Although there are reports that some supplements and herbs may help, not enough research has been conducted to fully understand how these supplements may affect people with bipolar disorder.

Syracuse University

Medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers and second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics. Treatment plans may also include medications that target sleep or anxiety. Health care providers often prescribe antidepressant medication to treat depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, combining the antidepressant with a mood stabilizer to prevent triggering a manic episode.

Treating Bipolar Disorder: Medication 

National Institute of Mental Health . (n.d.). Bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder 

Bipolar Disorder

Supplements as Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Managing bipolar affective disorder with conventional medications can be challenging. Interestingly, anecdotal reports indicate that some individuals with bipolar disorder use cannabinoids to alleviate symptoms of both mania and depression.

Cannabinoids in bipolar affective disorder: a review and discussion of their therapeutic potential

Lithium is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder, primarily by preventing or reducing the severity of manic episodes. While its full mechanism is complex, a key action involves blocking the activity of norepinephrine, an excitatory neurotransmitter, at the synapses. This complements its other known effects, such as inhibiting the release of dopamine and glutamate and enhancing the function of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

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