{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"lithium","kind":"medication","name":"lithium","aliases":["lithium carbonate","Camcolit"],"brands_sg":["Camcolit-400"],"class":"mood stabiliser","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"healthhub: reducing mood swings in bipolar disorder","use_after":"healthhub: with or after food · nhs: usually once a day","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · hh: hydration changes the level in your body","pros":["hh: a mood stabiliser for bipolar mood swings","nhs: once a day, usually at night","nhs: usually taken long term — often many years"],"cons":["hh: thirst, more urine, tremor, weight gain","hh: too high a level — blurred vision, confusion","nhs: weekly blood tests at first, then 3–6 monthly"],"dose_note":"the us lithobid label states no fixed maximum daily dose. for acute mania it says 'optimal patient response can usually be established with 1800 mg/day', producing 'an effective serum lithium concentration ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 mEq/L'; for long-term control 'desirable serum lithium concentrations are 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L which can usually be achieved with 900 to 1200 mg/day'. the same label adds that 'dosage must be individualized according to serum concentrations and clinical response'. the nhs page gives no dose figures at all and says the dose is set and changed by blood tests. the one sg-registered product is camcolit-400 400 mg tablets; in singapore the prescriber sets the dose.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["kidney, thyroid or heart disease — healthhub","low blood sodium, or a planned low-salt diet (healthhub)","leukaemia, psoriasis or myasthenia gravis (healthhub)","nhs: illness with vomiting, diarrhoea or fever shifts levels"],"clashes":[{"src":["hh_li_avoid"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: it can cause excessive sleepiness","with":"alcohol"},{"src":["hh_li_precautions"],"note":"healthhub: it may affect the way this medication works","with":"a low-salt diet"},{"src":["hh_li_precautions"],"note":"healthhub: some may affect how it works or cause serious drug interactions","with":"st john's wort, other medicines, tcm and herbal products"},{"src":["hh_li_hydration"],"note":"healthhub: drinking too much or too little water changes the lithium level","with":"dehydration — heat, exercise, vomiting or diarrhoea"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally)","quote":"The single registered lithium product reads 'Prescription Only' — SIN01305P CAMCOLIT-400 TABLET 400 mg, active ingredient LITHIUM CARBONATE, ATC N05AN01, film-coated tablet.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub (National Medication Information workgroup, SG) — Lithium: what is this medication for","quote":"Lithium is used as a mood stabilizer to help reduce mood swings in bipolar disorder. Lithium may also be used for other conditions.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_howto","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: how should I take this medication","quote":"Lithium should be taken with or after food to reduce stomach discomfort. The controlled-release (CR) tablet must be swallowed whole or halved; do not crush or chew it.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_precautions","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: what precautions should I take","quote":"You intend to start on a low salt diet as it may affect the way this medication works … Leukaemia, Psoriasis, Myasthenia Gravis … Heart disease … Low sodium levels … Kidney disease … Thyroid disease","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_hydration","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: staying hydrated and blood monitoring","quote":"Drinking too much or too little water can affect the amount of Lithium in your body and may result in unpleasant effects … Your doctor may order blood tests","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_side","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: common side effects","quote":"Drowsiness or feeling tired … Nausea, vomiting … Thirst, dry mouth … Passing out more urine than usual … Diarrhoea … Weight gain … Fine hand movements that are difficult to control","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_toxic","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: rare but serious side effects (signs of too high a level)","quote":"If the amount of Lithium in your body is too high, you may experience: Blurred vision … severe diarrhoea or vomiting … Muscle weakness … Confusion, clumsiness, dizziness, extreme tiredness … Ringing in the ears","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_li_avoid","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lithium","label":"HealthHub — Lithium: what food or medication should I avoid","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Lithium as it can cause excessive sleepiness.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_li_how","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lithium/how-and-when-to-take-lithium/","label":"NHS — Lithium: how and when to take it (brand names Priadel, Camcolit, Liskonum, Li-Liquid)","quote":"Swallow tablets whole with a drink of water or juice. Do not chew them. You can take lithium with or without food. You'll usually take your lithium once a day, at night","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_lithobid_dose","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22LITHOBID%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for LITHOBID (lithium carbonate extended-release), DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, via openFDA (ANI Pharmaceuticals, effective 2026-08-24)","quote":"Acute Mania Optimal patient response can usually be established with 1800 mg/day … Long-Term Control Desirable serum lithium concentrations are 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L which can usually be achieved with 900 to 1200 mg/day","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_li_blood","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lithium/how-and-when-to-take-lithium/","label":"NHS — Lithium: changes to your dose and blood monitoring","quote":"you'll need to have a blood test every week … Your doctor may change your dose depending on the results of your blood test. Once the doctor is happy, you'll have a blood test every 3 to 6 months","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_li_long","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lithium/how-and-when-to-take-lithium/","label":"NHS — Lithium: how long to take it for","quote":"As long as it's working well to control your condition, you'll generally take lithium for a long time. Some people need to take it for many years.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_li_ill","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lithium/how-and-when-to-take-lithium/","label":"NHS — Lithium: if you have an infection or illness","quote":"Call 111 now if you: have an illness that causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting, a high temperature or sweating … Infections and illnesses like colds and flu can also make you dehydrated.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_lithobid_serum","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22LITHOBID%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for LITHOBID, serum-concentration targets and individualisation, via openFDA","quote":"Such doses will normally produce an effective serum lithium concentration ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 mEq/L. Dosage must be individualized according to serum concentrations and clinical response.","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:24.715168+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}