What is Lithobid? How to Treat with Generic Lithium.

Generic Lithobid (Lithium 400 mg) guide:

More facts about Generic Lithobid (Lithium 400 mg):

What is the preparation you are offered as Generic Lithobid?

Lithobid is a brand of a preparation from the group of Lithium compounds mostly used in the U.S. and the UK. Under the name Lithobid, you can buy Lithium carbonate which is considered the safest compound of Lithium. However, the same medication is also used in other countries but other names are frequently utilized because Lithobid is a brand owned by a certain pharmaceutical company while the formula of the medication is known and not patented so other drug makers can use it without any trouble for their products. These medications are commonly referred to as Generic Lithobid or Generic Lithium. These are not the official or registered names. These terms are used to help people find cheaper analogs of the prescribed drugs and are known by all pharmacists and doctors. Knowing the brand name or the active ingredient of the medication you need and adding the word “generic” before it, you can easily find the cheaper medicine with exactly the same composition and effect either online or at conventional drugstores.

Lithium salts were the first medications with psychotropic effect from the group of mood stabilizers, i.e. the medications that can normalize mood in several mental disorders and especially bipolar affective disorder, discovered in 1949. Although the substances were discovered more than 68 years ago, they are still widely used and Lithium is included in the List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization meaning that it is one of the most important and necessary medications in a modern healthcare system. Namely the fact of its long history and the status of essential medication make it possible for different pharmaceutical companies besides the original drug developer to manufacture and market the medication to satisfy the world’s demand for the medicine and make it more affordable.

Why is the branded medication more expensive? Is it better than Generic Lithobid?

Although in the most cases with generics the branded drugs are more expensive because the original drug developer invested in the research and the generic makers had not, with Lithium this cannot be a valid explanation because the brand isn’t owned by the original substance developing company. Moreover, Lithium salts being a natural component couldn’t be patented with an exclusive right of exploitation.

The problem with the majority of branded medications is that they are excessively overpriced without any valid reason. They are not unique or exclusive and their production doesn’t cost that much. In fact, the production of the branded medicines costs as much as the production of generic medicines. The only reason they are more expensive is that the brand owners massively invest into the advertising and promotion of their medications. They pay doctors so that they prescribe only their medicines and convince their patients that namely this preparation is the best one and that generics are inferior. Knowing this, you can with a peace of mind buy Generic Lithobid instead and be certain that you will get absolutely the same effect.

When should you buy Generic Lithium?

In this section, we are going to provide the information from the official instruction but we want to warn you that although the medication is very effective it can cause irreversible harm if used without doctor’s appointment and supervision.

You can buy Lithobid or the generic version of the pills for the treatment of mania and hypomania states of various origins, for prevention and treatment of affective psychoses (bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder). Besides, the off-label uses of the medication which are commonly practiced by psychiatrists include the treatment of severe, resistant to treatment with antidepressants depressions as Lithium is known to be an effective medication to prevent suicidal tendencies implementation; it can be appointed for people suffering from organic psychoses, epilepsy, phase affective fluctuations that do not reach the level of bipolar disorder, and people suffering from alcoholism.

Who must not use Lithium?

Prior to starting the therapy with the preparation, you must check with your therapist that you do not suffer from any conditions in which it is contraindicated such as violations of the excretory function of the kidneys, Addison-Biermer disease, decompensated cardiovascular disorders, leucosis, thyroid gland dysfunction, diabetes, severe allergic reactions to the medication’s ingredients,  severe diseases of the urinary tract, acute gastrointestinal conditions, epilepsy, conditions that require salt-free diet, chronic diarrhea that can cause electrolyte imbalance, stomach and duodenum ulcer, cataract, osteoporosis, acute infectious diseases, dehydration, general organism depletion, hyponatremia, the need of diuretics or ACE inhibitors use.

Besides these conditions, you should not buy Generic Lithium and use it if you are expecting a baby or are younger than 15 years of age. If you are breastfeeding and your doctor appoints you the therapy with the preparation, you should transfer your baby to a formula feeding. If you become pregnant while taking the pills, you should immediately inform your doctor, and he or she will advise you whether you should discontinue using the pills instantly or need a gradual reduction of dosages.

