The long-term management of bipolar disorders with lithium, carbamazepine, and antidepressants.
Carbamazepine is gaining recognition as a valuable drug in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorders who fail to respond to lithium. Clinical experience in the treatment of 90 bipolar patients is described: 48% responded to lithium alone or in combination with other standard drug treatments. A subgroup of 34 lithium nonresponders were treated with carbamazepine; of these, 17 (50%) responded to carbamazepine and 5 responded to carbamazepine plus lithium, for a total response rate of 65%. Issues of side effects, blood levels, and compliance are discussed. These observations support the efficacy and safety of carbamazepine and suggest the need for well-controlled double-blind studies.
D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D002220:Carbamazepine; D008094:Lithium