Mood stabilizers: Is age an issue?

^{From: Understanding psychiatric medications: Mood stabilizers - Information for consumers, families and friends (© 2009 CAMH)}

Children and teens

The first signs of bipolar disorder can appear in childhood, usually as depression or behaviour problems. Early substance use problems or petty crime can also be signs. When bipolar disorder in childhood is misdiagnosed as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or unipolar depression, treatment with stimulants or antidepressants can worsen symptoms.

Mood stabilizers were developed and tested on adults. While most of these drugs are not officially approved for use by children and teens, professional guidelines direct their use in this age group. Lithium is approved for treating manic symptoms in children aged 12 and older.

Children and teens may be more prone to the side-effects of these drugs and should be monitored by their doctor regularly for side-effects.

Older adults

As people age into their 60s and older, their bodies become less able to eliminate medications. This means that older people who take mood stabilizers need to have the drug levels in their blood measured more often than younger people. Those taking lithium also need to have their kidney and thyroid function and heart rate monitored more frequently.

As people get older, they also become more sensitive to medications and may require a lower dose. Mood stabilizers can increase the risk of falls, especially when taken with other drugs.

Contents

• Introduction
• Do I need treatment?
• What do mood stabilizers do?
• Side-effects
• Types of mood stabilizers
• Starting and stopping mood stabilizers
• Mood stabilizers, other drugs and driving
• Mood stabilizers, sexuality and pregnancy
• Is age an issue?
• Where can I get more information about mood stabilizers?
• How can I find treatment or a support group?

• Print
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