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).
What are the side effects to 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.
Is lithium carbonate the same as lithium?
Lithium carbonate & other compounds Various compounds of lithium, the third element on the Periodic Table of Elements, are used in the medications. The most commonly prescribed is lithium carbonate, which is sold under various brand names, including Eskalith CR and Lithobid.
Is lithium carbonate an antidepressant?
We concluded that lithium carbonate does augment the antidepressant effect when added to the long-term antidepressant treatment of nonresponding patients.
Is lithium good for anxiety?
Lithium improves the body’s ability to synthesize serotonin. This simply means that the body’s levels of serotonin increase in response to lithium, which has the effect of improving mood and reducing feelings of anxiousness.
Is lithium a mood stabilizer?
About lithium Lithium is a type of medicine known as a mood stabiliser. It’s used to treat mood disorders such as: mania (feeling highly excited, overactive or distracted)
How long can you stay on lithium?
If you have bipolar disorder, you may be offered lithium for a longer period, to prevent or reduce your risk of relapse. Your doctor may suggest that you commit to taking lithium for at least six months, possibly longer. This is because it can take some time to make sure the medication is working effectively.
Why do you take lithium at night?
When to take lithium You need to take it at night because blood tests need to be done during the day, 12 hours after a dose (see Section 4 ‘Blood tests after starting to take lithium’).
What does being on lithium feel like?
The most common side effects of lithium are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, a dry mouth and a metallic taste in the mouth. Your doctor will carry out regular blood tests to check how much lithium is in your blood. The results will be recorded in your lithium record book.
Why does lithium have a bad reputation?
The researchers’ analysis bore out one of the two main criticisms of lithium, but found the other to be baseless. They found that patients on lithium had a higher risk of suffering kidney function problems and developing hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and also hypercalcemia.
Does lithium help with sleep?
Conclusion: Lithium reduced rapid eye movement sleep and prevented memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation.
Does lithium help with anxiety?