Meds for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Comparison + Guide
speciality medications
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are two chronic mental health conditions that can—and usually do—have a significant impact on the daily lives of those affected. When people have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, they tend to experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include delusions, hallucinations, mood swings, and difficulties in thinking or concentration.
Any one of these symptoms would make it difficult to manage a normal day-to-day life.
Fortunately, today’s patients may be able to leverage medication to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
If you or a loved one is navigating the aftermath of a schizophrenia or bipolar diagnosis, it may be time to assess the medications available to you.
In this guide, we’ll provide information (and pricing!) regarding the most common options, from Lamictal to Depakote ER, so you can be as informed a patient as possible.
What Causes Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (And How to Treat These Conditions)
Before understanding your medication options, it’s a good idea to take some time to learn about the conditions themselves.
Here’s a quick overview:
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can affect the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Common symptoms include hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there), delusions (strong beliefs in things that aren’t real), and disorganized thinking.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that comes with extreme mood swings. These mood swings range from depressive episodes—which make patients feel hopeless or sad—to manic episodes, which can feel euphoric or very energetic.
These changes are often quite intense and can interfere with any plans an individual may have, including sleeping, work, and the ability to make strategic decisions.
Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be serious. To move forward with a treatment plan, individuals will need to work with a healthcare professional to get a formal diagnosis.
Usually, patients with these conditions will need to commit to some combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and therapy to manage their health over the long term.
What Medications Are There for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder?
Generally speaking, there are three categories of medications usually recommended for people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia: Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsants.
Though these three types of medications are distinct, they all work by adjusting a patient’s pre-existing levels of specific chemicals in the brain (including serotonin and dopamine).
The differences between these three categories of medications include the following:
- Antipsychotics work to help patients manage symptoms like delusions and hallucinations, particularly in the case of schizophrenia. They can also help patients with bipolar disorder stabilize their moods.
- Mood stabilizers can help patients prevent or treat extreme mood shifts in the case of bipolar disorder.
- Anticonvulsants were initially used to treat epilepsy, as the name might suggest; however, in the case of bipolar disorder, anticonvulsants are often used to stabilize extreme mood swings.
Each patient with either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder will need to figure out their unique combination or cocktail of necessary medications.
Working directly with your healthcare team can help you determine what works best for you in a timely manner.
Antipsychotic Medications for Schizophrenia and BPD
Antipsychotic medications, when prescribed and used strategically, can be life-changing for patients who have either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The category of antipsychotic medications can be further broken down into typical—or first-generation—medications, and atypical—or second-generation—medications. Today, patients most often see the use of atypical antipsychotics, since they tend to be a bit safer and come with more favorable side effect profiles.
A few examples of antipsychotic medications worth knowing about include the following options.
Rexulti
Rexulti (brexpiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic. Doctors tend to prescribe it to treat schizophrenia, as well as, in some cases, major depressive disorder. It’s not a drug primarily used to treat bipolar but doctors may prescribe it off-label for some patients.
Rexulti has been shown to effectively improve cognitive function and mood in patients who have trouble with these body functions. It does so through partial agonism at the receptor level for both dopamine and serotonin.
While Rexulti is safe and effective when used properly, it’s not without its share of possible side effects. Some patients on Rexulti experience restlessness, headaches, dizziness, and weight gain.
You can buy brand-name Rexulti through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $5.00 per tab.
Saphris
Saphris (asenapine) is another atypical antipsychotic. It can be used to treat both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It’s especially useful for helping patients manage acute manic episodes in the context of BPD.
One of Saphris’s unique value adds is its fast-dissolving sublingual formulation. (It absorbs very quickly.) If patients are seeking rapid relief, Saphris may be able to deliver precisely what they need.
But, of course, not without possible side effects. Much like Rexulti, Saphris can cause weight gain, and dizziness.
You can buy brand Saphris through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $2.50 per sublingual tablet and get the generic from us for much less.
Seroquel
Seroquel (quetiapine) is a quite versatile atypical antipsychotic. It’s used to treat both BPD and schizophrenia. If patients are suffering from particularly intense depressive episodes during BPD, Seroquel may be an effective choice. It’s very good at stabilizing moods, as well as treating depressive phases when other medications weren’t able to do the trick.
Sometimes, patients who take Seroquel experience weight gain, heightened risk for metabolic syndrome, and sedation. (For some, sedation is a benefit: It can make conditions like insomnia much easier to deal with).
You can buy brand-name Seroquel through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $1.20 per pill and the generic for much less.
Zyprexa
Zyprexa (olanzapine) is another type of atypical antipsychotic. Doctors may prescribe it to treat either BPD or schizophrenia.
Zyprexa is useful for managing acute manic episodes associated with BPD. It can also help prevent future mood swings—which can make it a very effective treatment for patients struggling with these disorders.
Zyprexa does come with a laundry list of potential side effects, though, which makes some doctors feel more comfortable holding it in reserve for patients who have already tried other antipsychotic medications. Some patients may be at a higher risk of weight gain and diabetes when taking the drug.
You can buy brand-name Zyprexa through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $4.00 per pill or get a much bigger savings on the generic when you buy it from NorthWestPharmacy.com.
