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About Bipolar DepressionShining lyte on bipolar depression

Understanding bipolar depression

Bipolar depression is part of a larger mental health condition called bipolar disorder, which causes extreme changes in mood and behavior. These changes in mood, known as mood episodes, can cause you to experience lows (bipolar depression) and highs (mania).

The lows and highs of bipolar disorder

The lows of bipolar disorder, also known as depressive episodes, can make people feel sad or hopeless. They may lose interest or pleasure in most activities, even those they once enjoyed. These depressive episodes may be present throughout their lives, and some episodes may even last several months.

The highs of bipolar disorder, also known as manic or hypomanic episodes, can cause people to feel euphoric, impulsive, unusually irritable, or have an abnormal amount of increased energy.

People with bipolar disorder may have different symptoms, so it is important to speak with your healthcare provider to discuss how it affects you.

~90% of people report severe impairment due to depressive episodes.
Depressive episodes can be the more debilitating state for some people and may have a greater impact than manic episodes on everyday functioning.

It’s 3X more likely for people with bipolar disorder to experience bipolar depression than mania. While some people with bipolar disorder fluctuate between lows and highs, bipolar depression may be experienced more often than manic or hypomanic episodes.

The common symptoms of bipolar depression

Bipolar depression can be difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat. Studies show that people with bipolar disorder are often misdiagnosed as having another kind of depression because the symptoms are so similar.

Knowing the common symptoms of bipolar depression and talking about them with your healthcare provider can help you get the diagnosis you need.

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Weight loss or gain (due to changes in how much you eat)
Depressed mood most of the day
Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed

Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
Feeling irritated easily
Fatigue or loss of energy
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making decisions
Thoughts of harming yourself

Men and women experience bipolar disorder at similar rates
~11 million US adults experience bipolar disorder in their lifetime
Similar population size for people with bipolar I or bipolar II depression
18-29 year olds have the highest rates of bipolar disorder

Bipolar I vs Bipolar II Depression: What’s the difference?

Bipolar I Depression

While many people may spend most of their time in depression, they also experience at least one manic episode
Some people may also experience hypomania, or episodes of a noticeably elevated mood that don’t always impact daily functioning

Bipolar II Depression

People tend to experience longer depressive episodes that can be more severe than with bipolar I
Having at least one depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, without a manic episode

Depressive episodes can affect many different parts of your life including sleep, energy, activity, behavior, and the ability to think clearly

Hear from a real person with bipolar depression

Paul talks openly about his experience with bipolar depression and his search for a medicine that works for him.Rewind 10sPlayForward 10s

00:00

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Read transcript

Start the conversation about bipolar depression symptoms using the Mood Disorder Questionnaire

Unlike some medicines that only treat bipolar I, CAPLYTA treats both bipolar I and bipolar II depression in adults.

Learn more

Next Section:About CAPLYTA

Important Safety Information

Medicines like CAPLYTA can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). CAPLYTA is not approved for treating people with dementia-related psychosis.

CAPLYTA and antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, adolescents, and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Patients and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when CAPLYTA or an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms to your healthcare provider immediately.

Do not take CAPLYTA if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Get emergency medical help if you are having an allergic reaction (e.g., rash, itching, hives, swelling of the tongue, lip, face, or throat).

CAPLYTA may cause serious side effects, including:

Stroke (cerebrovascular problems) in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis that can lead to death.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): high fever, confusion, changes in your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, stiff muscles, and increased sweating; these may be symptoms of a rare but potentially fatal condition. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room if you experience signs and symptoms of NMS.
Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia, TD) in your face, tongue, or other body parts. TD may not go away, even if you stop taking CAPLYTA. It may also occur after you stop taking CAPLYTA.
Problems with your metabolism including high blood sugar, diabetes, increased fat (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels in your blood and weight gain. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar, fat levels and weight before you start and during your treatment with CAPLYTA. Extremely high blood sugar levels can lead to coma or death. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of high blood sugar: feeling very thirsty, hungry, sick to your stomach, needing to urinate more than usual, weak/tired, or confused, or your breath smells fruity.
Low white blood cell count. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests during the first few months of treatment with CAPLYTA.
Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
Falls. CAPLYTA may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position (orthostatic hypotension), and can slow your thinking and motor skills which may lead to falls that can cause broken bones or other injuries.
Seizures (convulsions).
Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activities. Until you know how CAPLYTA affects you, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Problems controlling your body temperature so that you feel too warm. Avoid getting overheated or dehydrated while taking CAPLYTA.
Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into the lungs.

