Lithium and Mood Stabilizers distills practical rules for treating bipolar spectrum disorders while protecting kidneys, thyroid, heart, and cognition. This page begins with shared decisions about goals—relapse prevention, suicide risk reduction, sleep stabilization—and maps how lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, and atypical antipsychotics fit different phases and phenotypes. We cover pre-treatment baselines (renal, thyroid, calcium, ECG when indicated; pregnancy status and contraception), dosing strategies (slow titration, evening dosing to reduce side effects), and monitoring schedules that patients can actually follow. If you’re comparing options at a bipolar treatment conference (/program/scientific-topics/lithium-and-mood-stabilizers), you’ll find algorithms for acute mania, bipolar depression, and maintenance; combination rules that minimize interactions; and stepwise approaches when response lags. Because sleep is the hinge of mood, we integrate circadian anchors and light/timing plans to amplify medication effects without piling on sedatives.

Safety and dignity drive the details. We outline side-effect troubleshooting, hydration and sick-day guidance for lithium, and hepatic/hematologic monitoring for valproate and carbamazepine. For lamotrigine, we emphasize slow titration and rash precautions; for atypicals, we bake in metabolic monitoring and deprescribing when risk outweighs benefit. Special sections address perinatal planning, older-adult dosing, and comorbidity with SUD or anxiety. Equitable care means interpreter pathways, large-print materials, and cost navigation for labs and meds. Registries track episodes, sleep, function, and serum levels; dashboards flag nonresponse or toxicity signals early so teams can pivot. Finally, we connect pharmacology with psychotherapy—IPSRT, CBT, and family-focused therapy—so patients gain skills that protect routines and relationships. For device strategies, see TMS/ECT for Depression; for precise med selection and interactions, pair with Precision Psychopharmacology.