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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