The oldest and best mood stabilizer is lithium carbonate (lithium). Although this medication is primarily used to treat bipolar disorders, lithium can also be effective in alleviating unipolar depressive symptoms.
Lithium is the oldest and most well-known mood stabilizer and is highly effective for treating mania. Lithium can also help bipolar depression.
Mood stabilizers are specifically antimanic drugs, meaning they treat mania and mood cycling, as seen in bipolar disorder. They are not generally effective in the treatment of depression, though. Antidepressants treat conditions that make you sad or feel “down,” especially if it is not chronic.
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). All of these medications are known to increase the risk of weight gain except lamotrigine.
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.
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.
Mood stabilizers can help prevent further episodes of mania or depression. In other words, staying on these medications for the long term can help to keep you well.
SSRIs and SNRIs are often the first-line treatment for anxiety. Common SSRI brands are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR. Pros: They are effective for a lot of people and they have a solid safety profile.
CAPLYTA is a prescription medication used in adults for the treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder (bipolar depression). CAPLYTA can be taken alone or with the medicines lithium or valproate for bipolar depression.
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.
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).
Lithium, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics are the three main types of drug which are used as mood stabilisers.
Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed to help with symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, or racing thoughts, but can also be prescribed for individuals without those symptoms. Some antipsychotics are considered mood stabilizers because they, too, even out the highs and lows.
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).
Experiencing mood swings or irritability. Turning to alcohol or drugs. Feeling chronically guilty or worthless. Experiencing periods of poor judgment, restlessness, and even euphoria.
The original “happy pill” was fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac. This medication, approved for use in 1987, was the first drug of its kind to be prescribed and marketed on a large scale. The use of this medication is very common, especially for the treatment of depression, but it is not without its risks.
Stimulants. Improve fatigue and concentration. These drugs include methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta).
Prozac (fluoxetine) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are examples of “energizing” antidepressants; whereas Paxil (paroxetine) and Celexa (citalopram) tend to be more sedating. Initial choices therefore, should be predicated on how the depression presents—as outlined in #2 above.
Some side effects are temporary and go away after a period of several weeks or months. Some of these side effects include: nausea, stomach cramps, thirst, fatigue, headache, and mild tremor. If any of these side effects is severe, the person should consult the physician.
SSRIs that have been shown to help with anger include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), among others. Sertraline seems to have the most supporting data. Other classes of antidepressants, like serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), aren't widely used for treating anger.
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication that treats several kinds of mental health conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain. These hormones help regulate your mood, behaviors and thoughts. The brand name of this medication is Seroquel®.