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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Adverse Effects Of A Mood Stabilizer?

I just saw a psychiatrist who believes that I may be bipolar. He wants to put me on a mood stabilizer, like lithium. I don t believe that I am bipolar. I m pretty sure that I have persistent depressive disorder, but my psychiatrist doesn t believe that disorder exists, so the only other option, in his mind, is bipolar. If I m not bipolar, will taking a mood stabilizer cause me any harm? I had a strong adverse reaction to Wellbutrin/bupropion (auditory hallucinations), but I took Lexapro(escitalopram) and it worked well for me, but after a few months it stopped having any effect on my depression.
Wed, 25 Jul 2018
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

There are several medications that is used as mood stabilizer including lithium. Important adverse effects of Lithium include renal toxicity, thyroid dysfunction. At toxic doses Lithium can cause unsteady gait, blurred vision, tremors, acute kidney failure. So it is important to monitor lithium levels every 2 weeks initially followed by once a month. Kidney and thyroid function tests also need to be monitored.

Regards,

Dr. Lekshmi
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What Are The Adverse Effects Of A Mood Stabilizer?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. There are several medications that is used as mood stabilizer including lithium. Important adverse effects of Lithium include renal toxicity, thyroid dysfunction. At toxic doses Lithium can cause unsteady gait, blurred vision, tremors, acute kidney failure. So it is important to monitor lithium levels every 2 weeks initially followed by once a month. Kidney and thyroid function tests also need to be monitored. Regards, Dr. Lekshmi