TABLE 371-11 - Clinical Pharmacology of Mood Stabilizers
| Agent and Dosing | Side Effects and Other Effects |
| Lithium Starting dose: 300 mg bid or tid Therapeutic blood level: 0.8 - 1.2 meq/L | Common side effects: Nausea/anorexia/diarrhea, fine tremor, thirst, polyuria, fatigue, weight gain, acne, folliculitis, neutrophilia, hypothyroidism Blood level is increased by thiazides, tetracyclines, and NSAIDs Blood level is decreased by bronchodilators, verapamil, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors |
| Valproic acid Starting dose: 250 mg tid Therapeutic blood level: 50 - 125 g/mL | Common side effects: Nausea/anorexia, weight gain, sedation, tremor, rash, alopecia Inhibits hepatic metabolism of other medications |
| Carbamazepine/oxcarbazepine Starting dose: 200 mg bid for carbamazepine, 150 bid for oxcarbazepine Therapeutic blood level: 4 - 12 g/mL for carbamazepine | Common side effects: Nausea/anorexia, sedation, rash, dizziness/ataxia Carbamazepine, but not oxcarbazepine, induces hepatic metabolism of other medications |
| Lamotrigine Starting dose: 25 mg/d | Common side effects: Rash, dizziness, headache, tremor, sedation, nausea Rare side effect: Stevens-Johnson syndrome |