Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can assist to treat or protect against mania. It can additionally be utilized to reduce the regularity of anxiety episodes.
Take this medication as directed by your doctor. It is essential to consume a lot of liquids while taking this medication. Lithium might interact with certain medications that affect serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors). Inform your doctor about every one of your drugs.
Mood Disorders
Lithium is commonly made use of to deal with bipolar affective disorder, a mental illness that creates extremely rapid shifts between the severe moods of clinical depression and mania. Bipolar affective disorder can make it tough to live a regular life and can trigger major problems in connections, job or school. Lithium aids to prevent these severe mood modifications and reduces the extent of anxiety and mania.
The very early studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s given convincing proof that it can decrease the regularity of hospitalizations for anxiety (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance study was specifically vital since it revealed that patients fell back on placebo but out lithium (39 ).
Your medical professional will certainly check your blood levels routinely to ensure you are taking the correct quantity of lithium. It is important to drink a lot of fluids while taking this medication. Your doctor may advise a low-sodium diet plan while you are taking this medication.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can suffice with a knife and so light it drifts on water. It is located naturally in the atmosphere, with researches connecting reduced levels of it to emotional and psychological health issue and violent crime. The mineral was added to soft drinks in the 1960s, where it lightened up state of minds and aided individuals focus and focus-- thus the name, 7-Up.
Lithium reduces mania by enhancing the activity of an enzyme that regulates neurotransmitters, decreasing glutamate degrees, and aiding to balance various other chemicals in the mind. It has actually also been shown to have antidepressant effects and improve sleep, irritability, aggression, and stress and anxiety in ADHD individuals.
People taking lithium must have regular blood tests to keep track of levels-- expensive can be hazardous. It is very important to let doctors know about various other medicines and supplements taken, as some can communicate with it. Tell your physician if you have diarrhea, throwing up, sleepiness, shakes, weakness, unsteady walking, or fainting (particularly after exercise). Use reliable contraception to stay clear of maternity while taking this medication.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium may be utilized as a short-term treatment for overactive thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is specifically vital if the patient has Tomb condition or other autoimmune problems like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's illness. Lithium prevents the release of thyroid hormone by obstructing iodine uptake at the thyroid gland via the sodium-iodide symporter and by hindering tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium likewise prevents thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation and lowers the manufacturing of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nevertheless, lithium use may result in hypothyroidism and a goiter in some clients. [11] Thus, frequent assessment of thyroid function examinations and therapy for anxiety and depression dimension is recommended in patients on lithium therapy.
It is essential to discuss the advantages and dangers of this medicine with your doctor before beginning it. It is additionally crucial to prevent products reduced in sodium (salt) while taking this medication and drink enough fluids. If you have any kind of troubles, call your doctor or the emergency situation division as soon as possible.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant effects of lithium are well developed from both scientific and experimental studies. It is important to keep in mind that unlike a few primitive clinical records and the lithium-pilocarpine pet design, a number of current research studies show that lithium in restorative levels does not lower the seizure threshold yet actually decreases the threshold for seizure event.
This is thought to result from the truth that lithium increases cholinergic task, inhibits phosphoinositide metabolic rate and GSK-3b signalling. It likewise decreases glutamate excitotoxicity by raising NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and improves the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in neurons [36]
Lithium is well endured by the majority of people with bipolar disorder, yet it has a few negative effects that should be taken into consideration. These consist of a reduced capability to concentrate pee (nephrogenic diabetes mellitus insipidus) and a rise in the focus of lithium in the blood (lithium toxicity). It is therefore extremely vital to follow your medical professional's instructions regarding having routine blood examinations.
