Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can aid to treat or protect against mania. It can also be utilized to reduce the frequency of clinical depression episodes.
Take this medicine as directed by your medical professional. It is very important to drink a lot of fluids while taking this medication. Lithium might interact with particular medicines that influence serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors). Inform your physician concerning all of your drugs.
Mood Disorders
Lithium is commonly used to deal with bipolar disorder, a mental disease that triggers really quick changes between the severe moods of clinical depression and mania. Bipolar disorder can make it tough to live a normal life and can trigger serious issues in relationships, work or college. Lithium helps to stop these extreme state of mind adjustments and reduces the extent of depression and mania.
The very early studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s supplied persuading evidence that it can minimize the frequency of hospitalizations for clinical depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance study was particularly vital because it revealed that patients fell back on sugar pill but not on lithium (39 ).
Your physician will certainly check your blood degrees regularly to ensure you are taking the right amount of lithium. It is essential to consume alcohol a lot of fluids while taking this medicine. Your medical professional might recommend a low-sodium diet plan while you are taking this medication.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a blade therefore light it drifts on water. It is found naturally in the atmosphere, with researches linking low levels of it to psychological and psychological health problems and violent criminal offense. The mineral was included in sodas in the 1960s, where it brightened moods and assisted individuals concentrate and focus-- hence the name, 7-Up.
Lithium reduces mania by enhancing the activity of an enzyme that manages natural chemicals, decreasing glutamate levels, and helping to stabilize various other chemicals in the mind. It has also been shown to have antidepressant impacts and enhance rest, irritability, aggression, and stress and anxiety in ADHD people.
Individuals taking lithium needs to have regular blood tests to keep track of levels-- too expensive can be hazardous. It is very important to allow medical professionals find out about various other medications and supplements taken, as some can interact with it. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, tremors, weakness, unsteady walking, or fainting (especially after exercise). Use effective birth control to avoid maternity while taking this medication.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium might be made use of as a temporary therapy for over active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is particularly crucial if the individual has Tomb illness or other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease. Lithium inhibits the release of thyroid hormonal agent by obstructing iodine uptake at the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodide symporter and by interfering with tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium also inhibits thyrotropin-releasing hormonal agent (TRH) excitement and reduces the manufacturing of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nevertheless, lithium use may lead to hypothyroidism and a goiter in some people. [11] Therefore, constant examination of thyroid feature tests and size is advised in people on lithium treatment.
It is very important to go over the benefits and risks of this drug with your medical professional prior to starting it. It is also important to stay clear of items low in sodium (salt) while taking this medication and beverage enough fluids. If you have any kind of issues, call your physician or the emergency division today.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well established from both clinical and speculative research studies. It is essential to note that in comparison to a few primitive clinical records and the lithium-pilocarpine pet model, a variety of current studies show that lithium in restorative levels does not lower the seizure limit but in fact reduces the threshold for seizure event.
This is thought to be due to the reality that lithium enhances cholinergic task, prevents phosphoinositide metabolism and GSK-3b signalling. It additionally minimizes glutamate excitotoxicity by increasing NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and boosts the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in nerve cells [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by many people with bipolar illness, however it has a few negative effects that should be taken into consideration. These consist of a reduced capability to concentrate pee (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus) bipolar disorder treatment and a rise in the concentration of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is for that reason really essential to follow your medical professional's directions concerning having routine blood examinations.
