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The symptoms of bipolar disorder are thought to be caused by an imbalance of key chemicals in the brain.   The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells that move a constant stream of information from one to the other.   To keep the information flowing, the cells release chemicals known as "neurotransmitters."   Two key neurotransmitters that are needed for brain function are dopamine and serotonin, which play a crucial role in emotional health.

Many scientists believe that when the levels of these neurotransmitters aren't quite right, it may result in bipolar disorder.  For instance, too much dopamine in certain parts of the brain can cause symptoms such as delusions, while too little dopamine in other parts of the brain can cause symptoms such as a lack of emotion and energy.

The exact way Abilify (or any other medicine for bipolar disorder) works is unknown. However, experts believe that Abilify works by adjusting dopamine and serotonin, two brain chemicals that play a crucial role in emotional health.

The most commonly observed adverse events associated with Abilify were: an inner sense of restlessness or need to move (akathisia), constipation, and accidental injury.   Other common side effects are: headache, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, upset stomach, sleepiness, lightheadedness, vomiting, and tremor.   Adverse events that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with Abilify: blurred vision; nausea, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, stomach discomfort, salivary hypersecretion; fatigue, pain, peripheral edema, arthralgia, pain in extremity; headache, dizziness, akathisia, sedation, extrapyramidal disorder, tremor, somnolence; anxiety, insomnia, restlessness; pharyngolaryngeal pain, cough, nasal congestion; hypertension.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder.   No one knows exactly what causes it.   Doctors and scientists believe that bipolar disorder may happen as a result of structural and chemical changes in the brain. They think that these changes may be caused by a combination of biological, genetic, and environmental factors.   Nothing you have done has caused it, but you should be aware that there are treatments that can help you feel better.

Adverse events reported by greater than 1% of Depakote ER patients: somnolence, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, pain, abdominal pain, accidental injury, asthenia, pharyngitis, back pain, flu syndrome, infection, hypertension, constipation, dry mouth, flatulence, ecchymosis, peripheral edema, myalgia, abnormal gait, hypertonia, tremor, rhinitis, pruritis, rash, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infection, vaginitis.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

No one knows the exact causes of bipolar disorder.   Experts have found that, like any other illness, some factors may increase the risk.   These factors may be in a person's genes.   Imbalances of certain chemicals in the brain are thought to lead to symptoms of the illness.   Medicine plays a key role in balancing these chemicals.   Geodon works to balance the chemicals in the brain so you can feel better.

How Geodon Works

Doctors believe Geodon helps balance certain natural chemicals in your brain.   Balancing these chemicals helps treat your symptoms of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder.   And that can help you feel better.

The most common side effects of Geodon are: feeling very tired or sleepy; upset stomach; constipation; diarrhea; feeling dizzy; muscle movements that you are not able to control, such as tremor or shuffling; rash; restlessness; increased cough and runny nose.   Adverse events that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with Geodon: headache, asthenia, accidental injury; hypertension; nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, vomiting, increased salivation, tongue edema, dysphagia; myalgia; somnolence, extrapyramidal symptoms (including hypertonia, dystonia, dyskinesia, hypokinesia, tremor, paralysis and twitching), dizziness, akathisia, anxiety, hypesthesia, speech disorder; pharyngitis, dyspnea; fungal dermatitis; abnormal vision.

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown.   It's a medical condition.   Bipolar disorder may be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, genetics, or abnormalities in brain structure.

Bipolar disorder may be related to problems with hormone levels.   For instance, experts have noticed a link between thyroid hormone levels and bipolar disorder.   Certain parts of the brain may have a different size or shape in people with bipolar disorder.  The changes could be a cause or symptom of the condition.

This is what we do know about bipolar disorder:

Bipolar disorder most commonly starts in teenagers and young adults.   But it can also first occur in children and older adults.   Bipolar disorder equally affects people of all races and ethnic groups.   Special chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, may be involved in the disease.   If the levels of these chemicals are out of balance, it may be harder for brain cells to work normally.

Common side effects include: dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and rash.   Lamictal may cause other side effects not listed here.   Adverse events that occurred with a frequency of greater than 1% of patients receiving Lamictal: back pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, vomiting, insomnia, somnolence, xerostomia (dry mouth), rhinitis, exacerbation of cough, pharyngitis, rash, fever, neck pain, migraine, flatulence, weight gain, edema, arthralgia, myalgia, amnesia, depression, agitation, emotional lability, dyspraxia, abnormal thoughts, dream abnormality, hypoesthesia, sinusitis, urinary frequency.

What causes bipolar mania or bipolar I disorder?

No one knows for sure what causes bipolar I disorder or bipolar mania.   It is believed that the illness is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain .  These chemicals carry messages between your brain cells.   Scientists believe an imbalance of these chemicals may cause mood swings.   These chemicals may include dopamine and serotonin.

While stress may trigger an episode of mania or depression, it is not a cause of the illness.   Bipolar mania is thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.   These chemicals are called dopamine and serotonin.   Dopamine may be responsible for delusions and grandiose symptoms, and serotonin for symptoms of anxiety and depression.

How Does Risperdal Work?

The symptoms of bipolar mania are thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain (either too high or too low).   These chemicals are called dopamine, and serotonin.   Although it is unclear as to exactly how Risperdal works, it seems to adjust the balance of dopamine and serotonin.   While it's not a cure, Risperdal may help to control your symptoms.

