Emotional Health

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Mood Stabilizers

Also called: Mood Stabilizer Medication, Mood Stabilizer Drug

- Summary
- About mood stabilizers
- Types and differences
- Conditions treated
- Conditions of concern
- Potential side effects
- Drug or other interactions
- Symptoms of overdose
- Pregnancy use issues
- Child use issues
- Elderly use issues
- Questions for your doctor

Reviewed By:
Steven A. King, M.D.
Tahir Tellioglu, M.D., APA, AAAP

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Types and differences of mood stabilizers

Lithium was the first mood stabilizer approved for the treatment of bipolar disorder and it is often used for mania. According to the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), it is effective in controlling mania in 60 percent of patients with this condition. Lithium is available in tablet, capsule and liquid form under many brand names, including:

Cibalith-S
Eskalith
Lithane
Lithobid
Lithonate
Lithotabs

Many anticonvulsant medications are also mood stabilizers. Valproate is also considered a first-line agent and may be more effective than lithium in the treatment of mixed episode (episodes with features of both mania and depression) or rapid cycling (four or more episodes per year) bipolar disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The generic and brand names for anticonvulsant mood stabilizers include:

Generic Name	Brand Name(s)
valproate	Depakene, Depakote
carbamazepine	Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol
oxcarbazepine	Trileptal
lamotrigine	Lamictal
topiramate	Topamax
zonisamide	Zonegran
gabapentin	Neurontin