A mood stabiliser is a type of psychiatric medication used to treat disorders characterised by extreme mood swings, such as bipolar disorder. Mood stabilisers are also used for borderline personality disorder and schizoaffective disorder. There are a wide range of mood stabilising medications, from a range of different medication classes.
Some of the most common mood stabilisers are lithium, sodium valproate and lamotrigine. Some mood stabiliser side effects include:
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Trembling
- Increased thirst and need to urinate
- Temporary weight gain
- Drowsiness
- A metallic taste in the mouth
- Problems with kidney and thyroid function
- Weight gain
- Drowsiness and low energy
- Changes in liver function
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Temporary hair loss
