Table 3: Dosing and relative side effects of medications used for treatment of bipolar disorder.

Medication	Initial Dosing (mg)^*	Typical Therapeutic Dose Range (mg)	Weight Gain, Glucose, and Lipid Abnormalities	QTc Prolongation	Hypotension	Sedation	Anticholinergic Effects
Mood Stabilizers: Lithium	1800	900 - 1800 Level (mania): 1 - 1.5 mEq/L Level (maintenance): 0.6 - 1.2 mEq/L	+	0	0	0/+	0/+
Anticonvulsants: Valproic Acid	750	Up to 60 mg/kg/day Level: 50 - 125 cg/mL	+	0	+	++	0/+
Lamotrigine	25	100 - 200	+	0	0	+	++
Atypical Antipsychotics: Aripiprazole	30	10 - 30	0	0	0	0/+	0
Risperidone	3	2 - 8	++	+	0	+	0
Olanzapine	10 - 15	10 - 30	+++	0	+	++	++
Quetiapine	100	300 - 800	++	+	+	++	++
Ziprasidone	80	120 - 200	0	++	0	+	0

0 = No risk or rarely causes side effects at therapeutic dose. + = Mild or occasionally causes side effects at therapeutic dose. ++ = Sometimes causes side effects at therapeutic dose. +++ = Frequently causes side effects at therapeutic dose.

^*Lower starting doses may be indicated for elderly patients, patients with hepatic or renal impairment, or patients taking other medications with potential drug-drug interactions.