Bipolar disorder lorazepam

Fieve RR, Platman SR, Plutchik RR The use of lithium in affective disorders, I acute endogenous depression. Am J Psychiatry 125 79-83, 1968 Fieve RR, Kumbaraci T, Dunner DL Lithium prophylaxis of depression in bipolar I, bipolar II, and unipolar patients. Am J Psychiatry 133 925-930, 1976 File SE Rapid development of tolerance to the sedative effects of lorazepam and triazolam in rats. Psychopharmacology 73 240-245, 1981... 

Antipsychotic drugs are also indicated for schizoaffective disorders, which share characteristics of both schizophrenia and affective disorders. No fundamental difference between these two diagnoses has been reliably demonstrated. They are part of a continuum with bipolar psychotic disorder. The psychotic aspects of the illness require treatment with antipsychotic drugs, which may be used with other drugs such as antidepressants, lithium, or valproic acid. The manic phase in bipolar affective disorder often requires treatment with antipsychotic agents, although lithium or valproic acid supplemented with high-potency benzodiazepines (eg, lorazepam or clonazepam) may suffice in milder cases. Recent controlled trials support the efficacy of monotherapy with atypical antipsychotics in the acute phase (up to 4 weeks) of mania, and olanzapine and quetiapine has been approved for this indication. 

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