5 Commonly Prescribed Medications for Mood Disorders

If you’ve been struggling with a mood disorder, you might have tried to make lifestyle changes to see if these healthy new habits would ease your symptoms. However, your symptoms might be so severe that you struggle to keep up with these changes, no matter how badly you want to feel better.

On the other hand, perhaps you’ve been fairly consistent about sticking to your routines. Yet you haven’t noticed your mood improving much at all. As a result, you’re feeling discouraged and unmotivated.

When your mental health is suffering, lifestyle changes aren’t always enough to find relief. Sometimes, you simply don’t have the ability to commit to these changes because your symptoms are so debilitating. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to talk to a therapist about whether or not you might be a good candidate for medication. Here are a few commonly prescribed medications for mood disorders.

1. Antidepressants

Antidepressants are some of the most widely prescribed medications for mood disorders. Today, people living with depression and other related mood disorders have an expansive range of antidepressants to choose from, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).

Antidepressants can take a few weeks to work. But some people do experience side effects. Therefore, many prescribers will start new clients with a low dose and plan for a gradual increase. They can also help people properly switch medications if the first one they try isn’t a good fit.

2. Anti-Anxiety Medications

Many people who struggle with persistent worries, panic attacks, and other anxiety symptoms benefit greatly from anti-anxiety medications. Sometimes, healthcare providers will prescribe antidepressants like SSRIs to treat anxiety, but there are other medications specifically intended for anxiety and panic disorders.

For example, the anti-anxiety medication buspirone is appropriate for long-term use. Furthermore, people who suffer from phobias or intense fears of particular, short-term activities like public speaking might be prescribed beta-blockers for these situations.

3. Stimulants

Stimulants are primarily used to treat conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many people with ADHD deal with mood disorders like anxiety and depression as comorbidities. Therefore, stimulants can be combined with antidepressants to address mood disorder symptoms for those who also live with ADHD.

They are not intended as a first line of defense for people who are solely diagnosed with mood disorders. These medications can help people with ADHD improve their concentration and executive functioning skills.

4. Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other disorders that involve psychosis, delusions, or hallucinations. In some cases, this can include severe depression. People who are prescribed antipsychotics may experience gradual symptom relief within a few days, with the full effects setting in after six weeks or so.

An individual who is prescribed necessary antipsychotics can experience a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Their healthcare provider will regularly monitor any possible side effects. These can include weight gain or changes in blood pressure.

5. Mood Stabilizers

People with bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder, and other conditions that affect impulse control or rapid mood shifts can benefit from mood stabilizers.

For example, lithium is a common treatment for bipolar disorder and mania. Anticonvulsants can also be prescribed for those who suffer from rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, including severe symptoms of both mania and depression. Some people with bipolar disorder benefit most from a combination of mood stabilizers and antidepressants to prevent this rapid-cycling phenomenon.

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Are you interested in exploring medication options for a mood disorder? Reach out to our practice to schedule your first session and learn more about which depression treatments might benefit you.