Best treatments for bipolar disorder
43 products may treat bipolar disorder, spanning FDA drug classes such as anti-epileptic agent, mood stabilizer, atypical antipsychotic. The current highest-rated option is depakote. Ranked below by our independent recall-safety rating (rated where FDA data exists) — not medical advice; always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 43 drugs we list for bipolar disorder, 37 are available as lower-cost generics, spanning classes such as anti-epileptic agent, mood stabilizer, atypical antipsychotic. They’re ranked by each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for bipolar disorder — so confirm the right choice with your prescriber.
Understanding bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can be chronic (persistent or constantly recurring) or episodic (occurring occasionally and at irregular intervals). It involves mood episodes with noticeable changes in behavior, energy, and activity levels. During a manic episode a person may feel very up, high, elated, irritable, or touchy, with more activity than usual, racing thoughts, and a decreased need for sleep. During a depressive episode a person may feel very down, sad, or hopeless, slowed down, with trouble concentrating and a lack of interest in almost all activities. A mixed episode has both manic and depressive symptoms. There are three main types: bipolar I, defined by manic episodes lasting at least 7 days; bipolar II, a pattern of depressive and less-severe hypomanic episodes; and cyclothymic disorder. According to NIMH, diagnosis is based on the severity, length, and frequency of a person's symptoms over their lifetime and their family history; a clinician may use a physical exam, medical history, tests to rule out other conditions, and a mental health evaluation. Bipolar disorder usually requires lifelong treatment and does not go away on its own. This overview is general information and not medical advice.
First-line treatment
Under the UK NICE guideline "Bipolar disorder: assessment and management" (CG185), for a person with an acute manic or hypomanic episode who is not already taking an antipsychotic or mood stabiliser, clinicians are advised to offer haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone, taking into account any advance statements, the person's preference, and clinical context. For long-term management, NICE recommends offering lithium as the first-line, long-term pharmacological treatment; if lithium is ineffective or unsuitable, an antipsychotic may be considered. NICE also recommends offering a structured psychological intervention designed for bipolar disorder alongside medication. Valproate should not be offered to women and girls able to have children unless other options are ineffective or not tolerated, the risks (including to an unborn child) have been discussed, and a Pregnancy Prevention Programme is in place. A clinician individualizes the plan for each person.
Top-rated picks for bipolar disorder: 1. Depakote · 2. Asenapine Maleate · 3. Depakote ER
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Class | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Anti-epileptic Agent | Generic | $6 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Atypical Antipsychotic | Generic | $74 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Anti-epileptic Agent | Generic | $6 | View → | |
| 4 | 70/100 | Prescription | Solution | — | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 5 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | — | No data | — | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Atypical Antipsychotic | Generic | $33 | View → | |
| 7 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Atypical Antipsychotic | No data | — | View → | |
| 8 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Atypical Antipsychotic | No data | — | View → | |
| 9 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Atypical Antipsychotic | No data | — | View → | |
| 10 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Anti-epileptic Agent | Generic | $4 | View → |
Narrow by drug class
Explore the class hubs: atypical antipsychotic · anti-epileptic agent · mood stabilizer · benzodiazepine
Full ranking · 43 treatments
depakote
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Depakote (Divalproex Sodium) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, Absence Epilepsy, Complex Partial Epilepsy.
Pharmacy pays
~$5.99 /30
Save up to 83% in classasenapine maleate
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Asenapine Maleate is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$69.80/30· 3 forms Save up to 97% in class
depakote er
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Depakote ER (Divalproex Sodium) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, Absence Epilepsy, Complex Partial Epilepsy.
Pharmacy pays
~$5.99 /30
Save up to 83% in classeprontia
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Eprontia (Topiramate) is a medication used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.77/30· 8 formshorizant
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Horizant (Gabapentin Enacarbil) is a medication used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Phobic Disorders, Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Price varies
invega
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Invega (Paliperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$28.84/30· 4 forms Save up to 94% in class- Invega Hafyera
- Invega Sustenna
- Invega Trinza
- Lamictal
- Lamictal Cd
- Lamictal ODT
- Risperdal
- Saphris
- Tegretol-XR
- Topamax
- Divalproex Sodium
- Uzedy
- Carbatrol
- Clonazepam
- Clozaril
- Equetro
- Erzofri
- Gabapentin
- Gabitril
- Gralise
- Klonopin
- Lamictal XR
- Lamotrigine
- Latuda
- Lurasidone Hydrochloride
- Neurontin
- Paliperidone
- Quetiapine Fumarate
- Rykindo
- Secuado
- Seroquel
- Seroquel XR
- Subvenite
- Versacloz
- Zyprexa
- Zyprexa Relprevv
- Zyprexa Zydis
Frequently asked
- What treats bipolar disorder?
- Our catalog lists 43 products that may treat bipolar disorder, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists; the current top-rated option is depakote.
- What is the best-rated treatment for bipolar disorder?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — depakote ranks highest among the products we list for bipolar disorder. Always consult a professional.
- How are these treatments ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.
- What types of drugs treat bipolar disorder?
- Treatments for bipolar disorder span FDA drug classes including anti-epileptic agent, mood stabilizer, atypical antipsychotic, benzodiazepine. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.
Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.
Sources
The clinical overview above is written from these authoritative public-health and medical-society sources, independently reviewed against each.