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Side Effects
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Overall Rating
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Pricing
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5.75
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7.25
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9.00
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Recommended By
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Average Purchase
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88% of reviewers
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None indicated
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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8
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2056
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Sat October 14, 2006
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Lithium Carbonate
Generic Name: Lithium Carbonate LITH-ee-um KAR-bone-ate
Drug Class: Lithium Salts | | Contents | Description | Lithium is used to treat people with bipolar disorder (extreme mood changes from depression or anger to elation). This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
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| | General Information | | This information is for educational purposes only. Not every known side effect, adverse effect, or drug interaction is in this database. If you have questions about your medicines, talk to your healthcare provider. Top of page
| | Proper use of this medicine | Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take more or less of lithium than prescribed by your doctor. Lithium may cause an upset stomach. Take lithium with food or milk. Drink at least 8-12 glasses of water or another beverage each day (unless your doctor tells you otherwise) and use a moderate amount of salt on your food. However, if your doctor puts you on a low-salt or low-sodium diet, follow it. Avoid drinking beverages with caffeine, such as tea, coffee, cola, or chocolate milk. The extended-release tablet must be swallowed whole; do not crush or chew it.
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| | Missed Dose | Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses.
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| | Storage | Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
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| | Possible Side Effects | - drowsiness
- upset stomach
- loss of appetite
- stomach pain
- weight gain
- headache
- If you experience any of these side effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible:
- weakness
- tired feeling
- fever
- tremor or muscle spasms
- confusion
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- fast heartbeat
- seizures or involuntary movements
- Unreported side effects are possible, talk to your healthcare provider if any other symptoms occur.
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| | Warnings/Precautions | - Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lithium, aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs), or any other drugs.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart or kidney disease, shock therapy, thyroid disease, dehydration, or low sodium levels.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking lithium before any surgical or dental procedures.
- This medicine can cause dizziness or drowsiness.
- Be cautious when driving or performing other hazardous activities. This medicine can impair judgment.
- Alcoholic beverages can increase the effects of this medicine and should be avoided.
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| | Overdose | Seek medical attention immediately. U.S. residents can call the national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.
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| | Drug Interactions | - Before taking lithium, tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially acetazolamide (Diamox), caffeine-containing products, captopril (Capoten), carbamazepine (Tegretol), diuretics ('water pills'), enalapril (Vasotec), fluoxetine (Prozac), haloperidol (Haldol), heart medication, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or Nuprin), iodide salts, lisinopril (Zestril), medication for depression, methyldopa (Aldomet), phenytoin (Dilantin), sodium bicarbonate and other antacids, theophylline (TheoDur), verapamil (Calan), and vitamins.
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| | Pregnancy/Nursing | Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking lithium, call your doctor.
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| | More Information | For more information about this medicine, talk to your healthcare provider.
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| Copyright 2006 PharmClips, Inc. All rights reserved. www.pharmclips.com | This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This is general information and should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. The reader is advised to check with their health care provider before making any changes in their drug regimen.
Last reviewed:
On 8 Aug 2006
By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
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DaveyJones
Grand Member
Registered: September 2005
Posts: 861
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Review Date: Fri September 8, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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works great, inexpensive, minimal side effects
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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none
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Still the best mood stabilizer there is...it has had such a positive impact on my life!
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bigdog1263
Member
Registered: September 2006
Posts: 28
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Review Date: Mon September 11, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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has had the biggest impact in my treatment
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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none
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only drawback is constant labs & posisbility for liver damage
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eskielover
Poohbah
Registered: October 2004
Posts: 1435
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Review Date: Thu September 14, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 2
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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shaking hands & shaky body
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This med was tried on my during a hospitalization. After taking it, my hands started shaking so bad that I couldn't hold a glass of water without dropping it. The shaky feeling was throughout my body. It was only given to me one time & stopped immediately. I think that for me, it was an inappropriate medication for the depression that I was dealing with which is why I had such an intense reaction.
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darkeyes
Wise Elder
Registered: May 2001
Posts: 9055
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Review Date: Fri September 15, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Excellent medication for Bipolar disorder. Is non-drowsy,and daily functioning is possible.It has worked miracles for my brother,family members and so many other people I have met. Has the longest track record,than other meds being used as mood stabilizer
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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I can't think of any negatives,except having bloodwork 3 times a yrs. If titrated properly any begining side effects will diminsh for many. All medications can have side effects.
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I highly suggest Lithium for anyone DXed with Bipolar-I,even Bipolar-II,it really helps tremendously.
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JudyNky
Visitor
Registered: September 2006
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Sat September 23, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 7
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Just started taking last month. Has helped some
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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get crying spells for no reason,but not as many
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Just found out I was bipolar last month. I had a week of very severe lows.Couldn't get out of bed. Was put on Lithium.Was already on a drug called Lamictal, which is also a mood stablizer. But, have been battling depression for 20 years. I am just wondering if I have been bipolar all along. I really think I have.
I am gald to join all of you. Been looking for people to talk to.
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Suzy5654
Grand Member
Registered: May 2006
Posts: 830
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Review Date: Sun September 24, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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helped pull me out of a deep depression & increased my energy & enthusiasm for life quickly
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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impaired kidney function (had to get off it due to that), hair loss, weight gain
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Due to impaired kidney function on lithium, I had to discontinue it. It definitely lifted my depression (bipolar I)& increased my enthusiasm for life.
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WeepinChild
Visitor
Registered: October 2006
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Fri October 13, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 6
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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It has evened out my life internally
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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it doesn't control the outside world
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I have been on Effexor for so long, only due to a new doctor was i diagnosed bipolar. I feel lost a little deeper in my own world cause i have had to do this on my own all along with no one who understands only try to help. But i found this site...so i'm hoping it's a good thing.
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Meta
Member
Registered: July 2006
Posts: 283
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Review Date: Sat October 14, 2006
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Would you recommend this? No |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 4
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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perhaps evened out my moods
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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very tired, sluggish, hair loss, weight gain
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Would not recommend for mild bipolar==I think I have mild bipolar disease--unlike others in my family who have more severe mood swings--not sure if its best when disease is mild. I think I have only been hypomanic and side effects are as bad if not worse than the mood swings
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