What treatment is recommended to teenagers with bipolar disorder?
There are three classes of medication that are used for bipolar illness across the age span. The antimania drug lithium is the mainstay. Lithium is especially good if other family members with a bipolar disorder has responded to that treatment. The second class of drugs is called anticonvulsants because they were originally developed to treat epilepsy. And the third class of drugs is called neuroleptics. It’s very important to learn as much as possible so the entire family can adapt and take part of the child’s treatment. It is also very important to notify your teenager’s school and teachers so a positive learning environment can be created while they are getting treatment. How well does medication control the disease? Some kids do very well and become indistinguishable from other children as long as they take their medication regularly. The medication essentially has to be taken indefinitely, as it is in adults. Most who take it regularly will have fewer hospitalizations and suicide
