lithium citrate at a glance
Medicine class
Mood stabiliser with a narrow margin between effective and toxic blood levels.
Form
Oral liquid, useful when tablets are unsuitable.
Blood tests
Regular lithium, kidney, thyroid and calcium monitoring is required.
Product consistency
Use the prescribed brand and formulation; lithium products are not automatically interchangeable.
What is lithium citrate used for?
The selected products are licensed for:
Treatment of mania and hypomania.
Prevention of recurrent bipolar or other recurrent affective disorders.
Recurrent depressive illness when other antidepressant treatment has been unsuccessful.
Control of aggressive behaviour or intentional self-harm.
How does lithium citrate work?
Its exact mood-stabilising mechanism is not fully understood. Lithium alters signalling involving neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine and affects intracellular and electrolyte pathways involved in mood regulation.
lithium citrate preparations and strengths
Syrup
Route: Oral
Strengths: 509 mg/5 mL, 1018 mg/5 mL
How to take lithium citrate
Take the liquid by mouth exactly as prescribed. Measure it with the supplied spoon, syringe or other oral measuring device, not a kitchen teaspoon.
It may be taken with or without food; taking it after food may ease nausea.
Maintain adequate fluid intake and avoid sudden major changes in salt intake.
Do not change brand, salt or formulation without prescriber supervision and lithium monitoring.
Priadel Liquid should not be diluted.
lithium citrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Diarrhoea
- Dry mouth or metallic taste
- Fine hand tremor
- Thirst or passing more urine
- Tiredness or sleepiness
- Weight gain
Get urgent medical advice
- Symptoms of lithium toxicity, including confusion, marked drowsiness, blurred vision, slurred speech, coarse tremor, weakness, jerking or poor coordination
- Severe allergic reaction with swelling or breathing difficulty
- Persistent headache with visual disturbance
- Symptoms suggesting kidney or thyroid dysfunction
lithium citrate in pregnancy
The selected product information advises avoiding lithium during pregnancy unless it is considered essential. Exposure early in pregnancy may slightly increase the chance of a fetal heart defect. Anyone planning pregnancy or becoming pregnant should obtain prompt specialist review and should not stop lithium without medical supervision; closer maternal monitoring may be needed if treatment continues.
lithium citrate while breastfeeding
The selected product licences list breastfeeding as contraindicated because lithium enters breast milk and infant toxicity can occur. Exceptional use may be considered only with extreme caution, specialist supervision and strict monitoring of a full-term, healthy infant.
lithium citrate interactions
Check with a prescriber or pharmacist before starting, stopping or substantially changing any medicine or supplement.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors
May increase lithium concentrations and toxicity risk; avoid unsupervised over-the-counter use.
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers
May increase lithium concentrations, requiring clinical review and closer monitoring.
Common questions about lithium citrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is lithium citrate the same as lithium carbonate?
They are different lithium salts that both provide lithium ions. Their products are not automatically interchangeable, so any switch requires prescriber supervision and monitoring.
Why does lithium citrate require blood tests?
There is a narrow margin between an effective and a toxic lithium concentration. Tests also monitor kidney, thyroid and calcium effects.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.