Lithium
Lithium is highly effective and is an ancient treatment for mania. Lithium takes one or two weeks to work effectively but does not work best for treating rapid cycling and mixed forms of bipolar disorder. It is essential for you regularly do blood testing if you are taking lithium as mood stabilizer because higher doses of lithium could be toxic. Even once the lithium levels are steady, the doctors recommend to regular do blood testing as lithium levels might change due to a lot of other factors as well.
Side effects of lithium that are possible to occur include:
- Thyroid problems
- Stomach pain
- Concentration problems
- Weight gain
- Drowsiness
- Tremor
An optimizing dose of mood stabilizer medications is the new focus for the treatment of bipolar disorder. However, there is a possibility of triggering a manic episode while controlling the depressive episode and vice versa.
- Symbyax
- Lamictal
- Zyprexa
- Seroquel