Lithium carbonate

What it is used for

Lithium is a mood-stabilizing agent indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I disorder: Treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes in patients 7 years and older Maintenance treatment in patients 7 years and older Lithium is a mood-stabilizing agent indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I disorder: Treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes in patients 7 years and older Maintenance treatment in patients 7 years and older

The most important thing to know

Lithium carbonate can cause serious side effects, including: too much lithium in your blood (lithium toxicity). Lithium toxicity that can cause death may happen even if the lithium level in your blood is close to the right level for you. Your healthcare provider will need to monitor your blood levels of lithium to find the best dose for you.

Take your lithium carbonate exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Stop taking lithium carbonate and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of lithium toxicity including: o abnormal heartbeat o vomiting o diarrhea o drowsiness o weak muscles o blurred vision o clumsiness o ringing in your ears o muscle twitching Other symptoms may include: o lightheadedness o confusion o bloating o mood changes o slurred speech o breathing problems o seizure o coma What is lithium carbonate?

Lithium carbonate is prescription medicine called mood-stabilizing agent used alone (monotherapy) for: the acute (short-term) treatment of people 7 years of age and older with manic and mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder. maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in people 7 years of age and older. It is not known if lithium carbonate is safe and effective in children under 7 years of age with bipolar I disorder.

How to take it

Take your lithium carbonate exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will do certain blood tests before starting and during treatment with lithium carbonate. Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed. Do not change your dose on your own. Do not double your dose if a dose is missed.

Talk with your healthcare provider if you miss a dose. Do not stop taking lithium carbonate suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may change your lithium carbonate dose to make sure you are taking the dose that is right for you. If you take too much lithium carbonate, call your healthcare provider or poison control center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

In case of poisoning, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Side effects, and when to stop

Lithium carbonate may cause serious side effects, including: kidney problems. People who take lithium carbonate may have to urinate often (polyuria) and have other kidney problems that may affect how their kidneys work. These problems can happen within a few weeks of starting to take lithium carbonate or after taking lithium carbonate for a long time.

low levels of sodium (salt) in your blood (hyponatremia). Lithium carbonate can cause you to lose sodium. Talk to your healthcare provider about your diet and how much fluid you are drinking when starting lithium carbonate. If you have been sweating more than usual or have had diarrhea, you may need extra salt and more fluids.

Talk to your healthcare provider if this happens. neurological problems. People who take lithium carbonate with certain other medicines called antipsychotics may have symptoms such as weakness, tiredness, fever, tremors, and confusion. Talk to your healthcare provider if this happens. Ask if you are not sure about the medicines you take.

serotonin syndrome. A potentially life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome can happen when you take lithium carbonate while you take certain medicines called serotonergic and MAOIs. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include: o agitation o seeing things that are not there o confusion o coma o rapid pulse o high or low blood pressure o dizziness o sweating o flushing o fever o tremors o stiff muscles o muscle twitching o become unstable o seizures o nausea o vomiting o diarrhea thyroid problems.

high calcium levels in your blood (hypercalcemia) and changes in your parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism) that may not go away when you stop taking lithium carbonate. heart problems. People who take lithium carbonate may find out they also have a heart problem called Brugada Syndrome. People who have unexplained fainting or who have a family history of sudden unexplained death before 45 years of age may have Brugada Syndrome and not know it.

If you faint or feel abnormal heartbeats, talk to your healthcare provider right away. increased pressure in the brain and swelling in the eye (pseudotumor cerebri) that can cause vision problems or blindness. If you have severe headaches behind your eyes, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, double vision, or brief periods of blindness, talk to your health care provider right away.

The most common side effects of lithium carbonate, include: Adults with manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder: o hand trembling o excessive urination o increased thirst o nausea o general discomfort when you start treatment Children 7 to 17 years of age with manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder: o excessive urination o thyroid problems o hand trembling o excessive thirst o dizziness o rash o difficulty walking o decreased appetite o blurred vision o nausea o vomiting These are not all the possible side effects of lithium carbonate.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Who should not take it

Do not take lithium carbonate if you are allergic to lithium or any of the ingredients in lithium carbonate capsules. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in lithium carbonate capsules.

What to say before you start

Before taking lithium carbonate, tell your healthcare provider if you: have kidney problems have heart problems have breathing problems have thyroid problems are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lithium carbonate may harm your unborn baby. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Lithium carbonate can pass into your breastmilk and may harm your baby.

You should not breastfeed during treatment with lithium carbonate. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take lithium carbonate. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using lithium carbonate with certain other medicines may affect each other causing possible side effects.

Lithium carbonate may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how lithium carbonate works. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: MAOIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) tricyclic antidepressants medicines used to treat migraine headaches called tryptophan antipsychotic medicines St John’s Wort triptans fentanyl tramadol buspirone Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take lithium carbonate with your other medicines.

Do not start or stop any medicines while taking lithium carbonate without talking to your healthcare provider first. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What to avoid

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities when you start taking lithium carbonate, when your dose is changed, or until you know how lithium carbonate affects you. Lithium carbonate can make you sleepy. Talk to your healthcare provider about these activities. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

Follow your healthcare provider instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough. Do not change the amount of salt in your diet. Changing the amount of salt in your diet could change the amount of lithium carbonate in your blood.

Storing it

Store lithium carbonate capsules at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C). Keep capsules dry and keep in a tightly closed container. Keep lithium carbonate capsules, and all medicines out of the reach of children.