Lithium
"LITH-ee-um"
Medication type:
Mood stabiliser medicine
Other names:
- Priadel® "PRI--a-del"
- Liskonum® "LIS-ko-num"
- Camcolit® "CAM-col-it"
What can it be used for?
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If you are 18 or over, the doctor can prescribe lithium carbonate or lithium citrate for you as a licensed medicine for mania, bipolar disorder, as an extra treatment for low mood (depression) that has been difficult to treat, or for aggression and self-harming behaviour
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If you are 12 or over, the doctor can prescribe lithium carbonate for you as a licensed medicine for mania, bipolar disorder, as an extra treatment for low mood (depression) that has been difficult to treat, or for aggression and self-harming behaviour Manufacturers of lithium citrate have not done the research required in young people to obtain a licence. Even so, specialists might prescribe it ‘off label’ if it is the best medicine for you, especially if a liquid medicine would suit you better
Ways to take and what's in it?
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Lithium carbonate is the ingredient in tablets under the brands Priadel™, Liskonum™ or Camcolit™
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Lithium citrate is the ingredient in liquids under the brands Priadel™ or Li-Liquid™
Lithium is a medicine where it is very important to take the medicine as agreed and have a good relationship with your doctor and care team to make sure you get the best from it. The information on this site for Lithium is not the same as for the other medicines.
Look out for symptoms that mean the level of lithium in your blood is getting too high.
Issues like alcohol, driving, concentration, sports, weight, sex life and fertility.