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Medications for Bipolar Disorder

Other names: Bipolar Affective Disorder; Bipolar I Disorder; Bipolar II Disorder; Manic Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorder

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 19, 2024.

Bipolar disorder is best treated with a combination of medications (such as mood-stabilizing agents, antipsychotics, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines), therapy sessions, and good personal routines.

Drugs used to treat Bipolar Disorder

The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Lamictal 8.2 640 reviews for Lamictal to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
lamotrigine systemic
Drug class:
triazine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
lamotrigine 8.0 1039 reviews for lamotrigine to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
lamotrigine systemic
Brand names:
Lamictal, Lamictal ODT, Lamictal CD, Subvenite
Drug class:
triazine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Seroquel 6.8 394 reviews for Seroquel to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
quetiapine systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Vraylar 5.8 362 reviews for Vraylar to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx N X
Generic name:
cariprazine systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Abilify 5.6 345 reviews for Abilify to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
aripiprazole systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
lithium 7.3 347 reviews for lithium to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx D N X
Generic name:
lithium systemic
Brand name:
Lithobid
Drug class:
antimanic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Latuda 6.3 661 reviews for Latuda to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx B N X
Generic name:
lurasidone systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Abilify Maintena 6.0 23 reviews for Abilify Maintena to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
aripiprazole systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Caplyta 6.6 103 reviews for Caplyta to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx N X
Generic name:
lumateperone systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Abilify Asimtufii Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
aripiprazole systemic
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
cariprazine 5.9 401 reviews for cariprazine to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx N X
Generic name:
cariprazine systemic
Brand name:
Vraylar
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Lybalvi 8.8 4 reviews for Lybalvi to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx N X
Generic name:
olanzapine / samidorphan systemic
Drug class:
psychotherapeutic combinations
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
lumateperone 6.6 105 reviews for lumateperone to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx N X
Generic name:
lumateperone systemic
Brand name:
Caplyta
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
quetiapine 7.0 687 reviews for quetiapine to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
quetiapine systemic
Brand names:
Seroquel, Seroquel XR
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
gabapentin Off-label 8.4 140 reviews for gabapentin to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
gabapentin systemic
Drug class:
gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Depakote 6.2 185 reviews for Depakote to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx D N X
Generic name:
divalproex sodium systemic
Drug class:
fatty acid derivative anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
bupropion Off-label 7.1 89 reviews for bupropion to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
bupropion systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antidepressants, smoking cessation agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
clonazepam Off-label 8.7 99 reviews for clonazepam to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx D 4 X
Generic name:
clonazepam systemic
Drug class:
benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
divalproex sodium 6.5 272 reviews for divalproex sodium to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx D N X
Generic name:
divalproex sodium systemic
Brand names:
Depakote, Depakote ER
Drug class:
fatty acid derivative anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
oxcarbazepine Off-label 8.1 167 reviews for oxcarbazepine to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
oxcarbazepine systemic
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Seroquel XR 7.3 110 reviews for Seroquel XR to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
quetiapine systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
aripiprazole 5.6 437 reviews for aripiprazole to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
aripiprazole systemic
Brand names:
Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Abilify Asimtufii, Abilify MyCite
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Risperdal 6.4 89 reviews for Risperdal to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
risperidone systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
sertraline Off-label 6.9 54 reviews for sertraline to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
sertraline systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Geodon 5.5 242 reviews for Geodon to treat Bipolar Disorder
Rx C N X
Generic name:
ziprasidone systemic
Drug class:
atypical antipsychotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Bipolar Disorder

Learn more about Bipolar Disorder

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.