lithium carbonate at a glance
Medicine class
Mood stabiliser
Safety monitoring
Regular lithium levels and checks of kidney, thyroid and calcium status are required
Consistency matters
Keep fluid and salt intake reasonably consistent and do not change lithium product without clinical oversight
What is lithium carbonate used for?
Licensed indications vary between lithium carbonate products. Selected UK products include:
Treatment of acute mania or hypomania
Prevention of recurrent bipolar or manic-depressive episodes
Management of recurrent depressive episodes when antidepressants have been unsuccessful, for Priadel
Treatment or control of aggressive behaviour or intentional self-harm, for Priadel and Camcolit
Treatment and prevention of recurrent depression, for Camcolit
How does lithium carbonate work?
Lithium supplies lithium ions, which influence signalling and neurotransmitter processes within brain cells. Its exact mood-stabilising mechanism remains uncertain.
lithium carbonate preparations and strengths
Modified-release tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 200 mg, 400 mg
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg, 450 mg
How to take lithium carbonate
Take the prescribed lithium product consistently and do not change brand or formulation without advice, because absorption can differ. Modified-release tablets should not be crushed or chewed.
Swallow tablets with water; lithium can be taken with or without food.
Maintain your usual fluid and salt intake; avoid sudden low-salt diets.
Check product instructions before splitting a tablet: Priadel can be divided equally, Camcolit's score is only for easier swallowing, and Liskonum may be halved but not chewed or broken up further.
Carry your lithium alert card and keep your monitoring record available.
lithium carbonate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Fine hand tremor
- Increased thirst or urination
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort
- Dizziness or slowed thinking
- Weight gain
- Acne or worsening psoriasis
Get urgent medical advice
- Symptoms of lithium toxicity, including coarse tremor, poor coordination, slurred speech, confusion, marked drowsiness or blurred vision
- Persistent excessive thirst or urination
- Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction
- Abnormal heart rhythm, fainting or collapse
- Severe rash, facial swelling or breathing difficulty
lithium carbonate in pregnancy
Lithium can sometimes be continued during pregnancy when needed to protect mental health, but it requires prompt specialist review. Exposure in early pregnancy may modestly increase the chance of a fetal heart defect. Contact the prescriber or perinatal mental health team when planning pregnancy or as soon as pregnancy is suspected; do not stop lithium without medical supervision.
lithium carbonate while breastfeeding
The selected Priadel and Camcolit SmPCs contraindicate breastfeeding. Specialist guidance states that lithium may sometimes be used for a healthy, full-term breastfed infant only with extreme caution, specialist supervision and strict monitoring of the infant's lithium level, kidney and thyroid function.
lithium carbonate interactions
Check all prescribed, pharmacy and herbal products before starting or stopping them because interactions may alter lithium levels or increase neurological toxicity.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, diclofenac and COX-2 inhibitors
They can reduce renal lithium clearance and raise toxicity risk.
ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers and diuretics
They may increase lithium concentrations and toxicity risk.
Common questions about lithium carbonate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why does lithium carbonate require blood tests?
The concentration needed for benefit is relatively close to concentrations that cause toxicity. Blood tests also help detect effects on the kidneys, thyroid and calcium balance.
Can lithium carbonate brands be switched?
Not without clinical oversight. Different products can have different bioavailability, so switching requires renewed lithium-level monitoring.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.