Lithobid is a prescription medication used to treat the manic symptoms of manic depression. It works by affecting the flow of sodium through the nerve and muscle cells in the body.
Ingredients
Each Lithobid tablet contains 300 mg of lithium carbonate, the active ingredient. The tablets are designed to be extended release, releasing the medication slowly and over a period of time. Lithobid also contains many inactive ingredients; calcium stearate, carnauba wax, cellulose compounds, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake, povidone, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, sorbitol, and titanium dioxide.
Dosage
The manufacturer suggests that three tablets be taking in the morning and three taken in the evening. Manufactures state that the best response can be established with 1800 mg per day of the medication. In comparison, AnxiClear suggests that by taking two of their product in the day time and one of the night formula in the evening, it can produce improvements in as little as one week.
Side Effects
Lithobid has a list of serious side effects. Cessation of the medication and consultation with a physician is recommended immediately if a patient experiences any of the following symptoms.
- extreme thirst, urinating more or less than usual
- weakness, fever, feeling restless or confused, eye pain and vision problems
- restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck
- pain, cold feeling, or discoloration in your fingers or toes
- feeling light-headed, fainting, slow heart rate
- hallucinations, seizure (blackout or convulsions)
- fever with muscle stiffness, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats
Lithobid users may experience lithium toxicity which presents itself through nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremor, and lack of coordination, blurred vision, or ringing in your ears.
Will This Product Produce Long-Term Results?
In the long-term, doctors may reduce their patients down to two Lithobid tablets in the morning and two in the evening. This will maintain patients with up to 1200 mg of Lithobid.
Price
Lithobid is a brand name prescription medication that costs over $320 for 100 tablets. There is a generic version of the medication available to help patients save money. Drugs.com also offers a discount card for cash paying customers to help further reduce costs.
There is a patient assistance program that requires patients to have an income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. With the program there may be a small fee of $20 payable for a 180 day supply.
Guarantee
Since Lithobid is a prescription medication it does not have a guarantee. However, users of the medication can report any adverse symptoms they believe may be related to the medication, directly to the FDA.
Conclusion – Lithobid
While lithium, the active ingredient in Lithobid, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of manic symptoms in manic depression, the side effects are worrisome. The price of the branded medication also may be outside of a patient’s budget and some health insurances may not cover the full price of the medication.