What class of medication is often used to treat bipolar disorder, particularly during manic episodes?

Mood stabilizers are a primary class of medications used to treat bipolar disorder, especially during manic episodes. These medications help to regulate mood swings and maintain a stable emotional state. Lithium is one of the most well-known mood stabilizers and has been used extensively for many years to manage the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

Other mood stabilizers, including certain anticonvulsants like valproate and lamotrigine, are also effective in treating both manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. The use of mood stabilizers is critical because they help prevent the extremes of mood dysregulation that characterize bipolar disorder.

While antipsychotics can be used to treat acute manic episodes, particularly in cases where psychotic symptoms are present, mood stabilizers are considered the first-line treatment specifically aimed at stabilizing mood over the long term. Antidepressants are generally not recommended as a first-line treatment for manic episodes, as they can sometimes exacerbate mania. Anti-anxiety medications may help with anxiety symptoms but do not specifically target the mood stabilization that bipolar disorder requires.