Mood stabilizers
- Drugs used to prevent/treat bipolar episodes
- Lithium has strongest classic mood-stabilizer identity
- Valproate/lamotrigine/carbamazepine have roles
- Some antipsychotics also prevent recurrence
- Antidepressants can destabilize bipolar disorder
- Choice depends on mania vs depression polarity
Class at a glance
- Drugs used to prevent/treat bipolar episodes
Members / distinctions
- Lithium has strongest classic mood-stabilizer identity
- Valproate/lamotrigine/carbamazepine have roles
Practical pearls
- Some antipsychotics also prevent recurrence
Other member distinctions
- Antidepressants can destabilize bipolar disorder
- Choice depends on mania vs depression polarity
Self-check
- Which drug has the strongest classic mood-stabilizer identity?
Lithium. - Which antiseizure drugs also have mood-stabilizing roles?
Valproate, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine.
Drugs in this class (5)
Mood stabilizers prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Antiseizure meds (1869–2026).
All drug classes · Open Mood stabilizers in the interactive console ↗