Lithium is a state of mind stabilizer and can help to deal with or prevent mania. It can additionally be used to minimize the regularity of depression episodes.
Take this medication as guided by your doctor. It is important to consume alcohol lots of liquids while taking this medication. Lithium may engage with certain medications that impact serotonin (such as antidepressants, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors). Inform your doctor concerning all of your drugs.
Mood Problems
Lithium is typically used to deal with bipolar illness, a mental disorder that triggers very rapid shifts in between the extreme state of minds of depression and mania. Bipolar illness can make it difficult to live a regular life and can cause significant problems in partnerships, work or institution. Lithium aids to avoid these severe mood modifications 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 reduce the regularity of hospitalizations for clinical depression (38 ). Baastrup and Schou's placebo-controlled discontinuance research study was especially essential because it revealed that people relapsed on sugar pill yet not on lithium (39 ).
Your physician will certainly inspect your blood levels on a regular basis to see to it you are taking the appropriate quantity of lithium. It is necessary to drink lots of liquids while taking this medicine. Your doctor might advise a low-sodium diet while you are taking this medicine.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD).
Lithium is a mineral so soft you can cut it with a knife therefore light it drifts on water. It is found naturally in the atmosphere, with researches connecting low levels of it to psychological and psychological health issue and violent criminal activity. The mineral was added to soft drinks in the 1960s, where it brightened state of minds and helped people concentrate and concentrate-- hence the name, 7-Up.
Lithium decreases mania by raising the activity of an enzyme that controls natural chemicals, reducing glutamate degrees, and helping to balance various other chemicals in the mind. It has actually likewise been shown to have antidepressant effects and improve sleep, irritation, hostility, and anxiety in ADHD people.
People taking lithium needs to have normal blood tests to check degrees-- too expensive can be harmful. It is important to allow medical professionals know about various other medications and supplements taken, as some can connect with it. Inform your medical professional if you have looseness of the bowels, throwing up, drowsiness, tremors, weak point, unstable strolling, or fainting (specifically after exercise). Usage efficient birth control to prevent maternity while taking this medication.
Hyperthyroidism.
Lithium may be utilized as a temporary therapy for over active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism). This is specifically crucial if the individual has Graves condition or various other autoimmune problems like thyroiditis or Hashimoto's illness. Lithium prevents the release of thyroid hormone by blocking iodine uptake at the thyroid gland through the sodium-iodide symporter and by hindering tyrosine iodination. [9] Lithium additionally hinders thyrotropin-releasing hormonal agent (TRH) excitement and reduces the production of thyroxine from tyrosine in the thyroid gland. [10] However, lithium use might bring about hypothyroidism and a goiter in some individuals. [11] For this reason, regular assessment of thyroid feature examinations and size is encouraged in patients on lithium treatment.
It is necessary to review the advantages and dangers of this medication with your doctor prior to beginning it. It is likewise important to stay clear of items low in sodium (salt) while taking this medicine and beverage enough fluids. If you have any troubles, call your medical professional or the emergency situation department immediately.
Epilepsy.
The anticonvulsant impacts of lithium are well developed from both medical and speculative researches. It is necessary to keep in mind that as opposed to a few primitive professional reports and the lithium-pilocarpine animal version, a variety of recent researches demonstrate that lithium in restorative degrees does not lower the seizure threshold but in fact reduces the threshold for seizure event.
This is thought to be due to the truth that lithium increases cholinergic task, prevents phosphoinositide metabolism and GSK-3b signalling. It additionally decreases glutamate excitotoxicity by increasing NMDA receptor agonist-evoked apoptotic currents and boosts the endogenous nitric oxide synthase activity in nerve cells [36]
Lithium is well tolerated by the majority of people with bipolar disorder, yet it has a few side effects that need to be taken into account. These consist of a minimized ability to focus urine (nephrogenic diabetes mellitus insipidus) and an increase in the focus of lithium in the blood (lithium poisoning). It is consequently really important to follow your ptsd therapy doctor's instructions regarding having regular blood tests.
