Table 45-8 Overview of anticonvulsants in the treatment of bipolar depression

Table 45-8 Overview of anticonvulsants in the treatment of bipolar depression
Drug	Daily dosage, mg	Efficacy	Comments
Carbamazepine	400-1600	Marked + moderate; 31%-44%	Fewer than 10% have marked improvement. Nonresponders may benefit from adjunctive lithium.
Valproate	750-2500	Marked + moderate; 24%-38%	Antidepressant efficacy may have been overestimated in studies involving patients who are rapid cyclers.
Clonazepam	0.5-6.0	Marked + moderate; 77%	Rapid improvement noted suggests anxiolytic benefit.