Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can help to deal with or avoid mania. It can also be made use of to decrease the frequency of clinical depression episodes.
Take this medicine as routed by your medical professional. It is important to drink lots of liquids while taking this medication. Lithium might connect with particular medications that influence serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO preventions). Tell your doctor about all of your medicines.
Mood Conditions
Lithium is typically made use of to deal with bipolar illness, a mental disease that causes very fast shifts between the extreme state of minds of depression and mania. Bipolar disorder can make it hard to live a normal life and can cause major issues in connections, job or institution. Lithium assists to avoid these severe state of mind adjustments and lowers the severity of depression and mania.
The early studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s provided convincing evidence that it can reduce the frequency of hospitalizations for depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance study was especially important because it showed that people slipped back on placebo but not on lithium (39 ).
Your doctor will inspect your blood levels frequently to ensure you are taking the appropriate amount of lithium. It is essential to drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine. Your medical professional might advise a low-sodium diet regimen while you are taking this medication.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a knife and so light it drifts on water. It is located normally in the setting, with researches connecting low levels of it to psychological and psychological health issue and violent crime. The mineral was included in sodas in the 1960s, where it lightened up state of minds and assisted people concentrate and focus-- thus the name, 7-Up.
Lithium decreases mania by increasing the activity of an enzyme that manages neurotransmitters, decreasing glutamate degrees, and aiding to stabilize other chemicals in the mind. It has actually likewise been shown to have antidepressant effects and boost rest, irritability, aggression, and anxiousness in ADHD individuals.
People taking lithium should have normal blood examinations to keep track of levels-- expensive can be harmful. It is important to mental health support allow doctors know about various other medicines and supplements taken, as some can interact with it. Inform your physician if you have diarrhea, throwing up, sleepiness, tremblings, weakness, unstable walking, or fainting (especially after workout). Usage efficient birth control to stay clear of pregnancy while taking this medication.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium might be used as a temporary treatment for over active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is particularly important if the person has Tomb disease or various other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's condition. Lithium prevents the release of thyroid hormonal agent by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland via the sodium-iodide symporter and by disrupting tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium also hinders thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) excitement and reduces the production of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nonetheless, lithium use might result in hypothyroidism and a goiter in some people. [11] Thus, frequent examination of thyroid function tests and dimension is encouraged in patients on lithium treatment.
It is important to go over the benefits and dangers of this medication with your physician before beginning it. It is also vital to avoid items low in salt (salt) while taking this medicine and beverage enough liquids. If you have any type of troubles, call your doctor or the emergency situation department today.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well developed from both medical and speculative studies. It is essential to keep in mind that in comparison to a few primitive scientific reports and the lithium-pilocarpine pet model, a variety of current research studies show that lithium in therapeutic degrees does not lower the seizure threshold however in fact reduces the limit for seizure occurrence.
This is thought to result from the fact that lithium boosts cholinergic task, inhibits phosphoinositide metabolic process and GSK-3b signalling. It additionally decreases glutamate excitotoxicity by raising NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and enhances the endogenous nitric oxide synthase task in nerve cells [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by lots of people with bipolar disorder, but it has a couple of negative effects that must be taken into account. These consist of a reduced capability to focus pee (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus) and a boost in the focus of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is for that reason really vital to follow your doctor's directions regarding having normal blood tests.