The most common side effects that occurred in clinical trials, in the treatment of bipolar mania were: sleepiness, muscle stiffness, restlessness, tremor, indigestion, nausea, abnormal vision, muscle aches, dizziness, runny nose, diarrhea, increased saliva, stomach pain, and urinary incontinence.   Adverse events reported by at least 2% of patients treated with Risperdal: dystonia, akathisia, dizziness, parkinsonism, hypoaesthesia; somnolence, agitation, manic reaction, anxiety, impaired concentration; dyspepsia, nausea, saliva increased, dry mouth; pain, fatigue, injury; sinusitis, rhinitis, coughing; acne, pruritus; myalgia, skeletal pain; weight increase; abnormal vision; hypertension, hypotension; tachycardia.

Researching the Causes of Bipolar Disorder

Exactly why people get bipolar disorder is something researchers are still trying to fully understand.   There are many different theories.   Some of these theories relate to brain biochemistry.   At least 100 brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) have been discovered inside the normal brain.   These chemicals carry messages (signals) between brain cells (neurons).   There are also ways that messages are carried within brain cells.   These brain activities are very important because they affect thought, emotion, memory and learning.   You could say that every human experience is, in some way, related to chemical activities in the brain.

In people with bipolar disorder, research shows that there may be:

• Imbalances of certain brain chemicals (too many or too few)
• Interruptions in the way messages are carried between brain cells or within brain cells

Researchers are also looking at brain structure and brain function to discover possible causes of bipolar disorder.   Genetics may also play a role in bipolar disorder.

An illness that affects the brain, such as mania in bipolar disorder, may be due to certain chemicals in the brain being out of balance.   These imbalances may cause some of the symptoms you may be experiencing.   Doctors and scientists are not sure what causes these imbalances to occur.   Although the exact way that Seroquel works is not known, it is thought to work by regulating the balance of chemicals in the brain.

The most common side effects are dizziness, dry mouth, stomach upset, and light-headedness.   Adverse events that occurred in 1% or more of patients treated with Seroquel: headache, asthenia, abdominal pain, back pain; tachycardia; postural hypotension; dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, gamma glutamyl, transpeptidase increased; weight gain, SGPT increased, SGOT increased;agitation, somnolence, dizziness, anxiety; pharyngitis; rhinitis; rash; amblyopia.

What causes bipolar disorder?

While no one really knows what causes bipolar disorder, scientists believe it is caused by imbalances in chemicals in the brain.   It's important to remember that bipolar disorder is an illness, just like heart disease or glaucoma.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness related to an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.   No one knows exactly what causes this chemical imbalance, but researchers are looking for specific genes that may play a role.   Stress and other environmental factors can trigger manic and depressive episodes, but they do not cause the disease -- bipolar disorder is a biological illness.   Unfortunately, there is no blood test that can reveal whether a person has bipolar disorder.

How Symbyax Works

Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, Symbyax has been shown to affect the three neurotransmitters that are important in the treatment of bipolar depression: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.   When these chemicals get out of balance, a person may experience bipolar depression.   Medicines like Symbyax are believed to bring these chemicals back into balance.

Common side effects of Symbyax are weight gain, sleepiness, diarrhea, dry mouth, increased appetite, feeling weak, swelling of your hands and feet, tremors (shakes), sore throat, trouble concentrating, and problems in keeping your body temperature regulated.   Adverse events occurring in 2% or more of patients treated with Symbyax: asthenia, accidental injury, fever; hypertension, tachycardia; diarrhea, dry mouth, increased appetite, tooth disorder; weight gain, peripheral edema, edema; joint disorder, twitching, arthralgia; somnolence, tremor, thinking abnormal, libido decreased, hyperkinesia, personality disorder, sleep disorder, amnesia; pharyngitis, dyspnea; amblyopia, ear pain, otitis media, speech disorder; abnormal ejaculation, impotence, anorgasmia.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness related to an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.   No one knows exactly what causes this chemical imbalance, but researchers are looking for specific genes that may play a role.   Stress and other environmental factors can trigger manic and depressive episodes, but they do not cause the disease -- bipolar disorder is a biological illness.

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong chronic illness.   It cannot be controlled on your own without medication.   Unfortunately, recent studies suggest that between 30% and 50% of people with bipolar disorder are currently going without treatment.

How Does Zyprexa Work?

Illnesses that affect the brain, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are thought to be caused by certain chemicals in the brain being out of balance.   Although it is not entirely clear how antipsychotic medications work in the body, it is believed that Zyprexa works by adjusting the imbalance of chemicals in the brain that may cause psychotic symptoms.   By doing so, Zyprexa may help restore more normal thinking and mood.

You may have heard that some treatments for mental illness cause diabetes.   Take a closer look at the facts.
Fact: People with mental illness develop diabetes up to 4 times more often than people who don't have a mental illness. Studies show that people with mental illness may be more likely to develop diabetes, regardless of whether or not they take medication.

Common side effects of Zyprexa are weight gain, sleepiness, constipation, dry mouth, increased appetite, feeling weak, upset stomach, tremors (shakes), dizziness, and problems in keeping your body temperature regulated.   Adverse events occurring in 2% or more of patients treated with Zyprexa: accidental injury, asthenia, fever, back pain, chest pain; postural hypotension, tachycardia, hypertension; dry mouth, constipation, dyspepsia, vomiting, increased appetite; ecchymosis; weight gain, peripheral edema; extremity pain, joint pain; somnolence, insomnia, dizziness, abnormal gait, tremor, akathisia, hypertonia, articulation impairment; rhinitis. cough increased, pharyngitis; amblyopia; urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection.

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