Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog In a previous post entitled "Is Your Current Bipolar Medication/Therapy Working?" we recommended filling out a form prior to your doctor's visit to provide detailed information on the effectiveness and possible side effects of your current treatment plan. I think this form is a great tool, and I would love to have patients bring me something this detailed, but if the form seems a little overwhelming, you may prefer a simpler approach - keeping a daily mood calendar.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. Last week, we started our coverage of the atypical antipsychotics with one of the more popular and controversial medications in the group – Zyprexa (Onanzapine). Because that post contains a great deal of information that applies to the atypical antipsychotics as a group, we encourage you to read it first.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog An intense period of mania or depression can make you feel like you've been hit by a truck. You may feel exhausted. You may be unable to concentrate or remember certain details. You may become intolerant of colleagues and others you must deal with on the job. Your family life is also very likely to be chaotic and stressful.

I can come up with a list of everything bipolar disorder has stolen from me and my family, including Income Health insurance Retirement funds Vacations Friends But the experience of having a loved one with bipolar disorder has also made me stronger and more understanding.

Most people, including those who have been diagnosed bipolar, don't like to think of themselves as disabled, especially given the fact that people with bipolar disorder often tend to be over achievers. During severe episodes of depression or mania, however, dealing with the illness can make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to hold down a job, at least until you're able to achieve some mood stability.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. This week, we shift our focus from anti-seizure medications to atypical antipsychotics – also known as second-generation antipsychotics or atypical neuroleptics.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog Mood stabilizers are usually effective in treating acute mania. Treating bipolar depression, however, is often more challenging for two reasons: