all been found to be an effective treatment of manic episodes. Quetiapine has been approved by the FDA to treat both mania and depression. Other antipsychotic medicines, such as olanzapine, are also being studied for the treatment of depression in bipolar disorder. The single medicine combining olanzapine and fluoxetine (Symbyax) is also used to treat depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is used to balance certain brain chemicals (Reference neurotransmitters Opens New Window) that are thought to cause depression.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.