Mood Stabilizers and Anticonvulsants for Schizophrenia and BPD
Atypical antipsychotics aren’t the only type of medication that people with these disorders take. Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsant medications can be very helpful, too, especially if a patient is dealing with frequent, severe depressive and manic episodes.
Some of the more common medications in these categories include the following options.
Lamictal
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is a medication frequently prescribed to help patients manage their bipolar disorder—in particular, to manage depressive episodes associated with BPD. Lamictal is strongly effective in preventing future depressive episodes, which makes it a common choice for long-term treatment.
Lamictal may be less effective at treating short-term acute symptoms of these disorders, though, so if a patient requires support for on-the-spot manic episodes, they’ll need to pair their Lamictal with other medications.
Lamictal does come with a serious possible side effect. In some cases, patients may have an increased risk of developing a very rare but very dangerous skin reaction (one called “Stevens-Johnson Syndrome”).
If you decide to take Lamictal, your doctor will help you monitor yourself for skin rashes as you undergo early treatment.
You can buy brand-name Lamictal through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $0.65 per tablet or get the generic for less.
Depakote ER
Depakote ER (divalproex sodium extended release) can also help people manage their BPD. Depakote ER, first developed as an anticonvulsant, is used today as a vital mood stabilizer. It can be a very effective option for people who are dealing with acute mania, or “mixed episodes”–situations where patients grapple with both depressive symptoms and manic ones at the same time.
Depakote ER, like all medications, does come with side effects and risks.
Patients who take Depakote ER may experience side effects ranging from tremors to weight gain, along with a heightened risk of conditions like pancreatitis and liver toxicity. Your doctor will likely want to monitor your liver function very closely while you are on this drug.
You can buy brand-name Depakote ER through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $0.50 per pill or the generic for a cheaper price than that.
Comparison of Medications for Specific Symptoms
Managing conditions like BPD and schizophrenia can be exceedingly complex–and also quite individualized. Your doctor will be able to help you understand which medications (and which combination of medications) are best for you, uniquely.
That said, there are some medications that are more commonly prescribed to treat certain aspects of BPD or schizophrenia.
Here, we’ll go over just a few of the most common indications and which medications are generally the first lines of treatment.
Medications for Managing Psychosis and Mania
If a patient is dealing with mania and psychosis, antipsychotic medications can be very helpful. These usually include options such as Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Rexulti. These drugs work by helping people manage hallucinations, delusions, and rapid mood shifts.
Choosing between these medications requires considering your specific symptoms, as well as the type of side effects you’re willing to risk.
For example, Seroquel has sedative properties in some patients. This may be a benefit for people who already deal with insomnia, but if you don’t struggle with sleeping and have a job that requires 100% alertness for safety (e.g., operating heavy machinery), Seroquel could be a poor fit for you and your lifestyle.
Another example?
Zyprexa is a powerful option for patients who need a way to manage manic symptoms, but it does have a higher likelihood than other medications of triggering weight gain and resultant metabolic syndrome. If a patient is already diabetic or struggling with weight, other medications may be a better fit.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions To Watch For
BPD and schizophrenia medications are often high-powered. The experience of taking them can be intense.
Even though taking these drugs under the supervision of a trusted, licensed healthcare professional can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, they can also come with side effects (especially in the first few months after you start taking them).
Being aware of what could happen and being prepared with ways to mitigate side effects can make a big difference. Here’s what to look out for—and some strategic ways to lessen the frustration of your experience on these medications.
Common Side Effects of BPD and Schizophrenia Drugs
Many medications used to treat these disorders come with certain side effects. They include:
Weight gain. While gaining a few pounds may or may not be an issue, depending on your health goals, weight gain can lead to an increased risk of conditions like diabetes.
Mitigating weight gain may require the adoption of a balanced diet and commitment to staying active on a regular basis.
Sedation. Some of these medications can cause daytime drowsiness.
Mitigating sedative side effects may require a commitment to sleep hygiene best practices—e.g., limiting caffeine intake later in the day, and prioritizing a relaxing nighttime routine, so you get the best possible sleep during the night. If your doctor agrees, it may be a good idea to take your medication just before bed, too.
Gastrointestinal issues. Some medications can lead to stomach upset, nausea, or constipation.
Mitigating the most common GI issues may require eating small meals, avoiding acidic food, prioritizing fiber-rich food, and opting for OTC or natural ways to ease stomach pain or nausea (e.g., ginger or peppermint tea).
Minimizing these risks and working toward the best possible medication experience for you, your mind, and your body will require working with a licensed healthcare professional. Your doctor can help you monitor your progress and adjust your doses or even switch your medications, if that becomes necessary.
If you’re in need of high-quality and brand-name yet low-cost meds for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, you’re in the right place. Once you have a valid prescription for your medications, upload it and buy your meds through NorthWestPharmacy.com—all from the comfort of your own home.
Got any questions? We’ve got answers. Feel free to speak with our team of customer service representatives and licensed pharmacists, or read our Canadian pharmacy reviews page.
The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you and your healthcare needs.