What medications are contraindicated to be combined with Generic Lithobid?

Before you start the therapy with this medication, you need to check with your doctor whether any of the pills you currently take are incompatible with Lithium salts or not. Besides, you should remember that Lithium-based medications are incompatible with ethanol or alcohol. This combination can lead to death.

On this webpage, we provide the most noticeable drug interactions with Lithobid but if you use any medications or supplements at the time you plan to start taking Generic Lithobid pills, consult your therapist first.
- The risk of neurotoxic effects (toxicity for the nervous system) is increased in the concurrent use of Lithium with carbamazepine, haloperidol, metronidazole, fluoxetine, diuretics, NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and methyldopa;
- The combined use with ampicillin and tetracycline can lead to an increase in the concentration of lithium in the blood plasma;
- Urea, aminophylline, caffeine, and theophylline increase excretion of the medication and lower its efficiency;
- Lithium lowers the effect of norepinephrine so the increased dosages of the latter may be needed;
- The medication strengthens or prolongs the blockade of neuromuscular transmission when used at the same time with atracurium bezylate, pancuronium bromide, and suxamethonium;
- The preparation decreases the absorption of chlorpromazine and lowers its concentration in the blood plasma;
- Medications or foodstuffs that contain sodium lower the effectiveness of Lithium;
- In concurrent use with antidepressants and antipsychotics, the increase of the body weight can occur.

How to use Generic Lithobid?

If your physician or any other doctor tells you to buy Lithobid and gives instructions on how to use it, you should follow them without any changes when you purchase the generic version of the medication. However, make sure you check the dosage per pill and the formulation before you order Lithium because the medication comes in different dosages per pill and both in regular and extended release pills.

The official instruction provides the following recommendations for regular release pills:
The recommended daily dosage should be split into 3-4 intakes after meals with the last daily intake before sleep. The starting treatment dosage is 600-900 mg a day with the following increase to 1200 mg a day and subsequent daily increase by 300 mg till the optimal daily dosage for acute conditions of 1500-2100 mg. The maximum daily dosage is 2400 mg. During the dosage increases for the detection of the optimal therapeutic one, the concentration of Lithium in the blood plasma must be not lower than 0.6. and not higher than 1.2-1.6 mmol/l. The dosages higher than 2000 mg a day should be taken not more than for 1-2 weeks.
After the elimination of manic symptoms, the daily dosage is gradually lowered to the prophylaxis dosage of 600 mg – 1200 mg. If after the dosage reduction the symptoms come back, the dosages are increased.
In acute manic condition, the therapeutic concentration of Lithium in the blood plasma should be 0.8-1.2 mmol/l. During the prophylaxis treatment, the concentration should be 0.4-0.8 mmol/l. If the concentration is higher than these norms, the daily dosage must be lowered.

The positive result from the prophylaxis therapy with the medication is achieved in the maintenance of the stable concentration in the blood plasma in the range of 0.4-0.8 mmol/l for not less than six months. For children, the dosage is selected individually to achieve the concentration of 0.5-1 mmol/l.

As you can see, the success of the therapy and safety of the pills intake is based on regular monitoring of the preparation concentration in the blood. Therefore, even when you order Lithobid without a prescription, you should visit your doctor and do necessary tests as appointed.

Lithobid adverse effects

From the use of the medication, you can expect to develop dyspepsia (indigestion, heartburn, etc.), tremor, sleepiness, unusual thirst, arrhythmia, body weight increase, allergic reactions, and other side effects. Although many of them are not life-threatening, you should inform your healthcare provider if you develop any of them so he or she would decide whether you need to reduce the dosage or replace the medication.

Overdose

When you order Generic Lithium without a prescription, it doesn’t mean that the pills can be taken irresponsibly. To avoid overdosing, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations and take the pills at the same time every day.

The early symptoms of an overdose are diarrhea, sleepiness, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, and tremor. More late symptoms are dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, and severe seizures.

In case of an overdose, you should go to a hospital for a symptomatic therapy.

Where to buy Lithobid?

In order to save your money on the therapy, you can order Generic Lithobid online from our online pharmacy.

Lithobid shipping

We ship the drugs we sell at our online pharmacy to all countries and cities of the world.