Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can help to deal with or stop mania. It can likewise be used to decrease the frequency of depression episodes.
Take this medicine as routed by your medical professional. It is important to drink lots of liquids while taking this medicine. Lithium may communicate with certain medicines that affect serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO preventions). Tell your medical professional regarding every one of your medicines.
Mood Problems
Lithium is frequently used to deal with bipolar affective disorder, a mental illness that causes very rapid changes in between the severe moods of anxiety and mania. Bipolar illness can make it tough to live a regular life and can cause serious problems in relationships, job or school. Lithium helps to stop these extreme state of mind modifications and decreases the intensity of anxiety and mania.
The very early research studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s offered persuading evidence that it can lower the regularity of hospital stays for clinical depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance research study was specifically crucial since it revealed that clients slipped back on sugar pill but not on lithium (39 ).
Your doctor will certainly check your blood levels consistently to make certain you are taking the appropriate quantity of lithium. It is essential to consume a lot of liquids while taking this medication. Your physician might recommend a low-sodium diet plan while you are taking this medicine.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a knife and so light it floats on water. It is found normally in the environment, with research studies connecting reduced levels of it to emotional and psychological health issue and violent crime. The mineral was included in soft drinks in the 1960s, where it brightened moods and aided individuals concentrate and focus-- thus the name, 7-Up.
Lithium minimizes mania by increasing the activity of an enzyme that manages neurotransmitters, decreasing glutamate levels, and helping to balance other chemicals in the brain. It has additionally been shown to have antidepressant impacts and enhance sleep, irritability, hostility, and anxiousness in ADHD clients.
Individuals taking lithium needs to have regular blood tests to keep an eye on degrees-- too high can be harmful. It is necessary to let physicians understand about various other medications and supplements taken, as some can communicate with it. Tell your physician if you have diarrhea, throwing up, sleepiness, shakes, weak point, unstable walking, or fainting (especially after exercise). Use efficient contraception to stay clear of pregnancy while taking this medicine.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium may be utilized as a temporary therapy for over active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is especially important if the individual has Graves illness or various other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's illness. Lithium hinders the release of thyroid hormone by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodide symporter and by interfering with tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium likewise prevents thyrotropin-releasing hormonal agent (TRH) excitement and reduces the manufacturing of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nonetheless, lithium usage might bring about hypothyroidism and a goiter in some people. [11] Therefore, constant evaluation of thyroid function tests and size is suggested in patients on lithium treatment.
It is essential to talk about the benefits and risks of this medication with your doctor before starting it. It is additionally important to stay clear of items low in sodium (salt) while taking this medicine and drink enough fluids. If you have any kind of troubles, call your medical professional or the emergency situation division as soon as possible.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant effects of lithium are well established from both medical and experimental studies. It is important to behavioral health support keep in mind that unlike a couple of primitive medical reports and the lithium-pilocarpine animal design, a number of recent researches demonstrate that lithium in therapeutic levels does not reduce the seizure limit yet in fact lowers the limit for seizure incident.
This is thought to result from the reality that lithium increases cholinergic activity, prevents phosphoinositide metabolic process and GSK-3b signalling. It also lowers glutamate excitotoxicity by boosting NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and improves the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in nerve cells [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by many people with bipolar disorder, however it has a couple of adverse effects that should be taken into account. These consist of a lowered capacity to concentrate pee (nephrogenic diabetic issues insipidus) and a rise in the concentration of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is as a result very crucial to follow your doctor's guidelines regarding having regular blood examinations.
