If you have bipolar disorder, you've probably heard about the medications that doctors often prescribe. But sometimes, you've also heard about calcium channel blockers , a type of medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease. So let's see if this is true and if these medications really help with bipolar disorder.
Simply put, what are these calcium channel blockers?
To understand this, let's think about the cells in our body. Our cells have little gates that let the mineral calcium in and out. These are called calcium channels. To be precise, these drugs target the type called ``L-type calcium channels''.
These calcium channel blockers work by blocking those channels. This causes the blood vessels to widen, lowering blood pressure. It also affects the functioning of nerve cells.
Okay, so now you're probably thinking, "How does a blood pressure medication affect mood?" That's a good question. It's not yet scientifically clear how these medications affect bipolar disorder. But researchers suspect that some people with bipolar disorder may have a change in the way that nerve cells in their brains use calcium to control various functions. So they believe that these medications could help stabilize mood by affecting that process.
But it's important to remember that calcium channel blockers are still in the research phase as a treatment for bipolar disorder. This means that they are not a commonly prescribed, standard treatment.
What types of drugs have been studied for bipolar disorder?
There are several types of calcium channel blockers that have been studied for their ability to control mood swings (mania or depression) in bipolar disorder. Some of the main ones are:
Do not use these medications for any reason unless prescribed by your doctor.
Are we also aware of the side effects?
Like any medication, calcium channel blockers can have side effects. Although these medications are generally said to have fewer serious side effects than some of the more powerful medications used for bipolar disorder, their effectiveness has not yet been proven, so it is important to be aware of the side effects.
Let's look at it in the table below.
| Common side effects | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Low Blood Pressure | Since this is the main function of this medicine, your doctor will check your blood pressure regularly. If you feel dizzy or your eyes are turning blue, tell them about it. |
| Headache and feeling dizzy | Some people may experience headaches when they first start taking the medication. This usually goes away after a few days. If it persists, talk to your doctor. |
| Gum swelling, bleeding | This is something that happens to some people. It can be controlled by brushing, flossing, and massaging your gums daily. |
| Slowed heart rate | If your heart rate feels unusually slow, let your doctor know. |
| Swelling of the legs, feeling lethargic, constipation | Other symptoms like these may also occur. It's best not to panic about any of this and talk openly with your doctor. |
| Numbness in the limbs | Some people may experience tingling in their hands and feet. Although this is usually not serious, it is important to let your doctor know. |
Be careful during pregnancy!
This is very important. If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately . It is not yet known whether this medicine will affect an unborn baby, so it is important to follow your doctor's advice .
So what is the final decision?
When we put all of this together, what we see is that calcium channel blockers are not a first-line or standard treatment for bipolar disorder.
Sometimes, if you are not responding well to the medications commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder, or if they are not producing the desired results, a doctor may very carefully recommend this medication as an alternative.
But the most important thing is that there is still uncertainty about the effectiveness of these medications. Therefore, only the doctor who examines you can make a decision about this. Never start or stop taking these medications just because you read about them on the Internet or because someone else told you to.
Take-Home Message
- Calcium channel blockers are a type of medication mainly used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease.
- These are used at the research level for bipolar disorder and are not a standard treatment.
- It is not yet clear how effective this medication is for bipolar disorder.
- Side effects such as low blood pressure, headache, and swelling of the legs may occur.
- Never start or stop taking this medication without your doctor's advice. Talk to your doctor about any problems.
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