Mood stabilizer - Definition and Overview

A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder to suppress swings between mania and depression.

Mood stabilizers include:

• Lithium carbonate - Monitor blood lithium levels (therapeutic range: 0.6 - 1.2 mEq/L) and look for signs and symptoms of toxicity (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia).
• Valproic acid, divalproex sodium (Depakote^®), and sodium valproate (Depacon^®) - Available in extended release form. Can be very irritating to the stomach, especially when taken as valproic acid. Liver function and CBC should be monitored. Blood levels are required.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol^®) - CBC should be monitored; can lower WBC. Monitor blood levels.
• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal^®)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin^®)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal^®) - Monitor for signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson's syndrome which can be fatal.
• Topiramate (Topamax^®)

Other than lithium carbonate, most mood stabilizers are also anticonvulsants.

Many antipsychotics also have mood stabilizing effects and are thus commonly prescribed even when psychotic symptoms are absent.

It is also conjectured that Omega-3 fatty acids may have a mood stabilizing effect. However, more research is needed to verify this (a multi-year study of this is now being carried out as of 2001).

Mood stabilizers are also used in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and occasionally in other mood disorders if they are characterised by rapid and unstable mood shifts and it is felt that the patient might benefit from the medication.

References

• Manic-Depressive Illness by Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay Redfield Jamison.