Two generations of mood stabilizers

Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers

1. Describe major features of depression and bipolar disorder. 2. Discuss characteristics of antidepressants in terms of mechanism of action, indications for use, adverse effects, principles of therapy, and nursing process implications. 3. Compare and contrast selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with tricyclic antidepressants. 4. Discuss selected characteristics of bupropion, mirtazapine, a...

Antidepressant Activity of Mood Stabilizers

There is some evidence that the efficacy of antidepressant drugs in both unipolar and bipolar depression is decreasing and also for a possible usefulness of mood-stabilizing drugs in the pharmacotherapy of both these depressive states. In past two decades the number of drugs fulfilling the criteria for a mood stabilizer i.e. a drug which favourably influences mood abnormalities in bipolar disor...

Mood stabilizers and cognitive functions

Mood stabilizers are widely used for various indications particularly for bipolar disorders. For instance, lithium is an option in resistant depression cases, whereas valproate is used in impulse control disorders. Generally speaking, lithium and some anticonvulsants, such as valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and oxcarbazepine are members of mood stabilizers. In addition, off-label use of ...

Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Mood Stabilizers

Mood-stabilizers: the archeology of the concept.

OBJECTIVE To review the history of 'mood-stabilizing' treatments. METHOD We have reviewed primary source data on the origin of the use of current mood-stabilizers. RESULTS This historical record on the origins of the mood-stabilizers points to a more ambiguous picture as regards pharmacotherapeutic specificity to bipolar disorders than is commonly conceded. CONCLUSIONS This review suggest...