🌗 Mood Stabilizers (Lithium & Anticonvulsants)


What they are:

Mood stabilizers help smooth out extreme highs and lows in mood, especially in bipolar disorder. Some are classic psychiatric meds (like lithium), others are originally seizure medicines that also calm mood centers.


Key medicines:

• Lithium

• Valproic acid / divalproex (Depakote)

• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)


Uses in kids & teens 🧒

• Bipolar disorder (manic and mixed episodes; prevention of mood episodes)

• Mood instability in some neurodevelopmental or trauma-related conditions (off-label)

• Some are used as anti-seizure meds as well


How they work (simple):

They help brain cells stay more stable, so mood doesn’t swing as wildly. Lithium, for example, affects sodium channels and intracellular signaling; anticonvulsants calm overactive electrical activity.


Evidence & stats đź“Š

• Lithium remains a “gold standard” for bipolar disorder and reduces risk of suicide attempts and completed suicide in mood disorders.

• Anti-seizure mood stabilizers (valproate, lamotrigine) also show strong evidence for reducing mood episodes in bipolar disorder (most data in adults, but also some adolescent studies).


Common side effects:

• Lithium: thirst, frequent urination, tremor, weight gain, thyroid or kidney effects

• Valproate: weight gain, tremor, stomach upset; long-term liver & blood monitoring needed; teratogenic in pregnancy

• Lamotrigine: usually well-tolerated but rare serious rash (Stevens–Johnson syndrome)


Safety notes ⚠️

• Mood stabilizers often require regular blood tests (levels, kidney, liver, thyroid).

• Families should be taught signs of toxicity (severe tremor, confusion, vomiting) and contact emergency care if they appear.


References (Mood stabilizers):

• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR and treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder.

• Strawn, J. R., et al. (2022). Pediatric psychopharmacology for mood disorders.