What is the difference between antipsychotics and mood stabilizers?

I've been diagnosed with bipolar and almost every bipolar person I've talked to are on multiple meds, usually both antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. They both help stabilize their moods, so what exactly is the difference? How do I know which one I need?



If it helps I have rapid cycling, my moods change from depressive to manic all throughout the day.What is the difference between antipsychotics and mood stabilizers?
antipsychotics are just what they sound like - anti psychotic. In bipolar they are primarily used to control the psychotic features that some individuals who are bipolar have during mania and or severe depressive episodes. They also have some mood stabilizing properties but usually not sufficient enough to use as a stand alone medication for bipolar mood stabilization.



mood stabilizers are again just as they sound. primarily for the use of mood stabilization in treatment of bipolar many mood stabilizers are also used in the treatment of seizures as they also anti-convulsant medications.



If you have psychotic features in your bipolar you will be given both medications. If you dont have psychotic features you will likely be given just a mood stabilizer. This gives you an idea of what your doc may prescribe but you wont know what you need only your doctor can tell you. They take many things into account including if you want to have children, your income, your syptoms, any other diagnosis you may have like ocd that a combination of medications may suite to treat both conditions. But dont be afraid to ask your doc exactly what your meds do and why she -he chose them for you