Pros and Cons of Approved Therapies for Bipolar Depression and Ongoing Unmet Needs

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Patients with bipolar disorder spend more time depressed than manic, but fewer clinical trials have been conducted investigating treatments for bipolar depression than for bipolar mania. Olanzapine-fluoxetine combination, quetiapine, and lurasidone are the only FDA-approved treatments for bipolar depression. Clinical trials of these drugs show similar efficacy but different side effect profiles. Clinicians, therefore, should consider possible adverse events and individual patient characteristics when selecting treatments.