Peak Wellness Psychiatry

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Bipolar Disorder

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Manic episodes involve unusually elevated, expansive, or irritable moods lasting at least one week. Hypomania is similar but shorter in duration (at least four days) and does not include psychotic features.

Common symptoms of mania and hypomania include:

  • Inflated self-esteem

  • Reduced need for sleep

  • Racing thoughts and rapid speech

  • Increased distractibility

  • Over-involvement in risky or pleasurable activities

While there is currently no cure for bipolar disorder, effective treatment options exist. Mental health professionals can manage symptoms through medications, psychotherapy, and holistic lifestyle adjustments.

At Peak Wellness Psychiatry, we take a comprehensive telepsychiatry approach, blending medication management, lifestyle guidance, nutrition, and personalized care. Our goal is to move patients beyond day-to-day symptom control and toward long-term mental and emotional wellness.

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How is Bipolar Mania and Hypomania Treated?

Mood stabilizers:

What Are Mood Stabilizers?

Mood stabilizers are medications that help regulate mood swings and reduce the risk of manic or depressive episodes. They are considered a first-line treatment for acute mania and play an important role in long-term management of bipolar disorder.

Since some mood stabilizers take time to reach full effectiveness, they are often combined with atypical antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, or benzodiazepines during the early stages of treatment to provide faster relief.

Commonly prescribed mood stabilizers include:

  • Valproate (Divalproex)

  • Lithobid (Lithium)

  • Tegretol (Carbamazepine)

  • Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)

  • Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

Mood stabilizers:

What Are Antipsychotics?

Antipsychotics are medications that help manage symptoms by blocking the effects of dopamine, a brain chemical often linked to psychosis. Elevated dopamine activity can contribute to bipolar mania or hypomania, leading to changes in perception, mood, and behavior. By regulating dopamine, antipsychotics help restore stability and reduce severe symptoms.

These medications are frequently prescribed for acute manic episodes and may also be used as part of long-term treatment plans for bipolar disorder.

Common antipsychotics include:

  • Zyprexa (Olanzapine)

  • Risperdal (Risperidone)

  • Seroquel (Quetiapine)

  • Abilify (Aripiprazole)

  • Geodon (Ziprasidone)

  • Haldol (Haloperidol)

  • Saphris (Asenapine)

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