Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can help to deal with or stop mania. It can likewise be used to lower the frequency of depression episodes.
Take this medicine as guided by your physician. It is essential to drink plenty of liquids while taking this medication. Lithium might engage with specific medicines that affect serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors). Inform your physician concerning every one of your medicines.
State of mind Problems
Lithium is frequently made use of to deal with bipolar illness, a mental disease that triggers very quick shifts in between the extreme state of minds of depression and mania. Bipolar illness can make it difficult to live a regular life and can trigger significant issues in relationships, job or school. Lithium aids to prevent these severe mood adjustments and decreases the extent of depression and mania.
The very early studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s supplied convincing evidence that it can lower the frequency of hospital stays for depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance research study was specifically vital due to the fact that it showed that people slipped back on sugar pill yet not on lithium (39 ).
Your doctor will certainly examine your blood levels on a regular basis to ensure you are taking the correct quantity of lithium. It is essential to drink lots of liquids while taking this medication. Your physician might advise a low-sodium diet while you are taking this medication.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a blade and so light it drifts on water. It is discovered normally in the atmosphere, with researches connecting low degrees of it to emotional and psychological health problems and fierce criminal activity. The mineral was included in soft drinks in the 1960s, where it lightened up state of minds and aided individuals focus and concentrate-- thus the name, 7-Up.
Lithium lowers mania by boosting the action of an enzyme that controls natural chemicals, reducing glutamate levels, and aiding to balance various other chemicals in the mind. It has likewise been revealed to have antidepressant results and improve rest, irritation, aggression, and stress and anxiety in ADHD patients.
Individuals taking lithium ought to have regular blood tests to keep track of levels-- too high can be harmful. It is very important to allow physicians learn about various other drugs and supplements taken, as some can communicate with it. Tell your doctor if you have looseness of the bowels, vomiting, drowsiness, shakes, weakness, unstable strolling, or fainting (particularly after exercise). Use reliable contraception to stay clear of pregnancy while taking this medicine.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium might be utilized as a short-term treatment for over active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is especially important if the person has Graves condition or various other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease. Lithium inhibits the launch of thyroid hormone by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodide symporter and by hindering tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium additionally hinders thyrotropin-releasing hormonal agent (TRH) stimulation and lowers the manufacturing of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nonetheless, lithium use may lead to hypothyroidism and a goiter in some clients. [11] Therefore, regular assessment of thyroid function examinations and dimension is advised in people on lithium therapy.
It is important to review the advantages and dangers of this medication with your physician before starting it. It is additionally essential to stay clear of items reduced in sodium (salt) while taking this medication and drink sufficient liquids. If you have any issues, call your doctor or the emergency situation division today.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well developed from both scientific and experimental research studies. It is necessary to note that unlike a few primitive scientific records and the lithium-pilocarpine animal design, a variety of current studies demonstrate that lithium in restorative degrees does not reduce the seizure threshold but in fact reduces the limit for seizure event.
This is thought to result from the reality that lithium boosts cholinergic activity, hinders phosphoinositide metabolic rate and GSK-3b signalling. It likewise reduces glutamate excitotoxicity by raising NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and improves the endogenous nitric oxide synthase task in neurons [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by many people with bipolar affective disorder, yet it has a few side effects that have to be thought about. These consist of a reduced capability to concentrate pee (nephrogenic diabetes mellitus insipidus) and a rise in the focus bipolar disorder treatment of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is as a result very essential to follow your doctor's directions concerning having regular blood examinations.
