Mood Stabilizer Medication

Mood stabilizers are medications that help manage extreme mood swings. They’re most often used to treat cyclic mood disorders, like bipolar disorder, where someone might experience intense highs (mania) and lows (depression). These medications may also be prescribed to treat more intense emotional instability in personality disorders like borderline personality disorder. 

Can Mood Stabilizers Be Addictive? 

Mood stabilizers aren’t addictive in the way substances like opioids or alcohol are. They don’t create a “high,” and people typically don’t feel an uncontrollable need to take more of them over time. 

That said, it’s important to know that your body can get used to taking mood stabilizer medication. If you stop them suddenly, you might experience withdrawal-like symptoms or a return of the mood swings they were helping to stabilize. That’s why it’s always a good idea to work with your doctor if you’re thinking about stopping or changing medications. Your doctor can help you figure out the safest way to do it without disrupting your progress. 

Types of Mood Stabilizers

Lithium

Lithium is one of the most widely used treatments for bipolar disorder as it helps to treat both manic and depressive episodes while reducing the frequency or severity of mood swings. One of the benefits of lithium is that it has been shown to lower the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, setting apart from many other mood stabilizers. 

Additionally, lithium helps preserve white and gray matter in the brain, which are responsible for memory, decision, and brain function. It protects brain cells from damage and promotes their growth, which may explain why it helps maintain cognitive function over time. However, lithium is not usually effective for those with rapid cycling bipolar disorder or those experiencing mixed episodes. 

Common brand names for lithium include: 

• Lithium Carbonate ER
• Eskalith
• Lithobid
• Eskalith-CR
• Lithotabs

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants were originally developed to treat seizures and epilepsy, but they have been found to be successful as mood stabilizers. These medications calm hyperactivity in the brain, which makes them beneficial for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As a result, several anticonvulsants have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose. Here’s a closer look at how each of these medications work: 

As you can see, each medicine has its own strengths and capabilities. Carbamazepine and Valproic Acid are often more effective in managing mania, while Lamotrigine is better for treating depressive episodes and preventing future mood swings. 

Antipsychotics 

Antipsychotics are classified into three generations: First-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), Second Generation atypical antipsychotics (SGAs), and Third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs). These medications target brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which influence mood and thought processes. Here’s a quick breakdown of each generation: 

Each generation works differently to help regulate mood and manage symptoms of bipolar disorder. The following explains how these medications work in the brain: 

• FGAs work by blocking dopamine (D2) receptors, which reduces overactivity that’s linked to mania and psychosis. They are commonly used for short-term episodes but are not preferred for long-term due to potential side effects like muscle stiffness and restlessness. 
• SGAs work on both D2 and serotonin (5-HT2) receptors. They stabilize mood, treat manic and depressive episodes, and prevent extreme mood swings without triggering new ones. 
• TGAs act as partial dopamine agonists as they balance dopamine levels by reducing it when it’s too high and boosting it when it’s too low. They also target D3 receptors, which helps with mood regulation and cognitive function.