Lithium and BiPolar Disorder

Lithium is the most commonly used medicine in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Lithium affects the way sodium flows through the body's muscle and nerve cells.  Sodium is what affects hyperactivity or mania.  Its brand name is called Eskalith, made by the company GlaxoSmithKline.  With headquarters in the UK, GlaxoSmithKline is one of the few pharmacutical companies working with the World Health Organization to develop medicines and vaccines for aids, malaria and tuberculosis.  GlaxoSmithKline accounts for 7% of the world's pharmacuticals.  Every hour the company spends over half a million dollars in an effort to find new medicines.  They are a leader in the disease areas of mental illness as well as asthma, infections, virus control, diabetes and cancer.

Lithium is used in the treatment and stabilization of bipolar disorder or manic depression.  It is also used in the treatment of agression , anger, hyperactivity and certain headaches.  All of these conditions are associated with depressive disorders.

Other brand names for the drug lithium are Eskalith CR and Lithobid.  Lithium orotate is a natural supplement that can be used in the same way as the prescriptions.  Lithonate, lithosun and lithotabs are also alternative lithium based medications.

There are a wide array of medications available to treat bipolar disorder.  Aside from lithium the two other medication groups are tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).  Some brand name examples of tricyclics are Adapin, Elavil, Nopramin and Asendin .  Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Prozac and Cymbalta would be the most common examples of an MAOI.  Some of these medications have been used in combination with lithium.

Lithium has long been the most preferred method of treatment for bipolar disorder.  It has been shown to have no major side effects.  Studies also show an improvement in the aggressive behavior in some children.  Lithium also greatly reduces hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgements, aggression and anger.  It has also been shown to renew and preserve brain cells.