Mood Stabilizers: Lithium, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, and Valproate

Send us Fan Mail Summary:  Mood Stabilizers seems like too casual a term for this group of drugs…what could go wrong starting a mood stabilizer?  Plenty.  Mood Stabilizers might suggest to a person that they just take it when they need it, when the fact is these meds require regularly-scheduled dosing.  How about we refer to this class of drugs as Neurodown-regulators, or maybe Neuronal-firing reducers?  It’s what they do.  This episode will touch on the role of mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder, the importance of a person’s attitude and behavior regarding these meds, as well as possible side effects of these drugs.  As always, a medication log is recommended for the person, as well as communicating routinely with their healthcare professional about concerns, attitudes, and behaviors.     Topics:·      Mood or Moog? 01:25·      Bipolar Disorder 01:45·      Apply or Comply? 03:00·      NonAdherence 04:25·      Lithium, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Valproate 05:30·      Patient-Person 06:20·      Monitor 06:54·      Therapeutic Levels 07:22·      Lithium Carbonate 07:30·      Lithium Toxicity 08:05·      Anticonvulsants = Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Valproate 09:15·      Adherence 10:30·      Lithium Possible Side Effects 11:55·      Lithium Toxicities 14:40·      Don’t Take It When You Need It, Take It Because You Need It 16:45·      Drug Log (Cause and Effect) 17:00·      Valproate (Valproic Acid) Possible Side Effects 19:15·      Monitor, Monitor, then Monitor 20:15·      Carbamazepine Possible Side Effects 20:20·      Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Possible Side Effects 21:40·      Stevens Johnson Syndrome 21:50·      Drug-Drug Interactions 23:00 Questions and comments to  [email protected]