Iloperidone for Bipolar Disorder

Most recent medication to be approved for bipolar disorder is an atypical anti-psychotic, Iloperidone. To be more specific, this drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults. This can be considered a significant development because new medications and treatments in the field of psychiatry are few.

Iloperidone is an atypical anti-psychotic, with a mixed D2/5HT2A antagonism as its mechanism of action. It was first approved for acute treatment of schizophrenia in adults. 

References:

•  Vanda Pharmaceuticals' Fanapt (iloperidone) receives US FDA approval for the acute treatment of bipolar I disorder. News release. Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. April 2, 2024. Accessed April 2, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanda-pharmaceuticals-fanapt-iloperidone-receives-us-fda-approval-for-the-acute-treatment-of-bipolar-i-disorder-302106405.html
• Torres R, Czeisler EL, Chadwick SR, Stahl SM, Smieszek SP, Xiao C, Polymeropoulos CM, Birznieks G, Polymeropoulos MH. Efficacy and Safety of Iloperidone in Bipolar Mania: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 15;85(1):23m14966. doi: 10.4088/JCP.23m14966. PMID: 38236020.

Bipolar Disorder - Differential Diagnoses

 Following organic and functional disorders might mimic symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

• Anxiety disorders (ex. generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder etc.)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cushing's disease/ syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Schizo-affective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Ref: 

1. World Health Organization(WHO). (1993). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. World Health Organization.
2. Price AL, Marzani-Nissen GR. Bipolar disorders: a review. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Mar 1. 85(5):483-93

Bipolar Disorder - Introduction

 It is a psychological disorder, coded as F31 in ICD 10 [1], characterized by unusual and pervasive changes in their mood. A person suffering from biploar disorder can go from feeling extremely sad to feeling extremely happy within a few days or in some case, in a few hours. 

Symptoms of this disorder are spread over a spectrum. Someone with severe symptoms, is easy to diagnose while diagnosing someone who is on the lower side of this spectrum is challenging. 

Ref:

1. World Health Organization(WHO). (1993). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. World Health Organization.