Types of Mood Stabilizers

mood stabilizer

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are medicines that are mainly meant for stabilization of moods especially in bipolar disorders. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disease that manifests with wide fluctuations in moods alternating between depressive phases and manic/hypomanic episodes. Mood stabilizers are used to assist people suffering from bipolar disorders in regulating these mood changes and keeping their emotions stable. They can be used periodically, in order to minimise the frequency and intensity of these mood changes.

There are several types of mood stabilizers, with the most common being:

Lithium:  One of the oldest and widely used mood stabilizers is lithium. This drug is efficient in prevention of either depressive or manic episodes among people with bipolar disorder.

Anticonvulsants: Some of the anticonvulsants also work as a mood stabilizer like for example divalproex, lamotrigine and carbamazepine. These medicines are typically prescribed when lithium or its performance is poor and not tolerable.

Atypical Antipsychotics: Some atypical antipsychotic medications, like aripiprazole, olanzapine, and quetiapine, have been approved  for use as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder treatment. They are often prescribed to help manage both depressive and manic symptoms.

Mood stabilizers help in maintaining the balance of specific neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate certain feelings like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Each type of medication acts through a specific mechanism of action.

It is crucial to mention that mood stabilizers differ from antidepressant drugs that are usually prescribed for unipolar deppression. However, antidepressants alone can at times cause mania in people suffering from bipolar disorder, which makes them not ideal and mood stabilizers are therefore often used for this condition.

The selection of a particular mood stabilizer is influenced by his/her symptoms, prior response to that medication, or unwanted side effects for another medicine. Thus, any mood stabilizer administration must always be under a psychologist’s supervision, whereby a correct diagnosis is made and customized therapy implemented for every patient at hand. In addition, constant surveillance and periodic check-ups with a physician should accompany the use of mood stabilizers if they are to be safe and effective.

Mood disorder treatment at Tulasi Healthcare a psychiatric hospital in Delhi focuses on providing comprehensive and personalized care for individuals experiencing mood-related issues. The hospital employs a multidisciplinary approach, involving psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to address the diverse needs of patients.

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