Seroquel as a Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
New research suggests that the anti-psychotic medication Seroquel (olanzapine) — can be an effective single-drug treatment for bipolar disorder.
The American Journal of Psychiatry carries an article this month indicating that quetiapine (Seroquel) monotherapy is efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of bipolar disorder.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder, which affects roughly 8 million Americans, are usually treated with a combination of medications. However, the new study indicates that the single anti-psychotic medication Seroquel, which is not usually used specifically as a treatment for bipolar disorder, is effective as a treatment for both manic and depressive phases of the disorder.
Seroquel is currently approved for the short-term treatment of acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder and for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Of course, the other aspect of managing bipolar disorder is counselling or psychotherapy.
Other articles by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor
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