Mood Stabilisers (Wiki)

Psychiatric medications that suppress major mood swings (such as found in manic-depressive disorders and certain personality disorders), mood stabilisers are almost always anticonvulsants, the notable exception being lithium.


Carbamazepine (Wiki)

Brand names: Biston®, Calepsin®, Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Finlepsin®, Sirtal®, Stazepine®, Tegretol®, Telesmin®, Timonil®
Formula: C15H12N2O
Half life: ~ 25 to 65 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown

Interestingly, this drug renders birth control pills useless by lowering the levels of estrogen produced by them. It was first marketed as an anticonvulsant in the UK in 1965; the USA followed suit in 1974.

Common side effects include malco-ordination, drowsiness and nausea; certain preparations when taken regularly can also vastly reduce alcohol tolerance.

Gabapentin (Wiki)

Brand names: Neurontin®
Formula: C9H17NO2
Half life: ~ 5 to 7 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown

Well tolerated with few side effects (mostly), gabapentin was synthesised to resemble the chemical structure of GABA. It is primarily used to treat epilepsy but is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, painful neuropathies, and anxiety disorders. It is somewhat controversial as a treatment for bipolar disorder as some high profile research has indicated that the drug is no more effective than placebo.

Lamotrigine (Wiki)

Brand names: Lamictal®
Formula: C9H7Cl2N5
Half life: 24 to 34 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 100mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 500mg per day [Verified]

An anticonvulsant drug used to treat bipolar disorders and epilepsy, lamotrigine is the only anticonvulsant mood stabilising drug to tackle both the manic and the depressive sides of a bipolar disorder; it is also the first drug to be approved for the treatment of bipolar I since the introduction of lithium.

Antidepressant effects kick in at doses of 100mg a day and mood stabilising effects generally bite at between 100mg to 200mg per day (epilepsy is treatable with between 300mg to 500mg per day). Common side effects include insomnia, dizziness and headaches; nursing whilst on this drug is not recommended.

Levetiracetam (Wiki)

Brand names: Keppra®
Formula: C8H14N2O2
Half life: ~ 6 to 8 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 500mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 1.5g per day [Verified]

I have no information on this drug at this time.

Lithium (Wiki)

Brand names: Carbolith®, Cibalith-S®, Duralith®, Eskalith®, Lithane®, Lithizine®, Lithobid®, Lithonate® and Lithotabs®
Formula: Lithium Carbonate is Li2CO3, Lithium Citrate is Li3C6H5O7, Lithium Sulphate is Li2SO4 and Lithium Oxybutyrate is C4H9LiO3
Half life: Varies
Single unit dose: Varies
Recommended outpatient dose: Varies
Maximum outpatient dose: Varies

Administered as one of a number of salts, lithium is primarily used as a mood stabiliser to control the manic phase of bipolar disorders. It can additionally, however, be used to augment the effectiveness of antidepressants and even antipsychotics (a mixture of clozapine and lithium, for instance, is often prescribed for patients who show little or no improvement when on more standard treatments). Lithium is thought to act by reducing the amount of the monoamine neurotransmitter noradrenaline being produced and by increasing the amount of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin being produced.

The drug was first considered as a treatment for manic illnesses in 1949 and was initially thought of as a tranquilliser. Although it s a strong medication and one that is often well responded to, it must be mentioned that patients on this drug will require regular blood tests and will be subject to close scrutiny, as even mild overdoses can cause problems (the most therapeutic dose is only just south of the maximum safe dose). However, don't let this put you off it as a treatment - if it were extremely dangerous, it wouldn't be available for prescription. The drug does, however, have a flattening effect, usually temporary - in essence, you'll calm down but your enthusiasm for things in general my ebb for a while.

Oxcarbazepine (Wiki)

Brand names: Trileptal®
Formula: C15H12N2O2
Half life: ~ 1 to 5 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 600mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 2.4g per day [Verified]

A derivative of carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine boasts a far better side effects profile than it's parent drug; the only chemical difference is the addition of one oxygen atom per molecule. It's an anticonvulsant and mood stabilising drug and is primarily used in the treatment of bipolar disorders and epilepsy.

First introduced to Denmark in 1990 as an anticonvulsant, typical side effects can include blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and even - rarely - hyponatremia.

Phenytoin (Wiki)

Brand names: Dilantin®, Dilantin Infatabs®, Dilantin Kapseals®, Epanutin®, Phenytek®
Formula: C15H12N2O2
Half life: ~ 22 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 200mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 500mg per day [Verified]

I have no information on this drug at this time.

Sodium Valproate (Wiki)

Brand names: Convulex®, Depakene®, Depakine®, Depakine Chrono®, Epiject®, Epilim®, Epilim Chrono®, Epilim EC200®, Epilim Intravenous®, Epival®, Orfiril®, Orfiril IV®, Orlept®, Orlept Sugar Free®
Formula: C8H15NaO2
Half life: ~ 9 to 19 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 1g per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 2.5g per day [Verified]

This anticonvulsant drug is also frequently used as a mood stabiliser, limiting manic episodes and, to a lesser extent, depressive episodes.

Tiagabine (Wiki)

Brand names: Gabitril®
Formula: C20H25NO2S2
Half life: ~ 7 to 9 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 30mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 45mg per day [Verified]

I have no information on this drug at this time.

Topiramate (Wiki)

Brand names: Topamax®
Formula: C12H21NO8S
Half life: ~ 19 to 23 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 100mg [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 400mg [Verified]

Used to treat epilepsy in both children and adults, topiramate can also be used to treat migraines. It can also be used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, although this capacity is somewhat controversial and remains off-label.

Common side effects include feelings of pins and needles and an altered sense of taste.

Valproate Semisodium (Divalproex Sodium) (Wiki)

Brand names: Depakote®, Depakote ER®, Epival®
Formula: C16H31NaO4
Half life: ~ 6 to 16 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 500mg per day [Not Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 1,000mg per day [Not Verified]

A compound of valproic acid and sodium valproate, valproate semisodium is an anticonvulsant drug.

Valproic Acid (Wiki)

Brand names: Unknown
Formula: C8H16O2
Half life: ~ 9 to 16 hours (vague figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown

Used as a treatment for schizophrenia, migraines, epilepsy and bipolar disorders, valproic acid sports dyspepsia and/or weight gain as the main side effect symptoms.

Zonisamide (Wiki)

Brand names: Exegran®, Zonegran®
Formula: C8H8N2O3S
Half life: ~ 63 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 300mg per day [Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 500mg per day [Verified]

I have no information on this drug at this time.