Brand Name: Lithobid
Generic Name: Lithium Carbonate
Primary Use: Bipolar disorder
Dosage Forms:
Oral Extended-Release tablets of 300mg
Common Side Effects:
How long should it be taken?
The duration of treatment is best advised by the doctor to avoid lithium toxicity.
Consequences of long-term use:
Generic Name: Lithium Carbonate
Primary Use: Bipolar disorder
Dosage Forms:
Oral Extended-Release tablets of 300mg
Common Side Effects:
- Poor memory
- Weight gain
- Lack of awareness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Confusion
- Laboured breathing on exertion
- Fainting
- Stiffness of arms and legs
- Racy and pounding heart
- Decreased heartrate
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Headache
- Cyanosis and pain of digits
- Vision problems
- Dizziness
- Eye pain
- Noise in the ears (tinnitus)
How long should it be taken?
The duration of treatment is best advised by the doctor to avoid lithium toxicity.
Consequences of long-term use:
- Hypothyroidism – underactive thyroid gland
- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
- Birth defects – Ebstein Anomaly
- Kidney failure
- Hyperparathyroidism
- It is the gold standard in treatment of bipolar mania exhibiting the highest effectiveness in the maintenance therapy.
- Proven efficacy in the acute treatment of mania.
- Can be used in all phases of bipolar disorder.
- It has a strong suicide preventive effect (83% less frequent suicides during treatment with Lithium