Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can aid to deal with or stop mania. It can likewise be used to lower the regularity of anxiety episodes.
Take this medication as directed by your physician. It is necessary to consume alcohol a lot of fluids while taking this medicine. Lithium may communicate with specific medications that influence serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO preventions). Inform your doctor about all of your medications.
Mood Disorders
Lithium is typically utilized to deal with bipolar illness, a mental disease that creates very fast shifts between the extreme moods of depression and mania. Bipolar affective disorder can make it difficult to live a typical life and can trigger severe troubles in partnerships, job or institution. Lithium assists to avoid these severe state of mind modifications and reduces the intensity of anxiety and mania.
The very early research studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s supplied convincing evidence that it can reduce the frequency of hospitalizations for depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance study was especially important because it showed that people slipped back on sugar pill however out lithium (39 ).
Your physician will inspect your blood levels routinely to ensure you are taking the appropriate amount of lithium. It is important to drink a lot of liquids while taking this medication. Your doctor may advise a low-sodium diet regimen while you are taking this medication.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a knife and so light it drifts on water. It is located normally in the atmosphere, with studies linking reduced degrees of it to psychological and mental health problems and terrible criminal activity. The mineral was contributed to soft drinks in the 1960s, where it brightened moods and aided individuals focus and concentrate-- hence the name, 7-Up.
Lithium lowers mania by boosting the action of an enzyme that regulates neurotransmitters, decreasing glutamate degrees, and assisting to balance other chemicals in the mind. It has actually likewise been shown to have antidepressant results and enhance sleep, irritability, aggression, mental wellness and anxiousness in ADHD individuals.
People taking lithium ought to have regular blood examinations to keep an eye on levels-- too high can be poisonous. It is very important to let doctors find out about various other medications and supplements taken, as some can interact with it. Inform your physician if you have diarrhea, throwing up, drowsiness, tremors, weak point, unsteady walking, or fainting (specifically after exercise). Usage efficient birth control to stay clear of maternity while taking this medicine.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium might be utilized as a short-term therapy for overactive thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is specifically essential if the patient has Tomb illness or various other autoimmune problems like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease. Lithium hinders the release of thyroid hormonal agent by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodide symporter and by hindering tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium likewise hinders thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) excitement and reduces the production of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nevertheless, lithium use might result in hypothyroidism and a goiter in some people. [11] For this reason, frequent analysis of thyroid function examinations and size is suggested in individuals on lithium therapy.
It is very important to discuss the advantages and risks of this drug with your doctor prior to starting it. It is additionally essential to stay clear of products reduced in sodium (salt) while taking this medication and drink sufficient fluids. If you have any type of problems, call your physician or the emergency situation department right away.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well developed from both medical and speculative research studies. It is necessary to note that in comparison to a few primitive scientific reports and the lithium-pilocarpine animal version, a number of current studies show that lithium in therapeutic levels does not lower the seizure threshold however in fact lowers the limit for seizure occurrence.
This is thought to result from the fact that lithium boosts cholinergic activity, prevents phosphoinositide metabolic rate and GSK-3b signalling. It also minimizes glutamate excitotoxicity by increasing NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and improves the endogenous nitric oxide synthase task in neurons [36]
Lithium is well endured by most people with bipolar affective disorder, yet it has a few adverse effects that need to be taken into consideration. These include a lowered ability to concentrate pee (nephrogenic diabetes mellitus insipidus) and an increase in the focus of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is therefore extremely vital to follow your doctor's directions concerning having normal blood tests.
