Mental health medications
Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are used mainly to treat and prevent episodes of mania and depression in bipolar disorder. Learn how they work, side effects, monitoring and warnings.
At a glance
- Medication class
- Mood stabilizers (lithium and certain anticonvulsants)
- Examples (generic name, brand name)
- lithium
- valproate / divalproex (Depakote)
- lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro)
Examples are for education only and are not a complete list or a recommendation.
Boxed warning: Several mood stabilizers carry boxed warnings. Lithium toxicity can occur at levels close to therapeutic levels, so blood monitoring is required. Valproate carries warnings about liver damage, pancreatitis and serious birth defects. Lamotrigine carries a warning about serious, potentially life-threatening skin rashes. Carbamazepine carries warnings about serious skin reactions and blood disorders.
What are mood stabilizers?
Mood stabilizers are medications that help reduce extreme shifts in mood. They are primarily used to treat bipolar disorder.
What they’re used for
- Treating acute episodes of mania or hypomania
- Treating bipolar depression (some medications)
- Preventing future mood episodes (maintenance treatment)
Some are also used for other conditions, such as epilepsy or migraine prevention.
How they work
Exactly how mood stabilizers work is not fully understood. Lithium affects several signaling pathways in the brain. Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers affect nerve signaling in various ways.
How they’re taken
Usually taken by mouth daily. Doses are adjusted based on response, side effects and, for some medications, blood levels. This page does not provide dosing guidance.
Common side effects
- Lithium: thirst, frequent urination, hand tremor, nausea, weight gain.
- Valproate: nausea, drowsiness, weight gain, hair thinning, tremor.
- Lamotrigine: headache, dizziness, nausea; rash (see warnings).
- Carbamazepine: dizziness, drowsiness, nausea.
Serious side effects
Seek urgent medical advice for signs of lithium toxicity (such as severe vomiting or diarrhea, confusion, unsteadiness or coarse tremor), any new rash on lamotrigine or carbamazepine, yellowing skin, severe abdominal pain, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
Warnings
- Monitoring: lithium and some anticonvulsants require regular blood tests.
- Pregnancy: valproate in particular can cause serious birth defects; people who could become pregnant should discuss this carefully with their prescriber.
- Dehydration and illness: can raise lithium levels.
Interactions
Lithium levels can be affected by some pain relievers (NSAIDs), blood pressure medications and diuretics. Anticonvulsants can interact with many drugs, including hormonal contraception. Always check with a pharmacist.
Questions to ask your healthcare professional
- What monitoring will I need, and how often?
- Which side effects should prompt me to call you?
- How does this medication affect pregnancy or contraception?
- How long might I need to take it?
Related medication classes
Find care
Find the right support
Compare types of care — from online therapy to psychiatry — and learn what to consider before choosing a provider.
Explore care optionsWhen to seek professional help
Consider talking with a doctor or licensed mental health professional if symptomslast for more than two weeks, keep coming back, or make it harder to manage work, school, relationships or daily tasks. You don’t need to wait until things feel severe — getting support early often makes things easier.
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Crisis resources in other countries.
Explore care optionsFrequently asked questions
Why do I need blood tests on lithium?
References
We rely on government health agencies, professional medical organizations, peer-reviewed research and academic institutions. Read our sourcing standards.
About this article
Written by
ExploreMentalHealth Editorial Team
Our editors research and write every article using government health agencies, professional medical organizations and peer-reviewed research, following our published editorial standards.
- First published
- September 11, 2026
- Last updated
- September 22, 2026
- Last medically reviewed
- Review pending