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    Lithium Carbonate Drug Study

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    JennyLapitan
    Lithium carbonate, branded as Eskalith, is commonly used to treat and prevent manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It works by competing with sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions in the body, affecting cell membranes, neurotransmitters, and receptors involved in stimulating mania. Common side effects include restlessness, appetite changes, thirst, and hand tremors. It is contraindicated in older adults, those with thyroid disease, epilepsy, or who are taking certain other medications. Nurses monitor patients for response, lithium levels, side effects, and signs of toxicity.

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    Lithium Carbonate Drug Study

    Uploaded by

    JennyLapitan
    5K views3 pages
    Lithium carbonate, branded as Eskalith, is commonly used to treat and prevent manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It works by competing with sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions in the body, affecting cell membranes, neurotransmitters, and receptors involved in stimulating mania. Common side effects include restlessness, appetite changes, thirst, and hand tremors. It is contraindicated in older adults, those with thyroid disease, epilepsy, or who are taking certain other medications. Nurses monitor patients for response, lithium levels, side effects, and signs of toxicity.

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    Lithium Carbonate drug study

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    Lithium Carbonate drug study

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    Lithium carbonate, branded as Eskalith, is commonly used to treat and prevent manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It works by competing with sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions in the body, affecting cell membranes, neurotransmitters, and receptors involved in stimulating mania. Common side effects include restlessness, appetite changes, thirst, and hand tremors. It is contraindicated in older adults, those with thyroid disease, epilepsy, or who are taking certain other medications. Nurses monitor patients for response, lithium levels, side effects, and signs of toxicity.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    5K views3 pages

    Lithium Carbonate Drug Study

    Uploaded by

    JennyLapitan
    Lithium carbonate, branded as Eskalith, is commonly used to treat and prevent manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It works by competing with sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions in the body, affecting cell membranes, neurotransmitters, and receptors involved in stimulating mania. Common side effects include restlessness, appetite changes, thirst, and hand tremors. It is contraindicated in older adults, those with thyroid disease, epilepsy, or who are taking certain other medications. Nurses monitor patients for response, lithium levels, side effects, and signs of toxicity.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    NAME OF THE DRUG

    GENERIC NAME:
    Lithium Carbonate

    BRAND NAME:
    Eskalith
    CLASSIFICATION
    CNS agent;
    Psychotherapeutic
    agent; Antimanic
    DOSAGE:
    450 mg 1 tab
    ROUTE:
    Oral, OD

    MECHANISM OF
    ACTION
    The
    lithium
    ion
    behaves in the body
    much like the sodium
    ion; but its exact
    mechanism of action
    is unclear. Competes
    with
    various
    physiologically
    important
    cations:
    Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg+
    +; therefore, it affects
    cell membranes, body
    water,
    and
    neurotransmitters. At
    the
    synapse,
    it
    accelerates
    catecholamine
    destruction,
    inhibits
    the
    release
    of
    neurotransmitters and
    decreases sensitivity
    of
    postsynaptic
    receptors.
    Inhibits
    neurotransmitters;
    decreases over-activity
    of receptors involved
    in stimulating manic
    states.
    Response
    evidenced by changed
    facial affect, improved
    posture, assumption of
    self-care,
    improved
    ability to concentrate,
    improved
    sleep
    pattern.

    INDICATION

    CONTRAINDICATION

    SIDE EFFECTS

    Restlessness
    Loss of appetite
    Weight gain or weight
    loss

    Stomach pain, gas,


    constipation, or
    indigestion

    Mild thirst

    Dry mouth

    The medicine is also


    used
    to
    treat
    depression,
    schizophrenia, eating
    disorders, impulse
    control
    disorders,
    and certain mental
    illnesses in kids.

    Excessive saliva in
    mouth

    Change in the ability


    to taste food

    Swollen lips

    It's sometimes used


    to treat alcoholism,
    headaches,
    epilepsy, diabetes,
    liver disease, kidney
    disorders, arthritis,
    asthma,
    an
    overactive thyroid,
    Huntington's
    disease,
    herpes,
    Tourette's syndrome,
    Meniere's disease,
    and other conditions.

    Acne

    Hair loss

    Extreme discomfort in
    cold temperatures

    Depression

    Muscle or joint pain

    Itching or rash

    Thin, brittle
    fingernails or hair

    Lithium
    is
    a
    medication
    commonly used to
    treat and prevent
    mania episodes in
    people with bipolar
    disorder. Mania is
    abnormal
    excitement, which
    may
    lead
    to
    undesirable
    behaviors.

    Older adults; thyroid disease;


    epilepsy; concomitant use
    with haloperidol and other
    antipsychotics;
    parkinsonism; diabetes
    mellitus; severe infections;
    urinary retention.

    NURSING
    RESPONSIBILITIES
    Monitor response to
    drug. Usual lag of 12
    wk precedes response
    to lithium therapy.
    Keep
    physician
    informed of progress.
    Monitor lithium level:
    Generally
    dosage
    regimen is designed to
    maintain
    serum
    lithium levels of 1.0
    1.5 mEq/L in acute
    mania and 0.61.6
    mEq/L
    during
    maintenance
    treatment;
    blood
    sample to determine
    serum lithium level is
    drawn prior to next
    dose (812 h after last
    dose) when lithium
    level is fairly stable.
    Monitor for S&S of
    lithium toxicity, often
    when lithium levels
    are 1.52.0 mEq/L
    (e.g.,
    vomiting,
    diarrhea,
    lack
    of
    coordination,
    drowsiness, muscular
    weakness,
    slurred
    speech). Withhold one
    dose
    and
    call
    physician.
    Drug
    should not be stopped
    abruptly.
    When lithium levels
    are above 2.0 mEq/L,
    symptoms
    may
    include ataxia, blurred
    vision,
    giddiness,
    tinnitus,
    muscle

    Hand movements that


    are difficult to control

    twitching or coarse
    tremors, and a large
    output of dilute urine.
    Weigh patient daily;
    check ankles, tibiae,
    and wrists for edema.
    Report changes in
    I&O ratio, sudden
    weight gain, or edema.
    Polydipsia
    and
    polyuria, apparently
    not dose-related, are
    common early adverse
    effects, particularly in
    older
    adults.
    Symptoms may lessen
    but reappear after
    several months or even
    years of maintenance.
    Report early signs of
    extrapyramidal
    reactions promptly to
    physician.
    The
    encephalopathic
    syndrome may be
    induced when lithium
    is given concomitantly
    with haloperidol or
    with
    other
    antipsychotic
    medication,
    particularly in older
    adults.
    Keep
    physician
    informed
    of
    all
    presenting S&S. The
    fine tremor of hand or
    jaw, polyuria, mild
    thirst, transient mild
    nausea, and general
    discomfort that may
    occur
    in
    early
    treatment of mania
    sometimes
    persist

    throughout
    therapy.
    Usually,
    however,
    symptoms
    subside
    with
    temporary
    reduction of dose. If
    symptoms
    persist,
    drug is withdrawn.
    Monitor
    thyroid
    function periodically.
    Be alert to and report
    symptoms
    of
    hypothyroidism.
    Neonates born of
    mothers who took
    lithium
    during
    pregnancy may have
    high serum lithium
    level manifested by
    flaccidity,
    poor
    reflexes,
    cardiac
    dysrhythmia,
    and
    chronic twitching.
    Lithane
    contains
    tartrazine, which may
    cause an allergic-type
    reaction in susceptible
    patients.
    Monitor older adults
    carefully to prevent
    toxicity, which may
    occur at serum levels
    ordinarily tolerated by
    other patients.

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