How Does Lithium Work for Bipolar Disorder
Lithium and Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, is mostly known as manic depression, is a chronic mood disorder that causes extreme mood swings.
Mania is a state of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that causes increased energy, activity, and self-confidence.
Depression is a state of abnormally low mood that causes decreased energy, activity, and self-confidence.
Lithium is a naturally occurring element that can be found in plants and the ground. The medical use of the chemical has been traced back to the 1800s.
Its current medical use is as a mood stabilizer for people who have bipolar disorder.
Lithium helps control or manage behaviors associated with this mental health condition by regulating mania, hypomania, depression, or psychosis.
In this blog, we will definitely explain how it works for bipolar disorder sufferers.
History of Lithium and Bipolar Disorder
LITHIUM is a naturally occurring mineral that was discovered long ago to have certain mood-stabilizing properties.
In 1949, the first paper on using LITHIUM was published, then seeking to explain how it could be used in the treatment of what was known at the time as manic-depression.
The FDA approved LITHIUM for use in 1970, and many still consider it a cornerstone of modern treatments for those with Bipolar Disorder. Even now, though, the specific way in which LITHIUM works to help people is still not fully understood.
How Lithium Works for Bipolar Disorder
When Is Lithium Prescribed
This drug has been approved in the U.S by the Food and Drug Administration to treat episodes of bipolar disorder with manic or mixed symptoms, but this is not the only use for it.
Evidence suggests it can also be used to manage depressive symptoms and psychotic features that may appear when a person suffers from this mental disease.
Some research suggests that Lithium might help to treat depression by reducing some of the symptoms seen in patients with unipolar depression, a certain type of depression where patients do not experience periods of mania.
It is often used as part of a treatment regimen along with other types of medication prescribed for this particular disorder.
How Lithium Controls Bipolar Disorder
Lithium supplements work by impacting the levels of chemicals in the brain. One may not see results for a couple of weeks, and it could take a month or more before mood symptoms begin to resolve.
If taking a Lithium supplement, be sure to maintain appointments with your doctor on a regular basis in order to keep track of how your body is responding and potentially adjust dosage amounts accordingly.
Bipolar disorder is a psychological condition that requires medication to keep it under control. Whenever one has bipolar disorder, it is necessary for them to take Lithium to help maintain their mood and keep it stable and balanced.
Bipolar disorder requires lifelong treatment. Do not stop taking Lithium, even when you feel better, because it can be vital to keeping your condition under control.
Some patients like to split the dosage in half, taking it once in the morning and once at night. The recommended starting dose is between 600 mg to 1000 mg daily.
Final Thought
There are many ways to control bipolar disorder, but Lithium is the most commonly prescribed medication.
Lithium works by stabilizing moods and preventing episodes from occurring. It is also effective in treating co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Lithium has been used as a mood stabilizer and has been shown to be effective for bipolar disorder, especially in the early stages of treatment. We hope this blog will be very helpful for you. For more blogs, keep visiting our website.
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