Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can aid to treat or prevent mania. It can likewise be used to minimize the frequency of clinical depression episodes.
Take this drug as guided by your doctor. It is important to consume alcohol lots of liquids while taking this medicine. Lithium may connect with specific medications that influence serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors). Inform your physician about every one of your medications.
Mood Disorders
Lithium is usually utilized to treat bipolar disorder, a mental disease that triggers really quick changes between the severe state of minds of clinical depression and mania. Bipolar affective disorder can make it hard to live a regular life and can cause significant issues in relationships, job or college. Lithium assists to stop these extreme state of mind changes and reduces the severity of anxiety and mania.
The very early research studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s given convincing proof that it can lower the frequency of hospital stays for anxiety (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance research was especially crucial due to the fact that it showed that people fell back on sugar pill yet not on lithium (39 ).
Your physician will certainly check your blood levels regularly to make certain you are taking the correct amount of lithium. It is necessary to drink lots of liquids while taking this medication. Your doctor might advise a low-sodium diet while you are taking this medicine.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a blade and so light it floats on water. It is discovered normally in the setting, with studies linking reduced degrees of it to psychological and mental health problems and fierce criminal activity. The mineral was added to soft drinks in the 1960s, where it brightened state of minds and aided individuals focus and concentrate-- thus the name, 7-Up.
Lithium minimizes mania by boosting the activity of an enzyme that manages natural chemicals, decreasing glutamate levels, and helping to balance other chemicals in the mind. It has actually additionally been shown to have antidepressant effects and improve sleep, irritability, hostility, and stress and anxiety in ADHD patients.
Individuals taking lithium ought to have regular blood examinations to check levels-- too expensive can be toxic. It is essential to allow doctors find out about other medicines and supplements taken, as some can communicate with it. Tell your physician if you have looseness of the bowels, throwing up, drowsiness, tremblings, weakness, unsteady strolling, or fainting (specifically after workout). Usage reliable contraception to stay clear of pregnancy while taking this medicine.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium may be utilized as a temporary treatment for overactive thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is especially important if the patient has Graves disease or various other autoimmune problems like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease. Lithium hinders the release of thyroid hormone by obstructing iodine uptake at the thyroid gland with the sodium-iodide symporter and by interfering with tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium also hinders thyrotropin-releasing hormonal agent (TRH) excitement and reduces the production of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nonetheless, lithium usage might cause hypothyroidism and a goiter in some individuals. [11] For this reason, regular assessment of thyroid function tests and dimension is suggested in clients on lithium therapy.
It is necessary to review the benefits and dangers of this medication with your doctor before beginning it. It is additionally essential to avoid 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 as soon as possible.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well established from both professional and speculative studies. It is necessary to note that in contrast to a couple of primitive scientific records and the lithium-pilocarpine animal model, a variety of recent studies show that lithium in restorative levels does not lower the seizure threshold however actually reduces the threshold for seizure event.
This is thought to be due to the reality that lithium raises cholinergic activity, inhibits phosphoinositide metabolic rate and GSK-3b signalling. It likewise minimizes glutamate excitotoxicity by boosting NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and enhances the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in nerve cells [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by lots of people with bipolar affective disorder, but it has a couple of side effects that have to be considered. These include a minimized ability to focus urine (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus) and a rise therapy for anxiety and depression in the concentration of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is as a result extremely important to follow your physician's instructions regarding having regular blood examinations.
