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Mood stabilizer is a misnomer. Think of mood stabilizers with four indications for bipolar disorder.
1. prevention of mania - every mood stabilizer except lamotrigine
2. prevention of depression - lithium, lamotrigine, + acute depression meds
3. acute depression - olanzapine/fluoxetine, lurasidone, quetiapine, cariprazine + don't forget psychotherapy
4. acute mania - all antipsychotics, lithium, depakote, tegretol
Think of the movie Frozen; Since everyone likes to See Olaf. Say in your head "C QLOF" to remember:
Cariprazine Quetiapine Lurasidone Olanzapine w/Fluoxetine