Mood stabilizers are a class of medications primarily used to manage mood disorders characterized by mood shifts. They are designed to help level out the "highs" (mania or hypomania) and "lows" (depression), reducing the frequency and severity of episodes to help maintain a more balanced emotional state.
What they treat:Â
Bipolar disorder: The most common use for mood stabilizers, including both Bipolar I and Bipolar II.
Severe depression: Sometimes prescribed alongside antidepressants to increase their effectiveness.
Schizoaffective disorder: A condition with symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder.
Commonly used mood stabilizers:
Anti-seizure Meds
Originally developed to treat seizures, many are also effective as mood stabilizers.
Lamotrigine (Lamictal):
Uses: Primarily effective for treating and preventing bipoalr depression.
Side effects: A rare but serious side effect is a severe, life-threatening skin rash known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Patients should report any rash to their doctor immediately.
Valproate/Divalproex (Depakote):
Uses: Approved for treating acute mania and can be helpful for those who experience rapid-cycling episodes or mixed states.
Side effects: May cause nausea, weight gain, fatigue, and hair loss.
Important considerations: Requires routine blood tests to monitor liver function and blood cell counts.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol):
Uses: Used for acute manic and mixed episodes, especially in patients who do not respond to lithium.
Side effects: May cause dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.
Atypical antipsychotics
Antipsychotic medications also have mood-stabilizing effects and can be used alone or in combination with other mood stabilizers. Examples include quetiapine (Seroquel), olanzapine (Zyprexa), aripiprazole (Abilify) and lurasidone (Latuda).
Side effects: May cause increased appetite, weight gain, and drowsiness.
Lithium
What it is: One of the oldest and most widely used mood stabilizers. It is effective for treating and preventing manic episodes and has been shown to reduce the risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder. Its the Gold Standard in treatment of bipolar disorder.
Side effects: may include nausea, stomach cramps, increased thirst, fatigue, and mild hand tremors.
Important monitoring: Because lithium levels in the blood can be harmful if too high, it requires regular blood tests to ensure it stays within a safe range.
Important considerations: Changes in fluid and salt intake can affect lithium levels. It's important to have adequate oral fluids, mainly water. And not dehydrated, and not dehydrate yourself when hiking or doing other activities.