Why are anticonvulsants used as mood stabilizers?

Many people assume that anticonvulsants are only used to treat seizures. This assumption is wrong!Anticonvulsants have been shown to be an effective treatment option for mood disorders. In this article, we will explore why and how anticonvulsant medications work as mood stabilizers in the human body.

Understanding Mood Disorders

Mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder affect millions of people worldwide. These conditions can severely impact a person’s quality of life by causing significant changes in their emotional state.

Bipolar disorder causes individuals to fluctuate between periods of mania (extreme highs) and depression (extreme lows). Major depressive disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness.

While the exact cause of these disorders remains unclear, researchers believe that they could result from chemical imbalances within the brain.^

The Role Of Chemical Imbalances In Mood Disorders

The human brain relies on several chemicals called neurotransmitters to transmit messages between cells. One important neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood is called glutamate. When there are imbalances in glutamate levels within the brain, it can lead to neurological problems such as epilepsy and mood disorders.

Overactive glutamate activity has been associated with mania, while underactivity has been associated with depression^).

Scientists believe that using medication such as anticonvulsants could help regulate glutamate activity in individuals suffering from mood disorders.

How Do Anticonvulsant Drugs Work?

Anticonvulsant drugs reduce seizure activity by calming down overexcited neurons in the brain. They work similarly as mood stabilizers — balancing out excess excitability responsible for manic episodes while also correcting depressions caused by lack of neural activation^].

One example is sodium valproate, which works by increasing concentrations gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for decreasing neuron excitability. Anticonvulsants such as lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and oxcarbazepine all work by regulating sodium channels within neurons to maintain proper neural activity levels.

Benefits Of Anticonvulsants As Mood Stabilizers

Because anticonvulsant drugs dampen hyperactivity of neurons, it makes them useful mood stabilizers used to prevent mania and hypomania_. They are also seen as a safer medication option than traditional bipolar-specific medications such as lithium due to people developing liver damage^.

Anticonvulsant medications have been found effective in treating other conditions beyond seizures and bipolar disorder like neuropathic pain, migraine headaches, restless leg syndrome^]. In some cases, physicians prescribe anticonvulsant medication along with antidepressants that do regulate the same gene expression at moments where neural control alone isn’t enough

Conclusion

While we may associate anticonvulsants only with epilepsy treatment,, they offer valuable benefits beyond controlling seizures. By reducing glutamate NMDA receptor overstimulation within the brain’s limbic system regions that affect emotionality can improve regulation of these processes overall^. Despite potential side effects associated with certain drugs like Gabapentin (neuropathy), Valproic Acid (liver function changes over time), or Topiramate(Kidney stones), what is most important is ensuring regulated affects on brain activity so individuals no longer have acute symptoms interfering with their lives.

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