There are currently three main types of drug classes used as mood stabilizers in the United States for various conditions.

The mood-stabilizing effects of anticonvulsants such as valproate and carbamazepine have been studied in patients not helped by lithium, the traditional mainstay of treatment. These newer agents ...

Yet in recent years, the art of lithium treatment has deteriorated, and the use of this valuable drug decreased, probably due to the introduction of other mood-stabilizing medications and a reluctance ...

Lithium is a mood-stabilizing medication commonly used to treat mood disorders like bipolar disorder. However, it has several known side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, fatigue ...

Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmD According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), more than one in five ...

It is faster-acting than lithium for an acute episode of mania. It is also often used "off-label" for the prevention of new episodes. As a mood stabilizer that can be used by a "loading dose ...