The most common side effects of CAPLYTA include sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth.

These are not all the possible side effects of CAPLYTA. Tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had heart problems or a stroke, high or low blood pressure, diabetes, or high blood sugar, problems with cholesterol, have or have had seizures (convulsions), kidney or liver problems, or a low white blood cell count. CAPLYTA may cause fertility problems in females and males. You should notify your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking CAPLYTA. CAPLYTA may cause abnormal involuntary movements and/or withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies exposed to CAPLYTA during the third trimester. Talk to your healthcare provider if you breastfeed or are planning to breastfeed as CAPLYTA passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you’re taking. CAPLYTA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how CAPLYTA works, causing possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicines while taking CAPLYTA without talking to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs. Contact Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. at 1-888-611-4824 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

CAPLYTA is available in 10.5 mg, 21 mg, and 42 mg capsules.

Indications

CAPLYTA is a prescription medication used in adults for the treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder (bipolar depression). CAPLYTA can be taken alone or with the medicines lithium or valproate for bipolar depression. It is not known if CAPLYTA is safe and effective in children.

Please see Medication Guide, including Boxed Warnings.

Important Safety Information

Medicines like CAPLYTA can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). CAPLYTA is not approved for treating people with dementia-related psychosis.

CAPLYTA and antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, adolescents, and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Patients and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when CAPLYTA or an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms to your healthcare provider immediately.

CAPLYTA may cause serious side effects, including:

Stroke (cerebrovascular problems) in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis that can lead to death.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): high fever, confusion, changes in your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, stiff muscles, and increased sweating; these may be symptoms of a rare but potentially fatal condition. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room if you experience signs and symptoms of NMS.
Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia, TD) in your face, tongue, or other body parts. TD may not go away, even if you stop taking CAPLYTA. It may also occur after you stop taking CAPLYTA.
Problems with your metabolism including high blood sugar, diabetes, increased fat (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels in your blood and weight gain. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar, fat levels and weight before you start and during your treatment with CAPLYTA. Extremely high blood sugar levels can lead to coma or death. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of high blood sugar: feeling very thirsty, hungry, sick to your stomach, needing to urinate more than usual, weak/tired, or confused, or your breath smells fruity.
Low white blood cell count. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests during the first few months of treatment with CAPLYTA.
Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position.
Falls. CAPLYTA may make you sleepy or dizzy, may cause a decrease in your blood pressure when changing position (orthostatic hypotension), and can slow your thinking and motor skills which may lead to falls that can cause broken bones or other injuries.
Seizures (convulsions).
Sleepiness, drowsiness, feeling tired, difficulty thinking and doing normal activities. Until you know how CAPLYTA affects you, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Problems controlling your body temperature so that you feel too warm. Avoid getting overheated or dehydrated while taking CAPLYTA.
Difficulty swallowing that can cause food or liquid to get into the lungs.

The most common side effects of CAPLYTA include sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth.

CAPLYTA is available in 10.5 mg, 21 mg, and 42 mg capsules.

Please see Medication Guide, including Boxed Warnings.

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CAPLYTA is a registered trademark and LET IN THE LYTE is a trademark of Intra‑Cellular Therapies, Inc.

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Articles, books and commentary by Joel Snell

BI-POLAR DEPRESSION

About Bipolar DepressionShining lyte on bipolar depression

Understanding bipolar depression

The lows and highs of bipolar disorder

The common symptoms of bipolar depression

Bipolar I vs Bipolar II Depression: What’s the difference?

Bipolar I Depression

Bipolar II Depression

Hear from a real person with bipolar depression

Start the conversation about bipolar depression symptoms using the Mood Disorder Questionnaire

Important Safety Information

Medicines like CAPLYTA can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). CAPLYTA is not approved for treating people with dementia-related psychosis.

Indications

Important Safety Information

Medicines like CAPLYTA can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). CAPLYTA is not approved for treating people with dementia-related psychosis.