INTRODUCTION

LITHOSUN SR contains Lithium which belongs to the group of medicine called mood stabilizing agents. It is indicated in the treatment and prevention of mania or manic depression (manic episodes of bipolar disorder) and recurrent depression in adult patients. It is also used to control behavioral disorders like aggression and intentional self-harm. 

Manic depression (also Bipolar disorder) is a serious mental illness in which the person will experience an extreme mood swings that includes emotional highs (called as manias) and lows (called as depression). Symptoms of mania includes motor hyperactivity, pressure of speech, lack of sleep and aggressiveness, while symptoms of depression include feeling sad, apathy, suicidal thoughts, restlessness, crying, fatigue, lack of sleep and lack of concentration.

LITHOSUN SR acts by reducing the abnormal and excessive activity of neurons in the brain, leading to the suppression of both mania and depression. This medicine can be taken with or without meals. Any huge changes made in your diet pertaining to consumption of water and sodium (salt intake) should be informed to your doctor. Before and while taking this medicine, your doctor would regularly check the functions of your kidneys, heart and thyroid gland as a precaution to avoid unwanted side effects.

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual side effects while taking this medicine. Your doctor might reduce the dose or suggest an alternative therapy. Constant monitoring of lithium levels in blood are required in patients having any infection, underlying disease or low levels of magnesium, potassium and calcium in blood.

The most common side effects of taking this medicine are nausea, diarrhea, dryness in mouth, tremor of hands, difficulty in thinking and weight gain. Contact your doctor if any of the symptom bothers you. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have any serious kidney disease. LITHOSUN SR is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and in children under 18 years of age. Consult your doctor before taking.

USES OF LITHOSUN SR

• Treats and prevents mania, or manic depression
• Prevents recurrent depression

HOW LITHOSUN SR WORKS

Lithium is a mood stabilizing agent. It works by suppressing the abnormal and excessive activity of neurons in the brain. It reduces the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and glutamate) and increases the activity of inhibitory neurotransmission (GABA) which helps in reducing the symptoms of mania and depression.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take LITHOSUN SR as directed by your physician. It can be taken with or without meals. Swallow the medicine as whole with a sip of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and health condition. Continue to take this medicine, as long as your doctor tells you to do so, to obtain better results.

SIDE EFFECTS OF LITHOSUN SR

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Nausea:

Try taking this medicine with, or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Do not eat rich or spicy food.

Diarrhea:

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or juice, to avoid dehydration. Do not take any medicines without speaking to a doctor.

Skin rash or itching:

Avoid hot showers because hot water can irritate the skin. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Regularly use moisturizers to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If the symptoms still persist, contact your doctor.

Weight gain:

Try to exercise more regularly, for e.g., by going for a daily walk or run.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

Talk to your doctor, if you are taking,

• antibiotics (used to treat infections) e.g. tetracyclines, metronidazole, IV erythromycin, sparfloxacin, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim and spectinomycin
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. celecoxib, indomethacin, diclofenac or ibuprofen)
• medicines used to treat heart problems
• corticosteroids (used to treat allergy or inflammation) e.g. prednisolone, betamethasone or hydrocortisone
• theophylline (used to treat asthma)
• caffeine (a CNS stimulant)
• sodium bicarbonate (used to relieve heartburn)
• carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure) e.g. acetazolamide
• urea (used to treat certain skin conditions)
• medicines used to treat schizophrenia and other behavioural disorders
• medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin or clonazepam)
• medicines used to treat depression (e.g. fluoxetine or paroxetine, amitriptyline)
• muscle relaxants used in anaesthesia (e.g. pancuronium)
• sumatriptan (used to treat migraine)
• arsenic trioxide (used to treat leukemia)
• cisapride (used to treat stomach and gut problems)
• medicines used to treat malaria (e.g. halofantrine, mefloquine and artemisinin derivatives)
• dolasetron (used to treat nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy)

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

Store below 20-25°C and keep out of reach of children.

FAQs ABOUT LITHOSUN SR

Can you drink alcohol while taking LITHOSUN SR?

No. Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine as it may increase the risk of CNS side effects like sedation.

Can I take ibuprofen along with LITHOSUN SR?

No. Avoid concomitant use of this medicine with NSAIDS like ibuprofen as it may aggravate the risk of side effects. Consult your doctor before taking.

Can LITHOSUN SR cause weight gain?

Yes. This medicine may cause weight gain in some individuals. Try to exercise regularly and eat a healthy balanced diet. If you are bothered about weight gain, contact your doctor.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Drugs Used in Mental Illness: Antipsychotic and Antimanic Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 447-450.

2. Jonathan M. Meyer. Pharmacotherapy of Psychosis and mania. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page – 445-450.

3. Gerald G. Briggs and Roger K. Freeman. L. A reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Tenth Edition. 2015. Page – 2273-2277.

4. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Safety and Efficacy Study of Lithium for the Treatment of Pediatric Mania. (Lithium2). NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on October 2013] [Accessed 7th January 2021] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01166425

5. Michael Gitlin. Lithium side effects and toxicity: prevalence and management strategies. NCBI; PMC US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. December 2016. [Accessed 7th January 2021] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5164879/#:~:text=Excessive%20urination%20and%20thirst%20(polyuria,term%20patients%20(Bone%20et%20al.

6. WASDELL PACKAGING LIMITED, Norgine Ltd. Hengoed and Delpharm L’Aigle. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised on June 2020] [Accessed 7th January 2021] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.10829.pdf

7. Sanofi-Aventis. Priadel. Sanofi.co.uk. [Revised on November 2010] [Accessed 7th January 2021]. http://products.sanofi.co.uk/Priadel_SPC.pdf

8. Delpharm L’Aigle. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on June 2020] [Accessed 7th January 2021] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.10828.pdf

9. Roxane Laboratories, Inc. U.S. Food & Drug Administration; [Revised on September 2011] [Accessed 7th January 2021] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/017812s028,018421s027lbl.pdf