The symptoms of bipolar disorder can also make someone more likely to experiment with substances or attempt to self-medicate, as discussed in more detail below. Medication compliance is an important issue to consider when assessing the effectiveness of medications. Side effects, including lethargy, weight gain, and tremors, were listed as the main reason for non-compliance with lithium (Weiss et al. 1998).

Navigating the Challenges of Dual Disorders

Or, the symptoms of bipolar disorder might overlap with other disorders, and you also may have another health condition that needs to be treated along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can make bipolar disorder symptoms worse or make treatment less successful. While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, people with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods of time. Pharmacological treatments include mood stabilizers like lithium and valproate, which help control mood swings and may reduce substance cravings. Medications such as naltrexone are used to diminish the reinforcing effects of alcohol and opioids.

• The overlapping symptoms between bipolar episodes and substance effects pose significant diagnostic challenges.
• There are a number of pharmacotherapy trials, and psychotherapy trials that can aid programme development.
• Integrated treatment approaches are critical for recovery, incorporating therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and tailored medication strategies to manage both disorders effectively.
• A third feature of IGT is a discussion of the relationship between the two disorders.

Seeking Professional Help and Support for Dual Diagnosis

Emerging research has found that there is a genetic link between AUD and depression. Substance-induced depression is different from major depressive disorder and, by definition, should improve once a person stops consuming substances (such as alcohol). Alcohol consumption can lead to feelings of depression due to chemical reactions.

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Because women metabolize alcohol differently than men, and tend to have smaller bodies, the same amount of alcohol can have a stronger effect for them. The initial contact points — mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach — are most vulnerable, which is why these areas show some of the strongest links to alcohol-related cancers. But acetaldehyde and alcohol’s other metabolic effects also impact the liver, where it contributes to inflammation and fatty liver disease, and the brain, where it disrupts signaling related to mood, memory and decision making.

Thinking of themselves as having a single disorder aids in the process of acceptance. As a general rule, it seems appropriate to diagnose bipolar disorder if the symptoms clearly occur before the onset of the alcoholism or if they persist during periods of sustained abstinence. The adequate amount of abstinence for diagnostic purposes has not been clearly defined.

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• Thus, effective psychosocial (84), psychoeducational (85, 86) or psychotherapeutic (87, 88) intervention for AUD and BD can also positively impact on medication adherence and, by this, ameliorate the course especially of BD (84).
• The future development of novel therapies relies upon increased psychiatric and medical awareness of the co-morbidity, and further research into novel therapies for the comorbid group.
• Especially a history of verbal abuse and rates of social phobia and depression are higher in female than male BD patients with AUD (32).
• For example, drinking while taking lithium for mood stabilization can lead to toxic levels of the drug in the body due to alcohol’s dehydrating effect.
• Consequences include ineffective symptom management, medication side effects, and increased risk of relapse.

Besides psychotherapy an individually tailored pharmacotherapy is essential in almost all BD patients with comorbid AUD. For BD, pharmacotherapy is an essential component to stabilize mood and prevent recurrences, whereas its role for treating AUD beyond controlling acute withdrawal symptoms is less clear. Randomized controlled studies in BD traditionally exclude patient with concurrent SUD. Thus, the evidence for choosing a mood stabilizer in BD with comorbid AUD is rather weak; strictly speaking, high levels evidence consists of altogether three placebo-controlled studies in this patient group (104–106).

Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, healthcare professionals use medicines and talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, to treat bipolar disorder. Treating individuals with both bipolar disorder and substance use disorder (SUD) requires a comprehensive, integrated approach that concurrently addresses both conditions.

However, it’s crucial to monitor activity levels to prevent triggering manic episodes. Much research is done investigating risk factors and contributing factors of bipolar disorder. As one of the strategies for maintaining bipolar disorder, having a regular daily routine is mentioned. Some interesting findings were observed when studies investigated what happens if this routine is disrupted. It was found 5 things to know about bipolar disorder and alcohol use that not keeping a routine increases the risk of interrupting the natural cycle and setting off depressive episodes of bipolar. Furthermore, irregular circadian rhythms and, therefore, irregular sleeping patterns are thought to contribute to episodes of both mania and depression.

The Importance of Comprehensive Treatment Plans for Lasting Recovery

Bipolar disorder, often called manic depression, is a mood disorder that is characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood from euphoria to severe depression, interspersed with periods of normal mood (i.e., euthymia). Bipolar disorder represents a significant public health problem, which often goes undiagnosed and untreated for lengthy periods. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1 to 2 percent of the population and often starts in early adulthood. So, people who experienced increased bipolar symptoms over six months did not consistently increase their drinking to indicate self-medicating practices. The fact that there was no evidence of the self-medicating hypothesis suggests that we may need to reexamine our understanding of the relationship between bipolar disorder and alcohol. In conclusion, the combination of bipolar disorder and alcohol use presents significant challenges, but with proper understanding, treatment, and support, these challenges can be overcome.

Drinking alcohol can lead to longer and more difficult alcohol withdrawal, higher treatment costs, impaired daily functioning, an increased risk of suicide, and poorer overall health for people with bipolar disorder. Using alcohol to cope might seem like a quick fix, but it can actually make bipolar symptoms worse. In fact, a study from JAMA Network found that people with bipolar disorder who drank more than usual experienced more severe symptoms of depression and mania in the following months. You might be surprised to learn just how common it is for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse to occur together. Studies show that 40–70% of people with bipolar disorder will experience a substance use disorder at some point, with alcohol being the most commonly abused substance. That’s a lot higher than the general population, which shows just how closely these two issues are linked.

It’s more complicated than just mood swings

The following obstacles can make successful treatment more difficult and require a personalised approach for addressing bipolar alcoholic traits, which is essential for lasting recovery. Medications such as mood stabilisers, antipsychotics and antidepressants must be closely monitored to avoid adverse interactions during alcohol withdrawal treatment. Medical supervision is also provided to ensure safe pharmacological treatment especially when dealing with bipolar alcohol abuse. It can be difficult to get the medication right with bipolar disorder because each person is different and may respond differently to medications.