Therapeutic effects of medication refers to the desired outcome or results of using the medication. Specifically, this refers to the mechanism of action the medication takes in the body as well as the observable difference in the symptoms being treated.
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that mood stabilizers are a group of medications useful in regulating psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. Each psychiatric condition has a set of specific symptoms with varying pharmacological needs. However, the prominence of mood swings determines dose needed as well as necessary changes required for achieving optimal therapeutic effect.
Therapeutic Mechanism of Action
According to the "Journal of Applied Biomedicine" multiple chemical interactions between the brain and mood stabilizing medications are involved in regulating mood and achieving therapeutic dosage. Therapeutic mechanism of action refers to a complex process of introducing medication to the body for leveling mood stability. Neurotransmitters, chemical messengers of the brain that regulate behaviors and mood, are the target for medications in changing how the brain signals actions to the body. Numerous neurotransmitters exist in the brain, however the primary types are grouped as excitatory or inhibitory. Mood stabilizers are formulated based on treating the neurotransmitter in either or both of these types. The Center for Addiction and Mental Health notes lithium carbonate, one of the first successful mood stabilizers, has a therapeutic effect of acting on the chemical serotonin to decrease the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Favorable Mood Changes
In addition to the chemical regulation of mood stabilizers is the observable therapeutic effects. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that mood impacting symptoms of bipolar disorder include extreme irritation during mania or intense feelings of hopelessness during depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers reach a therapeutic effect when the incidence of manic or depressive episodes decrease. This comes in the form of no longer isolating from family or friends, returning to work and having less frequent bouts of worry or extreme elation. Bipolar symptoms are specific to the individual, however, therapeutic mood stabilization with medication tends to show less frequency of cycling between the ups and downs of the disorder.
Reduce Suicide Risk
Mood instability is often accompanied by thoughts of suicide or self-harming attempts. Therapeutic mood stabilization is signified by decreased thoughts of suicide during depressive episodes. The National Institute of Mental Health notes a warning of risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in use of off-label mood stabilizers. Anticonvulsant medications, primarily used to treat seizure disorders but found effective in mood stabilization, run this risk as depression decreases due to therapeutic effect. Anticonvulsants are used when traditional mood stabilizers do not offer therapeutic results.
References
- "American Journal of Psychiatry": Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Mood Stabilizers in Medicaid Patients with Bipolar Disorder, 1999.
- National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications
- "Journal of Applied Biomedicine": How Does Lithium Mediate its Therapeutic Effects, 2005
- Center for Addiction and Mental Health: Mood Stabilizers: What do Mood Stabilizers do?
