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 Summary:  Mood Stabilizers seems like too casual a term for this group of drugs…what could go wrong starting a mood stabilizer?  Plenty.  Mood Stabilizers might suggest to a person that they just take it when they need it, when the fact is these meds require regularly-scheduled dosing.  How about we refer to this class of drugs as Neurodown-regulators, or maybe Neuronal-firing reducers?  It’s what they do.  This episode will touch on the role of mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder, the importance of a person’s attitude and behavior regarding these meds, as well as possible side effects of these drugs.  As always, a medication log is recommended for the person, as well as communicating routinely with their healthcare professional about concerns, attitudes, and behaviors.     

Topics:

·      Mood or Moog? 01:25

·      Bipolar Disorder 01:45

·      Apply or Comply? 03:00

·      NonAdherence 04:25

·      Lithium, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Valproate 05:30

·      Patient-Person 06:20

·      Monitor 06:54

·      Therapeutic Levels 07:22

·      Lithium Carbonate 07:30

·      Lithium Toxicity 08:05

·      Anticonvulsants = Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Valproate 09:15

·      Adherence 10:30

·      Lithium Possible Side Effects 11:55

·      Lithium Toxicities 14:40

·      Don’t Take It When You Need It, Take It Because You Need It 16:45

·      Drug Log (Cause and Effect) 17:00

·      Valproate (Valproic Acid) Possible Side Effects 19:15

·      Monitor, Monitor, then Monitor 20:15

·      Carbamazepine Possible Side Effects 20:20

·      Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Possible Side Effects 21:40

·      Stevens Johnson Syndrome 21:50

·      Drug-Drug Interactions 23:00

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