A Guide to Mood Stabilizer Medications
Mood stabilizers can be incredibly helpful for people dealing with mood related symptoms. Experiencing emotional ups and downs can leave people feeling confused and lost.
In this article we’ll talk about:
- What mood stabilizers are
- How they work
- How long they last
- What conditions are treated with mood stabilizers
- Common types of stabilizers
- Potential side effects
What Are Mood Stabilizers?
A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication that treats problematic symptoms of mental health that center around mood. Manic episodes, depression, and mood swings are symptoms of several mental health disorders, and mood stabilizers help reduce these symptoms.
How Do Mood Stabilizers Work?
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carry signals from neurons to target cells throughout the body via your nervous system. Without them, your body cannot function. They’re in charge of nearly all of a person’s physiological functions, and they also regulate mood.
Mood stabilizers can’t change what you feel, but they can lower the intensity and allow you to maintain an even baseline of your moods more easily.
Mood stabilizers affect specific neurotransmitters in order to stabilize levels of mood. They can either block the release of neurotransmitters that a person has too much of, or encourage them to circulate for longer if a person needs more of them. This stabilizing effect is used to treat psychiatric conditions and bipolar disorder.
How Long Do Mood Stabilizers Take to Work?
Like many medications, mood stabilizers take a little bit to get working. It may take several weeks before the positive effects can be felt.
Mood stabilizers should be taken consistently for a longer period of time. During your time on these medications, your doctor will want to monitor your reactions closely.
What Conditions Are Treated With Mood Stabilizers?
Mood stabilizers can be used to treat a large number of mental health conditions. However, it’s primarily used to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Some of the other conditions that can be treated with mood stabilizers include:
Whether or not mood stabilizers are the right choice for you will be dependent on your specific situation. Consult your doctor to find out what medication would work best for you, and never take medication outside of your doctor’s orders.
Common Types of Mood Stabilizers
There are three categories of mood stabilizing medications:
- Lithium
- Anticonvulsants
- Antipsychotics
They’re differentiated by how they affect neurotransmitters, and therefore how they can help someone with a mood disorder
Lithium
Lithium mood stabilizers use certain lithium compounds, or salts, to affect neurotransmitters. Lithium is a naturally occurring compound in the body, and researchers are still learning more about why lithium has such an impact on mood disorders. One current hypothesis is that it inhibits “excitatory” neurotransmitters, which are the ones associated with manic states in bipolar disorder.
While using lithium you might feel some uncomfortable side effects including:
- Vertigo
- Shaking hands
- Exhaustion
- Headaches
- A metallic taste
The most common mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder are in the lithium category. If you are prescribed lithium, it’s important to take it as directed as high levels of lithium in your blood can be very dangerous.
Anticonvulsants
Neurons do a lot more than maintain moods and body functions. When they misfire, or send a signal at the wrong time, they can cause seizures. Anticonvulsants are medications that treat seizures, but they can also treat mood disorders due to the connection to neurotransmitters.
Only some anticonvulsants can be used as a mood stabilizer. The most common of which are carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and valproic acid.
Antipsychotics
Psychosis disorders are mental disorders that disconnect people from reality. Symptoms of this include delusions, hallucinations, agitation, and manic episodes.
Antipsychotics help people return to reality by inhibiting neurotransmissions that contribute to psychosis symptoms. These medications use a similar mechanic to mood stabilizers and therefore are sometimes used to treat symptoms that affect mood.
Read our full guide on antipsychotic medication to learn more.
Potential Mood Stabilizers Side Effects
Side effects of mood stabilizers tend to last for a short time while beginning treatment. Your body needs to get used to the medication. Once it does the side effects should subside.
The kind of side effects people experience while starting mood stabilizers is dependent on what kind of stabilizer it is.
- Drowsiness
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Weight gain
While starting treatment, keep a close eye on any symptoms and inform your doctor of any changes.
Receiving Holistic Treatment At Sequoia Behavioral Health
Sequoia Behavioral Health takes a holistic approach when treating issues of mental health. That means we treat the symptoms of mental illness while also searching for the root of the problem.
While attending our treatment program, you’ll receive a custom treatment plan that includes medication management.