- This article refers to the medication. For other uses, see stabilizer. Stabilizer (spelt stabiliser in UK English may mean Stabilizer (aircraft, surfaces to help keep aircraft under control Stabilizer
A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication used to treat mood disorders characterized by intense and sustained mood shifts, which is not the same as "feeling good one minute and then bad the next. Psychiatric medication is a licenced Psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the Mental state and used to treat Mental disorders Usually utilized A mood disorder is the term given for a group of diagnoses in the DSM IV TR classification system where a disturbance in the person's emotional mood is hypothesised " The most common is bipolar disorder, where mood stabilizers suppress swings between mania and depression, and these drugs are also used in borderline personality disorder. Mania (from Greek μανία and that from μαίνομαι - mainomai, "to rage to be furious" is a severe medical condition Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Borderline personality disorder ( BPD) is a psychiatric diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-IV Personality Most mood stabilizers are anticonvulsants, with the important exception of lithium, which is the oldest and best known mood stabilizing drug. The anticonvulsants, also called antiepileptic drugs (abbreviated "AEDs" are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of epileptic Lithium in pharmacology refers to use of the Lithium Ion, Li+ as a drug
Most mood stabilizers are purely antimanic agents, meaning that they are effective at treating mania and mood cycling and shifting, but are not effective at treating depression. Mania (from Greek μανία and that from μαίνομαι - mainomai, "to rage to be furious" is a severe medical condition Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression The principal exceptions to that rule, because they treat both manic and depressive symptoms, are lamotrigine and lithium carbonate. Lamotrigine (marketed as Lamictal (ləˈmɪktəl by GlaxoSmithKline, called Lamictin in South Africa, he למוג'ין ( Lamogine Lithium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the formula Li2CO3 While an antimanic agent such as valproic acid or carbamazepine cannot treat depression directly as the former two drugs can, it is widely thought to help ward off depression in bipolar patients by keeping them out of mania and thus preventing their moods from cycling. Valproic acid ( VPA) is a Chemical compound that has found clinical use as an Anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in Carbamazepine ("CBZ" is an Anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug used primarily in the treatment of Epilepsy and Bipolar disorder
Nevertheless, an antidepressant is often prescribed in addition to the mood stabilizer during depressive phases. An antidepressant is a Psychiatric medication used for alleviating major depression or Dysthymia ('milder' depression This brings some risks, however, as antidepressants can induce mania, psychosis, and other disturbing problems in bipolar patients -- particularly when taken alone, but sometimes even when used with a mood stabilizer. Mania (from Greek μανία and that from μαίνομαι - mainomai, "to rage to be furious" is a severe medical condition Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic It should be noted that antidepressants' utility in treating depression-phase bipolar disorder is unclear.
Drugs commonly classed as mood stabilizers include:
- Lithium carbonate —- Lithium is the 'classic' mood stabilizer. Lithium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the formula Li2CO3 The first mood stabilizer to be approved of the United States Food and Drug Administration, and still popular in treatment. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Therapeutic drug monitoring required. Therapeutic drug monitoring is a branch of Clinical chemistry that specializes in the measurement of Medication levels in Blood. Monitor blood lithium levels (therapeutic range: 0. 6 or 0. 8-1. 2 mEq/L) and look for signs and symptoms of toxicity (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia). The equivalent (Eq or eq is a reasonably common Measurement unit used in Chemistry and the biological sciences. Ataxia (from Greek α- as a negative prefix + -τάξις, meaning "lack of order" is a neurological sign and symptom consisting See also lithium orotate, another lithium salt. Lithium orotate, is a Lithium salt of Pyrimidinecarboxylic acid and Lithium. Lithium in pharmacology refers to use of the Lithium Ion, Li+ as a drug
- Valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), and sodium valproate (Depacon) — Available in extended release form. Valproic acid ( VPA) is a Chemical compound that has found clinical use as an Anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in Abbott Laboratories ( is a diversified pharmaceuticals Health care company See also Valproic acid Valproate semisodium ( INN) or divalproex sodium ( USAN) consists of a compound of Sodium valproate and See also Valproic acid Sodium valproate ( INN) or valproate sodium ( USAN) is the sodium salt of Valproic acid and is an Can be very irritating to the stomach, especially when taken as valproic acid. Liver function and CBC should be monitored. Liver function tests (LFTs or LFs which include liver enzymes, are groups of Clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give information about the A complete blood count ( CBC) also known as full blood count ( FBC) or full blood exam ( FBE) or blood panel, is [Therapeutic drug monitoring is required.
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal) — Particularly effective for bipolar depression. Lamotrigine (marketed as Lamictal (ləˈmɪktəl by GlaxoSmithKline, called Lamictin in South Africa, he למוג'ין ( Lamogine GlaxoSmithKline plc () is a United Kingdom -based pharmaceutical, biological and Healthcare Company. Monitor for signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, very rare but can be fatal. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS is a life-threatening Condition affecting the Skin in which Cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol) — CBC should be monitored; can lower white blood cell count. Carbamazepine ("CBZ" is an Anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug used primarily in the treatment of Epilepsy and Bipolar disorder Novartis International AG is a multinational Pharmaceutical company based in Basel Switzerland that manufactures drugs such as Clozapine A complete blood count ( CBC) also known as full blood count ( FBC) or full blood exam ( FBE) or blood panel, is Therapeutic drug monitoring is required. Only very recently (as of 2005) FDA-approved for bipolar disorder, but widely used for many years.
- Gabapentin (Neurontin) — Not FDA approved for bipolar disorder. Gabapentin (brand name Neurontin) is a medication originally developed for the treatment of Epilepsy. Pfizer Incorporated ( is a major Pharmaceutical company, which ranks number one in the world in sales Recent scientific studies suggest it is not an effective treatment, however many psychiatrists continue to use it.
- Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) — Not FDA approved for bipolar disorder. Oxcarbazepine (marketed as Trileptal by Novartis or Trexapin by Taro is an Anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug, used primarily Novartis International AG is a multinational Pharmaceutical company based in Basel Switzerland that manufactures drugs such as Clozapine
- Topiramate (Topamax) — Not FDA approved for bipolar disorder. Topiramate (brand name Topamax) is an Anticonvulsant drug produced by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics and Noramco Inc Johnson & Johnson ( is a global American Pharmaceutical, Medical devices and consumer packaged goods Manufacturer founded in 1886
Sometimes mood stabilizers are used in combination, such as lithium with one of the anticonvulsants. The anticonvulsants, also called antiepileptic drugs (abbreviated "AEDs" are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of epileptic
Many atypical antipsychotics also have mood stabilizing effects and are thus commonly prescribed even when psychotic symptoms are absent. Antipsychotics are a group of Psychoactive drugs commonly but not exclusively used to treat Psychosis, which is typified by Schizophrenia. Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic It is also conjectured that Omega-3 fatty acids may have a mood stabilizing effect. n −3 fatty acids (popularly referred to as ω−3 fatty acids or omega-3 fatty acids) are a family of unsaturated Fatty acids that However, more research is needed to verify this (a multi-year study of this is now being carried out as of 2001).
See also
References
- Manic-Depressive Illness by Frederick K. A section of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System. This article is an expansion of a section entitled '''Treatment''' from within the main article Bipolar disorder The emphasis Goodwin and Kay Redfield Jamison.
External links
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