What is lithium carbonate used to treat?
What is lithium carbonate used to treat?
Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Lithium is in a class of medications called antimanic agents.
What does lithium do to a person?
Lithium a mood stabilizer that is a used to treat or control the manic episodes of bipolar disorder (manic depression). Manic symptoms include hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger. Lithium also helps to prevent or lessen the intensity of manic episodes.
Why does lithium treat bipolar disorder?
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) is one of the most widely used and studied medications for treating bipolar disorder. Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania. It may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression.
What is the side effect of lithium carbonate?
Drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, increased thirst, increased frequency of urination, weight gain, and mildly shaking hands (fine tremor) may occur. These should go away as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
What are the 3 main symptoms of lithium toxicity?
What are the symptoms of lithium toxicity?
- diarrhea.
- vomiting.
- stomach pains.
- fatigue.
- tremors.
- uncontrollable movements.
- muscle weakness.
- drowsiness.
Does Lithium change your personality?
Substantial affect and mood changes are induced by lithium carbonate. Lethargy, dysphoria, a loss of interest in interacting with others and the environment, and a state of increased mental confusion were reported.
Does taking lithium shorten your life?
At high doses, lithium reduced their lifespan. “We found low doses not only prolong life but also shield the body from stress and block fat production for flies on a high sugar diet,” said co-researcher Dr Ivana Bjedov from the UCL Cancer Institute.
Does lithium treat anxiety?
Treating Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder In general, doctors will begin by addressing the bipolar disorder through the prescription of a mood stabilizer like lithium. Once the bipolar symptoms have stabilized, the doctor then will prescribe medication for treating the anxiety disorder.
Does lithium make you emotionless?
If you’re on the right dose and the level of lithium in your blood is right, you may not have any problems taking this medicine. However, some people find lithium slows down their thinking or makes them feel a bit “numb”.
What drug makes you not feel anything?
Commonly found in pain relievers, acetaminophen gets rid of more than just physical agony – it also diminishes emotions. Commonly found in pain relievers, acetaminophen gets rid of more than just physical agony — it also diminishes emotions.
Does lithium make you happy?
It is not known how lithium works to stabilize a person’s mood. However, it does act on the central nervous system. It helps you to have more control over your emotions and helps you cope better with the problems of living.
Does lithium turn you into a zombie?
In general, the only significant problems with low-dose lithium are tolerability and thyroid issues. About 1 person in 10 to 15 gets dull, flat, and “blah” (the “lithium made me a zombie” effect, overrepresented in online testimonials).
Does lithium make you angry?
Although there are anecdotal reports of people experiencing increased episodes of irritability and anger after taking lithium, they aren’t considered side effects of the medication. Side effects of mood stabilizers such as lithium include: restlessness.
Does lithium make you fat?
The mood-stabilizing drug lithium remains an effective mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder—but unfortunately, it can cause weight gain. Although the possibility of gaining weight while taking lithium is well known, this side effect does not affect everyone who takes the medication.
What does lithium do for depression?
Lithium increases the amount of certain chemicals in your brain which help to balance mood. Some researchers believe that using lithium helps strengthen the nerve connections in your brain that control your mood because of proteins it contains.
What happens if your lithium levels are low?
At a level of 1.2 mEq/L, lithium can start to cause problems. If your levels are too high, you could get lithium poisoning and need treatment right away. Too much lithium can be fatal. If your levels are too low, the medicine may not help your condition.
How long can you stay on lithium?
If you are just starting lithium treatment, is it recommended that you stay on it for at least 6–12 months. This is to help find out whether it will be an effective treatment for you. If you’ve been completely free of relapses after taking lithium for 3–5 years, you may be able to see if you can manage without it.
Is 300mg of lithium a lot?
Long-term Control: The desirable serum lithium levels are 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/l. Dosage will vary from one individual to another, but usually 300 mg of lithium carbonate t.i.d. or q.i.d., will maintain this level.
What is the antidote for lithium?
Treatment: No specific antidote for lithium poisoning is known. Early symptoms of lithium toxicity can usually be treated by reduction or cessation of dosage of the drug and resumption of the treatment at a lower dose after 24 to 48 hours.
Does Lithium help you sleep?
The effects of lithium carbonate on sleep patterns have been investigated both acutely in normal and depressed subjects and chronically in depressed subjects. In normal subjects receiving lithium for two weeks total sleep time did not vary, REM sleep decreased and REM sleep latency increased.
What are the most common side effects of lithium?
Common side effects
- Headache.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Dizziness or drowsiness.
- Changes in appetite.
- Hand tremors.
- Dry mouth.
- Increased thirst.
What organs are affected by lithium?
The three organ systems that may be negatively affected by lithium are the thyroid gland, kidneys and parathyroid glands.
What are the long term effects of lithium on the body?
Over the long term, lithium can cause the thyroid gland to grow (goiter) or, less often, to become underactive (hypothyroidism), which is more likely to occur in women over age 45. It can also adversely affect kidney and cardiovascular function.
What are the side effects of coming off lithium?
Adverse effects were the most common cause for lithium discontinuation. Among the adverse effects, diarrhoea, tremor, creatinine increase, polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus and weight gain were the top five reasons for discontinuing lithium.
Can GP prescribe lithium?
Prescribing. A specialist in secondary care will usually start a prescription for lithium. This is because doses need to be changed based on serum lithium levels and clinical response. A hospital and GP may share responsibility for prescribing lithium.
Is Lithium still used for bipolar?
Lithium is often a part of the lifelong treatment of bipolar disorder. It can be a very effective drug if you take it exactly as your doctor prescribes. However, lithium is not for everyone, and if you don’t take it as your doctor tells you, you could be at risk of lithium toxicity.
What does lithium toxicity feel like?
Lithium toxicity, also known as lithium overdose, is the condition of having too much lithium. Symptoms may include a tremor, increased reflexes, trouble walking, kidney problems, and an altered level of consciousness. Some symptoms may last for a year after levels return to normal.
Which is an advanced sign of lithium toxicity?
Clinical signs of lithium toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, dysarthria, nystagmus, ataxia, and slurred speech. Patients will also exhibit alterations in the level of consciousness, which may vary from confusion to agitation, delirium, and coma.
What food has lithium?
Lithium in Food Products The main sources of Li in the diet are cereals, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and some mineral waters [44]. It may also be found in some spices such as nutmeg, coriander seeds, or cumin; however, their share in the total supply of this element is negligible in many geographic regions [49].
What drugs should not be taken with lithium?
Lithium should not be taken with certain blood pressure medications, such as hydrochlorothiazide. Nor should it be taken with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, often marketed as Advil, and naproxen, including Aleve.