Question 1

is it safe to take benzos for anxiety with a mood stabilizer?

Accepted Answer

Yes sparingly: Usually anxiety is secondary to mood fluctuations and more effectively treated by adjustment of the mood stabilizer. There is a significant risk of addiction and tolerance with benzos and not recommended for long term use.

Question 2

would taking a mood stabilizer instead of taking anti depressants and anxiety medication be a better option?

Accepted Answer

If Bipolar, yes: People with bipolar disorder risk switching into mania when given antidepressants unprotected by mood stabilizers.  You would need a full evaluation of your condition to know -- you can see a psychiatrist for this.  Only after this thorough assessment would a psychiatrist be able to answer your question properly.

Question 3

which one is preferred paroxetine or vortioxetine for mdd and severe anxiety? can we combine both? which mood stabilizer considers the least side effects? thanks and please differentiate between paroxetine and vortioxetine?

Accepted Answer

: Paroxetine is an SSRI. Vortioxetine acts in a similar fashion. Paroxetine's side effects range from drowsiness, insomnia, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and GI upset; however Vortioxetine only has the latter two.  Paroxetine is used for many conditions including MDD and anxiety, but Vortioxetine is marketed only for MDD. There is a strong risk for Serotonin syndrome if taken together

Question 4

pounding heartbeat cardiac tests normal. don't think anxiety since i take 2 mood stabilizer a day and already take 20 mg of propranolol 3 times a day.

Accepted Answer

Medication effects: I understand your concern.
It is not clear which mood stabilizer, you are taking-SSRA medications and Effexor (venlafaxine) can cause Pounding heartbeat. 
Adderall can do the same, combining them will increase  anxiety symptoms.
See Psychiatrist for Diagnosis, Medication benefits and side effects, dose, monitoring and  Therapy for stress in your life.
Do Breathing and Music Relaxation, Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi

Question 5

i'm currently taking antidepressants, a mood stabilizer, and an anti-anxiety med for bipolar disorder. they all warn that they can increase the effects of alcohol like drowsiness. but i'm finding that every time i drink, i don't feel hungover at all the n

Accepted Answer

Russian Roulette: Recommend alcohol use with your diagnosis and your medications.

Question 6

what is the best mood stabilizer that doesn't cause weight gain?

Accepted Answer

Mood stabilizer: At the right therapeutic dose ,  topamax along with Abilify (aripiprazole) seems to work the best, at least in my experience.

Question 7

psych dr. told me years ago  luvox (fluvoxamine) was the best ssri to use for bipolar/ocd with a mood stabilizer because of its lower chance of inducing mania, true?

Accepted Answer

Well... : Tricyclics antidepressants are the class mostl likely associated with qmanic induction in bipolar disorder. Bupropion is thought  clinically  and supported by research to have a lower risk of manic induction. Ssris including fluvoxamine are likely intermediate in risk with no overall difference amongst individual agents.

Question 8

if someone with no mood disorder takes a mood stabilizer. what happens ?

Accepted Answer

Not a lot, probably: If someone without a mood disorder takes a mood stabilizer, there is no benefit.  You would be exposed to the side effects of the medication, with no reason to take it and no symptoms to track for "improvement."  seems like a waste to me.  I wonder why you would want to take it?

Question 9

would like to try the ablifiy, but do i just take him off the zpreza? and can we start that dose out higher because of how severe he is right now? and is the ablifiy a mood stabilizer? sorry lots of questions! he's just crying one minute and hitting the n

Accepted Answer

Why?: Changing from one medicine to another is really not a casual matter.  You need to involve your prescriber. Is there sufficient reason to change? How long, and what doses have been tried? Is there a side effect? Is Abilify (aripiprazole) the best choice to switch to? What are the risks and benefits? You need your prescriber's involvement in this.

Question 10

what is a mood stabilizer?

Accepted Answer

Mood stabilizer: Mood stabilizing medications are often needed for bipolar or schizoaffective disorder, conditions where mood lability causes big problems.  Medicines like lithium, plus anticonvulsants such as depakote, lamictal, and topomax are in this category and can help greatly. The idea is not to eliminate all mood changes, but to prevent mania and depression -- very painful and personally disruptive states.

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Doctor answers about:

Best mood stabilizer for anxiety

A member asked:

Is it safe to take benzos for anxiety with a mood stabilizer?

A member asked:

Would taking a mood stabilizer instead of taking anti depressants and anxiety medication be a better option?

A member asked:

Which one is preferred paroxetine or vortioxetine for mdd and severe anxiety? can we combine both? which mood stabilizer considers the least side effects? thanks and please differentiate between paroxetine and vortioxetine?

A member asked:

Pounding heartbeat cardiac tests normal. don't think anxiety since i take 2 mood stabilizer a day and already take 20 mg of propranolol 3 times a day.

A member asked:

I'm currently taking antidepressants, a mood stabilizer, and an anti-anxiety med for bipolar disorder. they all warn that they can increase the effects of alcohol like drowsiness. but i'm finding that every time i drink, i don't feel hungover at all the n

A member asked:

What is the best mood stabilizer that doesn't cause weight gain?

A member asked:

Psych dr. told me years ago luvox (fluvoxamine) was the best ssri to use for bipolar/ocd with a mood stabilizer because of its lower chance of inducing mania, true?

A member asked:

If someone with no mood disorder takes a mood stabilizer. what happens ?

A member asked:

Would like to try the ablifiy, but do i just take him off the zpreza? and can we start that dose out higher because of how severe he is right now? and is the ablifiy a mood stabilizer? sorry lots of questions! he's just crying one minute and hitting the n

A member asked:

What is a mood stabilizer?

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