Lithium is a mood stabilizer and can assist to treat or prevent mania. It can also be utilized to decrease the frequency of clinical depression episodes.
Take this medicine as routed by your medical professional. It is essential to consume lots of liquids while taking this medication. Lithium might interact with certain medicines that impact serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO preventions). Inform your medical professional concerning every one of your medications.
Mood Disorders
Lithium is often used to treat bipolar affective disorder, a mental disease that creates really rapid changes in between the severe state of minds of clinical depression and mania. Bipolar disorder can make it hard to live a normal life and can cause serious problems in relationships, work or school. Lithium helps to avoid these extreme mood changes and reduces the seriousness of depression and mania.
The early studies of lithium at Glostrup Psychiatric Hospital in the 1960s and 1970s offered convincing evidence that it can reduce the regularity of hospital stays for clinical depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance research was specifically vital due to the fact that it revealed that individuals fell back on placebo however not on lithium (39 ).
Your doctor will examine your blood degrees consistently to see to it you are taking the proper quantity of lithium. It is necessary to consume lots of fluids while taking this medicine. Your doctor might advise 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 knife and so light it floats on water. It is located normally in the atmosphere, with research studies linking low degrees of it to psychological and mental health problems and violent criminal activity. The mineral was included in sodas in the 1960s, where it lightened up moods and helped individuals concentrate and concentrate-- hence the name, 7-Up.
Lithium reduces mania by raising the activity of an enzyme that manages natural chemicals, reducing glutamate levels, and aiding to stabilize various other chemicals in the brain. It has additionally been shown to have antidepressant effects and improve rest, irritation, hostility, and anxiety in ADHD people.
Individuals taking lithium must have regular blood tests to check levels-- too high can be poisonous. It is necessary to allow doctors know about other drugs and supplements taken, as some can communicate with it. Tell your medical professional if you have looseness of the bowels, vomiting, 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 therapy for overactive thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is especially vital if the client has Graves condition or various other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's condition. Lithium prevents the launch of thyroid hormone by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland with the sodium-iodide symporter and by interfering with tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium additionally prevents thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) excitement and decreases the manufacturing of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] Nevertheless, lithium use might result in hypothyroidism and a goiter in some people. [11] Therefore, regular evaluation of thyroid feature tests and dimension is recommended in people on lithium therapy.
It is necessary to go over ocd treatment the benefits and dangers of this medication with your physician before beginning it. It is also crucial to avoid items reduced in sodium (salt) while taking this medication and drink sufficient fluids. If you have any type of problems, call your medical professional or the emergency division right now.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant effects of lithium are well established from both professional and experimental researches. It is essential to keep in mind that as opposed to a couple of primitive medical records and the lithium-pilocarpine animal design, a number of recent researches demonstrate that lithium in healing levels does not lower the seizure threshold however actually reduces the limit for seizure occurrence.
This is believed to be due to the reality that lithium enhances cholinergic task, inhibits phosphoinositide metabolic rate and GSK-3b signalling. It also minimizes glutamate excitotoxicity by increasing NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and improves the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in neurons [36]
Lithium is well endured by many people with bipolar illness, but it has a few adverse effects that have to be taken into account. These consist of a reduced capability to focus urine (nephrogenic diabetic issues insipidus) and a rise in the concentration of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is consequently very essential to follow your medical professional's instructions regarding having normal blood examinations.
