Mood stabilizers are medications intended to regulate both manic and depressive mood states that occur in individuals with bipolar disorder. Development of these medications began 40 years ago and they include drugs from many classes including anticonvulsants and antipsychotics.
Eighty to 90 percent of people with bipolar disorder can be effectively treated with mood stabilizers and therapy. The most common mood stabilizers include lithium carbonate, valproic acid and carbamazepine, according to the National Mental Health Information Center.
Lithium Carbonate
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lithium carbonate, the first mood stabilizer, in the 1970s. Although scientists still do not completely understand its mechanism of action, lithum (Eskalith) continues to be a first line treatment for both manic and depressive episodes, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Patients may take lithium for years to manage their symptoms.
Side effects include hand tremor, excessive urination and mild thirst during the initial phases of treatment. Diarrhea, vomiting and muscle weakness may indicate lithium intoxication, a serious condition, according to the Rxlist website.
Valproic Acid
The FDA approved valproic acid in 1995 for treatment of mania, according to the National Institute of Mental Health website. It belongs to the anticonvulsant family of medications, originally intended to treat seizures. Research suggests that valproic acid (Depakote and Depakene) demonstrates efficacy equal to that of lithium for treatment of bipolar disorder. Its mechanism of action remains unclear, but it may function by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, according to the Drug Bank website.
A small proportion of patients may experience serious side effects such as suicidal thoughts, development of ovarian cysts in young women, and pancreas inflammation, according to the Rxlist website.
Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine (Tegretol), an anticonvulsant medication also used to treat seizures, also constitutes a first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. Individuals who cycle rapidly between mania and depression may respond particularly well to this medication, according to the Psychology Information Online website.
Side effects are usually mild, including dizziness, nausea and vomiting, but in a very small number of cases can include severe skin reactions or problems with blood cells, according to the Rxlist website. It can also reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.
