# Anticonvulsants/Mood Stabilizers --- **Anticonvulsants** are a type of [[medicine]] that also function as mood stabilizers. - **Depakote** (valproic acid) 50-100 maintenance patient education - pregnancy - don't stop all at once - risk for seizures Labs: liver enzymes, platelets, VPA (valproic acid) lamotrigine ([[antiepileptic drugs]]) - stevens johnsons syndrome Quetiapine - second gen antipsychotics, monitor blood pressure, metabolic disorder, QT prolongation black box warning: increased risk of death - dementia with psychosis Ziprasidone - 2nd gen antipsychotics. less sedating has to be given with food (at least 300 calories) ## Examples • Carbamazepine • Clonazepam • Valproic Acid (Depakote) • Lamotrigine • Gabapentin • Topiramate • Oxcarbazepine - [[lithium]] Depakote it can be useful for acute [[mania]] and depression - side effects - weight gain - sedation - people hate it - there are also people who do well on it - liver damage lamictal • Anticonvulsant used for long term management of Bipolar Disorder and bipolar depression. • Commonly causes a benign rash. • Rarely causes Steven Johnson's syndrome. • Patient teaching is to be aware of and report any rash, but especially one that affects the nose, eyes, mouth or genitals. • Slow titration up to therapeutic dose reduces risk of development of SJS. **lamictal rash** they can all cause a rash, but this is particularly the case here. can cause [[Stevens-Johnson syndrome]] which is just...no. just no. It is very rare, but it is horrific. one think to look for is a rash around the nose/lips/eyes/genetals we reduce the risk of SJS by titrating up to the therapeutic dose ___