Bipolar disorder (maintenance)
- Continue effective acute drug when suitable
- Lithium has strong anti-suicide evidence
- Lamotrigine better for depressive prevention
- Valproate often better for manic polarity
- Several SGAs also prevent recurrence
- Match maintenance to prior episode pattern
- Avoid abrupt discontinuation
Use at a glance
- Continue effective acute drug when suitable
Practical pearls
- Match maintenance to prior episode pattern
Other practical pearls
- Lithium has strong anti-suicide evidence
- Lamotrigine better for depressive prevention
- Valproate often better for manic polarity
- Several SGAs also prevent recurrence
Safety / pitfalls
- Avoid abrupt discontinuation
Self-check
- What should guide maintenance in Bipolar disorder (maintenance)?
prior episode pattern.
- What should generally be avoided in Bipolar disorder (maintenance)?
abrupt discontinuation.
Drugs used for this (1)
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