WHAT IS BIPOLAR 2 DISORDER?

An intense, treatable mood disorder with relapsing and remitting course
characterized by depressive episodes and at least one hypomanic episode.

Hypomania is identified by periods of elevated mood, elevated self attitude and increased vital sense.
It differs from Mania because it is less severe and doesn't cause
impairment in functioning, require hospitalization, or have psychotic features.

TREATMENT & PREVENTION

Medication is usually the first course of treatment for Bipolar 2 Disorder.
People with Bipolar 2 Disorder can benefit from preventive
drugs that level out moods over the long term.
These medications prevent the negative consequences of hypomania
and also help to prevent epiodes of Depression

MOOD STABILIZERS

Lithium: Lithium (Eskalith, Lithoboid) is a simple metal in pill form that
is highly effective at controlling high mood swings in Bipolar Disorder.
For 60 years, Lithium has been used to treat Bipolar Disorder.
Lithium can take weeks to work fully, making it better for long-term treatment
than for acute hypomanic episodes.
Blood levels of lithium and other laboratory tests (such as kidney and thyroid functioning)
must be monitored periodically to avoid side effects.

Carbamazepine: Carbamazepine (Tegretol) has been used to treat mania since
the 1970s. It's possible value for treating bipolar depression, or preventing future highs and lows
is less well-established. Blood tests to monitor liver functioning and white blood cell counts
also are sometimes necessary.

Valproate: Valproate (Depakote) is an antiseizure drug that also works to level out moods.
It has a more rapid onset of action than lithium, and it can also be used "off label"
for prevention of highs and lows.

ANTIPSYCHOTICS

By definition, hypomanic episodes do not involve psychosis and do not interfere with functioning.
Antipsychotic drugs, such as aripiprazole (Abilify), asenapine (Saphris)
cariprazine (Vraylar), quetiapine (Seroquel), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal)
and ziprasidone (Geodon) and others, are still sometimes used
in hypomania and some are used for depression in bipolar II disorder.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Seroquel and Seroquel XR are the only medications
FDA-approved specifically for bipolar II depression.
Common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
are also sometimes used in bipolar II depression, and are thought to be less likely to
cause or worsen hypomania than is the case in bipolar I disorder.
Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, may also help.

Because bipolar II disorder typically involves recurrent episodes
continuous and ongoing treatment with medicines is often recommended
to prevent relapsing

The causes of bipolar disorder are not well understood.
It's not known if bipolar II disorder can be prevented entirely.