Table 2.
Selected mood-stabilizing drugs. (Based on Altamura et al. [2011].)
| Drug | Selected putative mechanisms of mood-stabilizing action |
|---|---|
| Lithium | Inhibition of inositol monophosphatase → ↓ protein kinase C activity |
| Inhibition of GSK-3 → ↓ protein kinase C activity/altered cellular differentiation | |
| Stabilization of DA and cholinergic receptors | |
| Normalization of low CSF GABA | |
| Normalization of intracellular sodium | |
| Increase of Glu uptake | |
| Reduced myoinositol synthesis | |
| Anticonvulsants | Inhibition of sodium channels |
| Valproate | Inactivation of GSK-3 |
| Interaction with DA, GABA and Glu transmission | |
| Reduced myoinositol synthesis | |
| Carbamazepine | Reduced Glu and catecholamine release |
| Reduced myoinositol synthesis | |
| Lamotrigine | |
| Second-generation antipsychotics | DA receptor antagonism |
| 5-HT2 receptor antagonism | |
| Olanzapine | GSK-3 regulation (olanzapine) |
| Quetiapine | Blocking of norepinephrine transporter (quetiapine) |
| Risperidone | |
| Aripiprazole | |
| Asenapine | |
| Clozapine |
5-HT2, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor type 2; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; DA, dopamine; GABA, γ amino butyric acid; Glu, glutamate; GSK-3, glycogen synthetase kinase 3.