Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related conditions by reducing the frequency and severity of manic and depressive episodes. Lithium is the prototypical mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic index requiring close monitoring.
Mechanism of Action
Mood Stabilizers work by helping to balance certain chemicals in the brain, like neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) and ions (like sodium and calcium). They can calm overactive brain signals and boost underactive ones, helping to prevent extreme mood swings. Some drugs in this class, like lithium, are thought to affect how brain cells communicate, while others, like valproate and carbamazepine, stabilize electrical activity in the brain. This balancing act helps to keep a person's mood more even and stable.
Clinical Uses
This class of drugs is primarily used to treat bipolar disorder, a condition that causes extreme mood swings including periods of high energy (mania) and low energy (depression). They help to prevent both manic and depressive episodes. Some medications in this class are also used to treat certain types of seizures (epilepsy) or nerve pain. They can be prescribed for adults, and sometimes for children and teens, depending on the specific medication and condition.
Side Effects & Safety
Common side effects can include nausea, stomach upset, dizziness, drowsiness, weight gain, and tremors. More serious but less common side effects can include kidney problems (with lithium), liver problems (with valproate), and severe skin rashes (with lamotrigine). Patients should be aware of a black box warning for some medications in this class regarding serious skin reactions and, for valproate, liver failure and pancreatitis, especially in young children.
Mood Stabilizers Medications (7)
CARBAMAZEPINE
Brand: Carbamazepine
CARBAMAZEPINE (brand name: Carbamazepine) is a Mood Stabilizers. INDICATIONS AND USAGE Epilepsy Carbamazepine is indicated for use as an anticonvulsant drug. Evidence supporting efficacy of carbamazepine as an anticonvulsant was derived from active drug-controlled studies that enrolled patients with the following seizure types: 1. Partial seizures with complex…
$10–$50/month/month
DIVALPROEX SODIUM
Brand: divalproex sodium
DIVALPROEX SODIUM (brand name: divalproex sodium) is a Mood Stabilizers. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Divalproex sodium delayed-release tablets are an anti-epileptic drug indicated for: • Treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder (1.1) • Monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures; adjunctive…
$30–$150/month/month
LAMOTRIGINE
Brand: Lamotrigine
LAMOTRIGINE (brand name: Lamotrigine) is a Mood Stabilizers. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Lamotrigine is indicated for: Epilepsy — adjunctive therapy in patients aged 2 years and older: • partial-onset seizures. • primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. • generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. ( 1.1 ) Epilepsy—monotherapy in patients aged 16…
$10–$50/month/month
LITHIUM CARBONATE
Brand: Lithium Carbonate
LITHIUM CARBONATE (brand name: Lithium Carbonate) is a Mood Stabilizers. INDICATIONS Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets are indicated in the treatment of manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder, Manic (DSM-IV) is equivalent to Manic Depressive illness, Manic, in the older DSM-II terminology. Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets are also…
$15-$50/month/month
OXCARBAZEPINE
Brand: OXCARBAZEPINE
OXCARBAZEPINE (brand name: OXCARBAZEPINE) is a Mood Stabilizers. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Oxcarbazepine tablets are indicated for use as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults and as monotherapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in pediatric patients aged 4 years and above, and as adjunctive therapy in…
$15–$50/month/month
VALPROATE SODIUM
Brand: Valproate Sodium
VALPROATE SODIUM (brand name: Valproate Sodium) is a Mood Stabilizers. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Valproate sodium injection is indicated as an intravenous alternative in patients in whom oral administration of valproate products is temporarily not feasible in the following conditions: • Monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures and simple and…
$50–$250/month/month
VALPROIC ACID
Brand: Valproic Acid
VALPROIC ACID (brand name: Valproic Acid) is a Mood Stabilizers. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Valproic Acid Oral Solution is indicated for: Monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures; sole and adjunctive therapy of simple and complex absence seizures; adjunctive therapy in patients with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures ( 1 )…
$10–$50/month/month
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