Lithium is amongst the oldest and most well known of the mood stabilizers so it is not surprising that Lithium for Bipolar disorder goes back a long way. Lithium was first found to have behavioral effects in the 1950s and has been used as a mood stabilizer for many years. It is the first FDA-approved mood stabilizer.
Lithium is used to treat the manic episodes of manic-depressive illness and it is also an effective drug treatment for depression associated with bipolar disorder.
Although effective in either phase Lithium is not universally successful as bipolar medication. Indications from several studies point to a possible worsening in depressive aspects of bipolar disorder with lithium treatment. It appears less effective with mixed manic and rapid-cycling bipolar episodes. Lithium seems best suited for patients with bipolar I illness especially with euphoric or elated mania
Possible side effects of lithium are weight gain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hand tremor, increase fluid intake and urination and a metallic taste in mouth.
Lithium is best avoided during pregnancy and in children under 12. Caution should be exercised with the elderly and those with kidney, thyroid heart conditions.
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