The Benefit of Taking Lithium Carbonate

More than 10 million individuals suffer from bipolar disorder each year. Lithium carbonate is a medication that has shown effectiveness in treating bipolar disorder.

History

• Lithium carbonate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1970 and has been used since for treating bipolar disorder. Potential side effects, interactions with certain medications and conditions and effectiveness are well-documented due to it being the oldest and one of the most widely used mood stabilizers.

Use

• Lithium carbonate has shown to be effective with treating mania in bipolar disorder and depression. It also is approved for treating chronic cluster headaches and reducing risk of infection during chemotherapy.

Potential

• Lithium appears to stimulate the immune system and may be an effective treatment for genital herpes. Further research is necessary to determine the full effectiveness of lithium in genital herpes treatment.

Cost

• As of 2009, lithium was available on the Wal-Mart and Walgreens $4 prescription lists for the uninsured. Lithium costs significantly less than many other mood stabilizers, such as Risperdal, Abilify and Lamictal.

Considerations

• Lithium requires regular blood tests in order to ensure that the level in the body is within an acceptable range. High lithium levels may cause kidney failure, respiratory problems, heart attack, stroke or other serious medical problems.