What is the effect of lithium carbonate on mental illness?

Lithium carbonate is often used to treat bipolar disorder. It stabilizes mood and fights mania by stabilizing calcium and serotonin. It is also very bioavailable. Take 2-3 times a day. It is quickly excreted through the kidneys, but it puts a strain on the kidneys, so if the patient's kidney function is not good, it is easy to cause lithium poisoning.

In fact, this drug is prone to poisoning, so when taking this drug, you should check your blood regularly. The lithium level in the blood must be maintained between 0.6-1.2mEq/L. If it exceeds 1.5mEq/L, it will cause lithium poisoning. Even if the blood level is normal, you may still be poisoned.

Symptoms of lithium poisoning:

<1.5mEq/L: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, polyuria, weakness, slurred speech

1.5mEq/L-2.0mEq/L: gastrointestinal discomfort, tremor, confusion, electrocardiogram (EKG) changes, drowsiness

2.1mEq/L-2.5mEq/L: ataxia, drowsiness, severe EKG changes, blurred vision, tinnitus, coma

>2.5mEq/L: seizure, renal failure, death.