Are all mood stabilizers antipsychotics?

Wellbutrin, (generic name bupropion), can be considered a “helping hands” medication if someone with bipolar disorder is taking a mood stabilizer and exhibits mainly anti-manic signs. Wellbutrin does NOT cause these side effects.

Mood stabilizers

Low risk of weight gain: Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is most likely to cause weight loss.

Risk of weight gain: Valproate is likely to cause weight gain.

High risk of weight gain: Lithium is known for causing weight gain.

Low risk of weight gain: Lurasidone has a low risk of weight gain.

They’re often used to control mania before mood stabilizers take effect. They can also treat sleeplessness. Additionally, they may help relieve anxiety, which is frequently experienced by people with bipolar depression. Xanax is one of the newer entries in the tranquilizer lineup, and it’s the most commonly prescribed.

Antidepressants for Bipolar Disorder. The drugs may flip a person, particularly a person with bipolar I disorder, into a manic or hypomanic episode. Hypomania is a more subdued version of mania. Using antidepressants alone also may lead to or worsen rapid cycling in some bipolar patients.

Aripiprazole is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Aripiprazole rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior. Aripiprazole may help some or all of these symptoms.

Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).

It is especially effective in the prevention of bipolar depression. It was the first FDA-approved therapy since lithium for maintenance in bipolar disorder. Lamictal is considered a mood-stabilizing anticonvulsant and is most commonly prescribed to prevent or control seizures in the treatment of epilepsy.

Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) is one of the most widely used and studied medications for treating bipolar disorder. Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania. It may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression. Lithium also helps prevent future manic and depressive episodes.

The main difference between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 disorders lies in the severity of the manic episodes caused by each type. The depressive episodes are similar between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 disorder. Bipolar 2 causes something called hypomania, which is essentially a less severe form of mania.

Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Seroquel (quetiapine) are used to treat bipolar disorders. Lamictal is also used alone or in combination with other anti-seizure medications for treating certain types of seizures. Lamictal is an anticonvulsant and Seroquel is a psychotropic medication (antipsychotic).

Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Lithium is in a class of medications called antimanic agents.

With the greater understanding of mental disorders today, doctors can identify the signs and symptoms of bipolar depression, hypomania, and mania, and most cases, treat the disorder effectively and safely with bipolar medications. However, most lab tests or imaging tests are not useful in diagnosing bipolar disorder.

Lithium has a preventative effect when taken in the medium to long-term. Lithium is mostly taken for at least one to two years to derive full benefit from its use. Many people need to stay on it long-term to prevent the illness relapsing.

The 5 individual drugs that can be used as mood stabilisers are:

lithium (Camcolit, Liskonum, Priadel, Lithonate, Litarex, Li-liquid)

carbamazepine (Tegretol)

lamotrigine (Lamictal)

valproate (Depakote, Epilim)

asenapine (Sycrest)

The types of psychotherapy used to treat bipolar disorder include:

Behavioral therapy. This focuses on behaviors that decrease stress.

Cognitive therapy. This type of approach involves learning to identify and modify the patterns of thinking that accompany mood shifts.

Interpersonal therapy.

Social rhythm therapy.

Drug names: bupropion (Wellbutrin), carbamazepine (Tegretol and others), carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet and others), celecoxib (Celebrex), citalopram (Celexa), clozapine (Clozaril and others), divalproex sodium (Depakote), fluoxetine (Prozac), furosemide (Lasix and others), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levothyroxine (Synthroid

Bipolar disorder (once known as manic depression or manic-depressive disorder) causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior—from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other.

The National Institute of Mental Health says “Antidepressants can make bipolar disorder worse or trigger a manic episode. Try mood stabilizers first and never take antidepressants without them, as antidepressants can trigger mania and rapid mood cycling when used on their own.”

Topiramate is a medication that is sometimes used in patients with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression). It is approved for the treatment of seizures (epilepsy) in adults and children in combination with other anticonvulsants and for preventing migraine headaches in adults.