Bipolar Disorder: Mood Stabilizers and treatment choices Flashcards
Mood stabilizers used in bipolar disorder
Lithium
Anticonvulsants
-VPA (Valproic acid, valproate, divalproex)
-Carbamazepine (tegretol)
-Lamotrigine (lamictal)
Atypical Antipsychotics
Lithium
MOA: not fully known
effective in manic epi and in maintenance of recurrence
monotherapy or in combo
reduce suicide
Lithium dosing
600-900mg/day
2-3 divided doses
inc 300-600mg every 1-5 days based on response/tolerability
Lithium therapeutic index
Acute tx: 0.8-1.2
Maint tx: 0.6-1
Draw trough 12 hrs post dose
Lithium AE Acute
GI
sedation
fine tremor
polyurea
polydipsia
take with food to help
Lithium AE chronic
weight gain
hair loss
acne
tremor
sedation
decreased cognition
incoordination
hypothyroid (6-18 mo after start)
Lithium monitor
thyroid
renal
plasma calcium
plasma lithium
urinalysis
CBC
weight
Mild lithium toxicity
> 1.5
nausea
diarrhea
blurred vision
marked tremor
vertigo
confusion
Moderate lithium toxicity
> 2.5
severe neuro complications
seizures
coma
cardia dysrhythmia
permanent neuro impairment
Severe lithium toxicity
> 3.5
potentially lethal
lithium toxicity risk inc
high dose
dehydration
renal impairment
drug interactions
lithium toxicity tx
hold dose, IV normal saline, supportive care
if severe: hemodialysis, lavage if not absorbed
Lithium Pharmacokinetics
clearance, elimination, half life, steady state
clearance dec:
NSAID
ACEI
diuretic
clearance inc:
methylxanthines: caffeine, theophylline
Elimination: 100% renal
Half life 18-36 hrs
Steady state: 3-5 days
Valproic acid
MOA: not well known
- prob inhibit VSSC, boost GABA
used for acute mania and mixed states and maintenance
monotherapy or combo
more efficacious than lithium for rapid cycling
Valproic acid dosing
500-750mg/day
inc 250-500mg every 1-3 days
weight based loading dose for rapid control
therapeutic level for mania 50-125 mcg/ml
VPA black box
Liver and pancreatic effects
avoid CrCl <30
fetal toxicities
VPA side effects
hair loss
wt gain
sedation
GI
dizzy
Thrombocytopenia (dose dependent)
VPA side effects women
menstrual disturbances
PCOS
hyperandrogenism
VPA monitoring
CBC
LFT
pregnancy
ammonia (if sx for hyperammonemia)
VPA pharmacokinetics
bound, metabolism, half life, peak
protein bound (80-90%)
predominantly hepatic metabolism
half life 9-19 hrs
time to peak: 4 hrs
ER: 4-17
DR: 2
Carbamazepine
MOA: inhibit VSSC, enhanced GABA
Tx acute mania and maintenance