Mood stabilizers are essential tools in managing bipolar disorder and other mood dysregulation conditions, but their safety and effectiveness hinge on routine laboratory monitoring. Drugs like lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine require individualized surveillance due to risks ranging from toxicity to organ damage. Each has its own lab profile—lithium needs renal and thyroid checks, valproate requires liver function and platelet monitoring, and carbamazepine mandates CBC and liver panels due to potential hematologic effects.
This section serves as a quick yet comprehensive guide for psychiatric NPs, outlining what labs to order, when to order them, and how to interpret abnormal values. With clear benchmarks for safety and efficacy, this panel helps you prevent complications, adjust doses responsibly, and ensure long-term treatment success.