Anticonvulsants as Mood Stabilizers: Mechanism and Side-effect Examples: Valproate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine • Mild anticholinergic effect -> Drowsiness dry mouth, blurred vision constipation • Allergic reaction -> Benign Rash • T-cell mediated cytotoxic reaction to drug antigens -> Potentially life threatening - Stevens-Johnson Syndrome • Abrupt discontinuation or decr intake -> Withdrawal seizure, relapse of bipolar disorder • Inhibition of dopaminergic activity -> Dose-dependent tremor, ataxia, asthenia • Neurologic effect - Sedation, dose-dependent tremor, dizziness, diplopia, ataxia, asthenia, headache • Systemic effect -> Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hyponatremia, rash, pruritus, weight gain, alopecia (unusual), thrombocytopenia #Anticonvulsants #MoodStabilizers #Mechanism #SideEffects #Pathophysiology #Psychiatry #Pharmacology
