Mood stabilizers are a class of drugs used to prevent and reduce mood episodes such as mania and depression. Like any medication, there are both benefits and risks of taking mood stabilizers.

Often, they are taken with a mood-stabilizing drug and can decrease symptoms of mania until mood stabilizers take full effect. Some antipsychotics seem to help stabilize moods on their own.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar, depression, and schizoaffective disorder. Lithium helps decrease suicidal thoughts and manage both manic and depressive symptoms. Lithium side ...