Mood stabilizers: Side-effects

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

The side-effects of mood stabilizers vary depending on the type of medication. With some medications, side-effects are kept to a minimum through regular monitoring of the level of the drug in the blood. Some people experience no side-effects. Others may find the side-effects distressing. Side-effects usually lessen as treatment continues.

Check the information given to you by your doctor or pharmacist on the specific effects of any drug you have been prescribed. If side-effects are not mild and tolerable, let your doctor know as soon as possible.

Your doctor may:

• adjust your dose
• suggest you take the medication at a different time of day
• suggest you take your medication with food
• prescribe other medications to help control side-effects
• change your medication.

More information on side-effects is included for each type of mood stabilizer on the following page.

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?

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