Clinical medicine profile
Lithium Carbonate
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
Some sections contain general class guidance rather than medicine-specific evidence. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- First trimester of pregnancy
- impaired renal or hepatic or cardiovascular disor- ders
- salt free dietary condition
- lactation
- history of leukemia as it may be reactivated by lithium
- CNS disorders such as epilepsy and parkinsonism
- as they may be exacerbated and lithium induced neurotoxicity may be masked
- diabetes mellitus as serum insulin concentration may be increased.
Precautions
- Concomitant infection with pyrexia
- monitor thyroid function [it may be induce latent hypothyroidism in predisposed or elderly patients]
- maintain adequate fluid intake
- regular lithium serum determination
- diuretic therapy.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Acute mania: Oral, initially 300-600mg TID. Maintenance: Oral, 300mg TID or QID.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Maniac episodes of maniac depressive-illness.
- Clinical selection for Lithium Carbonate should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class).
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Adverse reactions vary by agent.
- Counsel on common predictable effects and serious warning symptoms (allergy, severe rash, jaundice, unusual bleeding, severe GI symptoms, neurological changes).
- Report suspected ADRs via national pharmacovigilance channels.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
Mechanism is agent-specific.
Read complete mechanism
Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITHOSUN SR | SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD | Tablet | Unavailable |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.