Which mood disorder medication is right for me?
A guide to various mood stabilizers for mental health, including their benefits, side effects, and how they work.
Key takeaways
- A true mood stabilizer is a medication that treats both mania and depression
- Lithium is effective in this way, which is why it is considered the best option.
- Many other medications for bipolar disorder mainly focus on either mania or depression, but not usually both.
- A mental health professional like a psychiatrist will help determine what's best for you.
Mood disorders are very common mental health conditions, with around 21.4% of U.S. adults experiencing one at some point in their life. Symptoms of mood disorders can affect all aspects of your life. In some cases, these disorders can be debilitating.
Luckily, there are many psychiatric treatment options that can help reduce your symptoms and improve your mental health and quality of life.
Read on to learn more about mood stabilizers, how they work, side effects, and other treatments for mood disorders.
A list of mood stabilizers
Mood-stabilizing medications fall into three categories: Lithium, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics.
- Lithium, often referred to as the “gold standard” treatment for bipolar disorder, is a naturally occurring element in a category of its own.
- Anticonvulsants are technically anti-seizure medications for people with epilepsy. However, some are also FDA-approved for use in treating mood disorders.
- Antipsychotics are primarily intended to treat psychosis. However, antipsychotic medications may also be used for mood-stabilizing properties in mood disorders like bipolar disorder.
Below is a list of mood stabilizers, including their brand names and generic names.
Lithium
- Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate (Lithium)
Anticonvulsants
- Depakote (valproate/valproic acid)
- Lamictal (lamotrigine)
- Oxtellar, Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)
- Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Antipsychotics
- Abilify (aripiprazole)
- Geodon (ziprasidone)
- Latuda (lurasidone)
- Risperdal (risperidone)
- Saphris (asenapine)
- Seroquel (quetiapine)
- Symbyax (olanzapine/fluoxetine combination)
- Vraylar (cariprazine)
- Zyprexa (olanzapine)
What exactly is a mood disorder?
Mood disorders are mental health conditions characterized by struggles with mood and emotions. There are two main types of mood disorders: bipolar spectrum disorders, marked by mood swings of highs and lows, and depressive disorders, characterized by chronic depressed mood.
Bipolar spectrum disorders include:
- Cyclothymia
Depressive disorders include:
- Major depressive disorder (AKA unipolar depression or clinical depression)
- Dysthymia (AKA persistent depressive disorder)
- Seasonal affective disorder (AKA seasonal depression)
How do mood stabilizers work?
Mood stabilizer medications help level out extreme mood swings, particularly for people with conditions like bipolar disorder. Mood-stabilizing medications can serve two functions for bipolar disorder: they can be used to reduce symptoms in an acute manic or mixed episode or used as maintenance treatment, which means preventing mood episodes from recurring or increasing the time between mood episodes.
Although depression is a mood disorder, it’s less common to use mood stabilizers to treat it. Antidepressants like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the primary treatment.
Scientifically speaking, researchers don’t know exactly how these medications help stabilize mood, but there are theories. They also work differently depending on the type of medication they are. For example, lithium is thought to work by acting on neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) and cellular pathways in the brain related to mood.
Similarly, anticonvulsants like Lamictal or Depakote, which are typically used to help with seizures, are thought to also work on neurotransmitters and channels in the brain. Antipsychotics like Abilify and Latuda may work by blocking dopamine receptors to help lessen symptoms.
What are the side effects of mood stabilizers?
Mood stabilizer side effects depend on the specific medication you take. This isn’t an exhaustive list of side effects and risks for these three types of medication. Your doctor will always discuss any potential serious side effects with you before prescribing you something.
Generally speaking, side effects are most intense when you first start taking the medication and should subside within a couple of weeks. Let your psychiatrist know if any side effects worsen or won’t go away.
Common side effects of lithium are:
- Nausea
- Hand trembling
- Increased thirst
- Excessive urination
Note: You will need blood tests while taking lithium to monitor the levels of the drug in your blood to prevent lithium poisoning and additional serious side effects.
Common side effects of anticonvulsants are:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Common side effects of antipsychotics are:
- Weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Urinary retention
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
How else can you treat mood disorders?
On top of medication, psychotherapy (AKA talk therapy) is a great way to treat mood disorders and manage their symptoms. Therapy can help you address unhealthy thought patterns, create new healthy behaviors, learn useful coping skills, and regulate emotions.
Some examples of therapy modalities that are helpful for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder are:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
- Family-focused therapy
- Group therapy
For many people with mood disorders, a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the most effective for long-term symptom relief.
How to choose a mood stabilizer
Your psychiatrist will be your best guide for choosing the mood stabilizer that’s best for you. After conducting a psychiatric evaluation to assess your history and current symptoms, your doctor will diagnose you and present you with treatment plan options. They will let you know the benefits and risks of the mood stabilizer they think is right for you.
When prescribing a mood stabilizer and any other medications, your provider will also consider the following:
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
- Current physical health conditions
- Other medications you take to account for drug interactions
- Whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding (or planning to be soon)
- General side effects and risks
It may take some trial and error to figure out what medication is the best fit. Your body might need some time to adjust to the medication before you feel its full impact and the side effects subside. At follow-up appointments with your psychiatrist, they’ll check in on how you’re feeling, including any mood changes. Then, they’ll determine if they need to adjust the dose of your medications, add on another one, or switch meds altogether. Always voice any concerns to your doctor –– this will be a collaborative, ongoing process.
If you’re looking for a psychiatrist, consider Talkiatry. We’re a national psychiatry practice that treats a variety of mental health conditions, including mood disorders like bipolar disorder. We provide virtual, in-network services so you can get the care you need from home. To get started, complete our free online assessment to get matched with a psychiatrist.
FAQs
Here’s what else to know about mood disorder medications.
What is a mood stabilizer used for?
Mood stabilizers are typically used to stabilize mood swings in conditions such as bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizing medications can be used to reduce symptoms during a manic , mixed, or depressive episode. Or, mood stabilizers can be used as a maintenance treatment for bipolar.
Are mood stabilizers and antidepressants the same?
No, mood stabilizers and antidepressants are not the same. They have different mechanisms of action and different indicated usages. Mood stabilizers are primarily used for bipolar disorder, AKA bipolar depression. On the other hand, antidepressants, such as SSRIs or SNRIs, are primarily used to treat major depressive disorder (AKA unipolar depression) or anxiety disorders.
What’s the best medication for mood disorders?
There is no single best medication for mood disorders. Psychiatric medications are not one-size-fits-all, and everyone responds differently. If you have bipolar I or bipolar II, a mood stabilizer is likely the best choice for you, but if you have unipolar depression/major depressive disorder, an antidepressant is likely best.
