For veterans struggling with mental health conditions, doctors may elect to prescribe medication to help manage their symptoms.
Of course, not every drug is right for every person, and different clients are expected to react differently. This makes isolating the most effective substance a challenge for some. It is important to remember that even helpful drugs can present their fair share of side effects. Banyan’s Veterans addiction treatment centers are breaking down what you need to know about taking Zoloft for bipolar disorder.
Facts About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, or bipolar, is a mental illness hallmarked by intense mood swings. These swings will consist of periods of intense mania followed by debilitating bouts of depression. There are no physical tests that can diagnose a person with this disorder. Neither brain scans nor blood screenings will do so, meaning that a doctor must look at a client’s symptoms and family history to diagnose.
The mania that a bipolar veteran or active-duty member will experience can range in severity. In some cases, they will experience hypomania, a less intense form of the symptoms. In most forms, however, a manic individual may feel good, with tons of energy and the ability to stay up for long periods. The disturbing thing is that the person will likely not be able to maintain their high at a reasonable level. It often escalates to outlandish stunts, financial losses, and wild schemes that never manifest.
The other factor of a bipolar diagnosis is a deep depression that many sufferers deal with. On their own, these feelings of sadness and emptiness would be hard to handle. But experiencing them after a period of almost inhuman happiness is likely to leave most service members unable to leave their beds. That is why it is crucial for someone struggling to seek out professional help before symptoms continue to escalate. For those in need of intensive care, our military rehab center offers residential mental health treatment to help clients learn to manage the symptoms that trouble them.
Does Zoloft Treat Bipolar?
Ultimately, it is not often the first choice of medication because taking Zoloft for bipolar disorder holds the ability to worsen symptoms of mania in a client. In lieu of that, medical professionals are likely to prescribe a mood stabilizer to help a client balance their symptoms out. While there is technically no cure for bipolar disorder, Zoloft has been used by doctors to help clients treat symptoms of acute bipolar depression.
This medication is also a helpful tool for clients who simply do not react well to mood stabilizers. Overall, while mixing Zoloft and bipolar disorder is not unheard of, it is not the first line of defense that doctors will take to help their clients manage symptoms. It is also worth noting that the risk of addiction is present with almost any substance.
Don’t Fall Victim to Prescription Pill Abuse
No matter the medication that a service member is prescribed, it is important that they adhere to the exact directions they are given. It is also crucial that if they feel any adverse effects, they do not change their drug routine without speaking with their doctor. Although some would assume that having a drug prescribed means there is no potential for any wrongdoing, this is not the case.
The reality is that it is just as likely for someone to abuse a drug from their doctor as they would from an illicit drug. This can ultimately leave people dealing with a dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and a correlating addiction. For service members who currently find themselves struggling with such a scenario, Banyan’s rehab for veterans offers effective addiction treatment programs that can help them regain control of their lives.
To learn more about the therapies and programs offered, call the Banyan Veterans in Recovery program at 888-280-4763.
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