There are a few different healthcare professionals who can prescribe mood stabilisers to you. It may depend on which type of mood stabiliser you are being offered. It may also depend on whether you are just starting to take it or being given ongoing prescriptions. The person who prescribes it may be your doctor (GP).
If you are 18 or over, the doctor can prescribe lamotrigine for you as a licensed medicine to treat the low mood (depression) part of bipolar disorder. Lamotrigine is commonly used as a treatment for epilepsy, and you will see information about this in the leaflets about this medicine.
Mood stabilizers are used mainly to treat bipolar disorder, mood swings associated with other mental disorders, and in some cases, to enhance the effect of other medications used to treat depression.
Lithium, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics are the three main types of drug which are used as mood stabilisers.
The most widely used mood stabilizing drug is lithium. The clinical effects of lithium were discovered in the 1940s, and it has since become a widely used medication. The clinical properties of other mood stabilizers (carbamazepine, valproic acid) were discovered in the 1970s and 1980s.
Your doctor may offer you mood stabilisers if you have an episode of mania, hypomania or depression that changes or gets worse suddenly. This is called an acute episode. Some people need to take mood stabilisers as a long-term treatment to stop this from happening.
Mood stabilizers can also be used in the treatment of anger issues. While not FDA-approved for this use, they have shown efficacy in smaller studies. The side effect profiles of these medications are different, so patients need to discuss the medical options of mood stabilizers for treating their anger issues.
Some of the most widely used mood stabilizers include lithium and anticonvulsant drugs. Antipsychotics (neuroleptics): People with bipolar disorder who experience mania or mixed episodes may be treated with an atypical antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drug, such as aripiprazole (Abilify®).
In lieu of that, medical professionals are likely to prescribe a mood stabilizer to help a client balance their symptoms out. While there is technically no cure for bipolar disorder, Zoloft has been used by doctors to help clients treat symptoms of acute bipolar depression.
Doctors believe that it helps stabilize mood and causes happiness and a sense of well-being. Doctors prescribe Lexapro to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Anxiolytic Mood Stabilizers
Among the anticonvulsants, valproate and lamotrigine improved anxiety in small controlled trials of anxious bipolar disorder.
Only a mental health professional like a psychiatrist can give you a bipolar disorder diagnosis – not your GP. However, if you're experiencing bipolar moods and symptoms, discussing it with your GP can be a good first step. They can refer you to a psychiatrist, who will be able to assess you.
The phrase “bipolar meltdown” could refer to a bipolar person having a manic episode or being in a depressed state. These conditions could cause them to lose control of their emotions and have trouble managing them.
Bipolar rage is a waking nightmare for the person in it's grips and for those in its path. It is uncontrollable, unstable, and unpredictable. With regular anger there's usually a trigger, something you can pinpoint and go "Ah ha! This is what set them off and this is why it set them off".
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro, are just a few brands of serotonin that we prescribe for those who suffer from depression, and/or anxiety disorder. There is evidence that these drugs can also improve premenopausal symptoms, even a role in the treatment of obesity and parkinson's disease.
There are some similarities and overlap in the symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder. 1 Both may include hyperactive or restless behaviors, distractibility, poor concentration, impulsivity, and racing thoughts. Both are also thought to have a strong genetic link.
Symptoms of Mood Swings in ADHD
Switching from excited one moment to sad, angry, or anxious the next. Fluctuating between having trouble paying attention and hyperfocusing on an activity. Having bursts of energy and fatigue through the day. Feeling emotions intensely and having difficulty regulating them.
Mood stabilizers, which may be used to treat DMDD, bipolar disorder, or complicated depression, are not generally used to treat core symptoms of ADHD.
Mood stabilizers are a long-term treatment that you should not stop taking without your doctor's advice. Your doctor will likely recommend that you remain on your mood stabilizers for at least two years to reduce the risk of relapse.
Once your symptoms are under control, you will be encouraged to continue to take mood stabilizers for at least six months and probably longer. How much longer varies from person to person. Mood stabilizers can help prevent further episodes of mania or depression.
Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.