Behavioral Science

Table 13.3 Mood Stabilizers for Chronic Treatment of Bipolar Disorder and Unique
Properties (Either I or II)
Generic Name Brand Name Side Effects Other
Carbamazepine Tegretol, Sedation, GI, Induces
Carbatrol, reversible mild metabolism of
Equetro leukopenia, itself and other
reversible mild medications,
increase in LFTs, decreasing its
tremor,
hyponatremia
own level during
therapy
Associated with
aplastic anemia and
agranulocytosis
Must monitor
levels
Lamotrigine Lamictal Rash may occur Good for
in 10% of
depressed state,
individuals, may rapid cycling,
rarely
and mixed states
progress to Start low and go
Stevens-Johnson slow to avoid rash
syndrome (rare) No level
has been
monitoring
reported
required
Lithium Eskalith Tremor, Narrow
nephrogenic therapeutic
diabetes
index, can cause
insipidus,
toxicity with ↑
hypothyroidism, sweating,
GI symptoms, NSAIDs, or
teratogen,
thiazides
weight gain diuretics
Must monitor
levels
Valproic acid Depakote Rare fatal Inhibits
hepatotoxicity, metabolism of
agranulocytosis other
Teratogen: folic medications
acid antagonist (↑ their level)
→neural tube Must check LFTs
defects
and monitor
Benign elevation level
of transaminases,
GI side effects,
sedation, tremor,
alopecia,
weight gain
Abbreviation: LFTs, Liver function tests; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
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