Further information
For further information please discuss with a doctor,
non-medical prescriber or pharmacist from the mental
health Trust, or ask for a more detailed information
leaflet about mood stabilisers or alternative medicines.
Information leaflets on individual mood stabilisers can
be found on the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust website or ask a member of staff to
access these for you.
www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk search for
“Choice and Medication” or directly on
www.choiceandmedication.org.uk/swyp/
Mood stabilisers
for bipolar disorder
and depression
Information on medicines used in mental health for
service users, carers and healthcare professionals can
be accessed by telephoning medicines information
on 01924 327619 or
emailing [email protected]
Please talk to a healthcare professional if you can before
stopping or making any changes to your medicines.
Your feedback is welcome
We invite you to share any comments, compliments, concerns or
complaints you have about the Trust. Please speak to a member
of staff or contact our customer services team on 0800 587 2108
who can also provide help in understanding this information.
Job no. 3885e > 5194 Feb 2013
With all of us in mind
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What exactly are mood stabilisers?
Mood stabilisers are different groups of medication including
lithium, medication used for epilepsy (anticonvulsants)
and antipsychotics. Only a few medicines are licensed in
the UK for mania* (elated mood) and even fewer are
licensed for the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder#.
Although some medicines are not licensed in the UK for
mood disorders it does not mean that they are not effective.
Please speak to a healthcare professional if you wish to
Why have I been prescribed a mood stabiliser?
Mood stabilisers are used for the treatment of bipolar
disorder (also known as “Manic Depression”) and depression.
These medications can help return your mood to what is
normal for yourself. Also, they can help prevent your mood
becoming more elated or depressed and help to lengthen
the periods between the ups and downs. Different medicines
may help if your mood is more often high or more often low.
know more about whether your medication is licensed to be
Are mood stabilisers safe to take?
used for bipolar disorder and what this means to you.
Let your prescriber know if any of the following apply
to you:
Lithium salts#
Anticonvulsants
Antipsychotics
• Epilepsy, diabetes, heart, liver of kidney trouble.
Lithium carbonate
(Priadel®,
Camocolit®)
Sodium valproate
(Epilim®)/valproate
semisodium
(Depokote®)*
Olanzapine#
(Zyprexa®)
• If you take any other medication including medication Lithium citrate
(Priadel®)
Carbamazepine#
(Tegretol®)
Quetiapine*
(Seroquel®)
pregnant especially if you are taking sodium valproate Lamotrigine
(Lamictal®)
Risperidone*
(Risperdal®)
carbamazepine or lithium.
bought over the counter and alternative therapies.
• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding or wish to become Asenapine
(Sycrest®)*
Aripiprazole
(Abilify®)#
(Epilim®) or semisodium valproate (Depakote®),
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Benefits of mood stabilisers
Risks of mood stabilisers
Mood stabilisers can help relieve or reduce the symptoms of
Mood stabilisers need to be taken consistently over a
the illness and also the impact it may have on daily life. They
prolonged period otherwise they could make your illness
can reduce the need for admission to hospital or shorten
worse.
the length of stay and help you be able to work and live
independently.
Mood stabilisers can cause side-effects. There are many
differences between the medications available. If you have
Mood stabilisers can be used to treat high or low mood
a side-effect with one medication it could be changed to
as well as reducing the number of times you are ill or
a different one that may not cause that side-effect. The
the severity of your illness. It may take time to notice the
dose can be important with respect to side-effects. The side
benefits of the medication so it may be worth comparing
effect may reduce or disappear if the dose of medication is
your highs and lows before you started the medication with
reduced.
how you are while taking the medicine. Lithium has been
shown to reduce the risk of suicide in bipolar disorder.
The dose of many of these medications needs to be exactly
right for an individual and blood tests are required to check
Mood stabilisers are generally needed over a long period
the level in the body. Too much can be harmful.
and you should discuss with your doctor if you intend to
stop them as they should be stopped slowly to prevent
Other medications including those bought over the counter
you becoming ill. It is important that these medications are
can affect the way the body handles some of the mood
taken regularly for them to provide their full benefit. Mood
stabilisers and cause additional side effects or increased
stabilisers usually have to taken for at least 2 - 5 years.
levels in the body.
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Alternatives
Some of the side effects include:
Side effect
Can be caused by
There are many mood stabilisers available in the UK so
Weight gain
Olanzapine
Lithium
Valproate
Asenapine
please speak to a health professional about the most suitable
Tremors
Lithium
Risperidone at higher doses
Aripiprazole
medication for you. Leaflets are available on each individual
antipsychotic so please ask for one
Medication helps, but may not be the whole solution.
Relieving some symptoms with medication can make it easier
Visual disturbances
Valproate
Aripiprazole
for other kinds of help to work.
Weakness/lethargy
Lithium when dose is too high
Cognitive behavioural therapy can help you feel better about
Nausea and other
gastric problems
Lithium on starting and
when dose is too high
Valproate
Carbamazepine
Aripiprazole
yourself and learn new ways of solving problems or coping
Carbamazepine
Valproate
all help the individual and their family with the problems of
Kidney problems
Lithium
symptoms of the illness.
Thyroid problems
Lithium
Altered glucose metabolism (how
the body handles sugar, diabetes)
Olanzapine
Restlessness
Aripiprazole
Asenapine
Drowsiness
Olanzapine
Asenapine
Blood and liver disorders
Approved by the Drug and Therapeutics Subcommittee
Date February 2008 Reviewed January 2013
with mood changes and other symptoms.
Counselling, supportive psychotherapy and family work can
daily life and solve some practical problems caused by the