Medical monitoring in patients with bipolar disorder: clinical recommendations.

Treatments for bipolar disorder can increase the risk for thyroid dysfunction, weight gain, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Because of these risks, a planned regimen of patient monitoring is recommended to track health concerns such as fluctuations in thyroid levels, weight, blood pressure, glucose levels, and lipid profile. Different health tests are needed depending on the type of medication the patient is prescribed. ©Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.