Litarex: Drug Information

Generic name: Lithium Citrate

Drug Class: Antidepressant, Antimanic

Uses of Litarex:

Litarex is recommended for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as acute mania, hypomania and prophylaxis against recurrent manic depressive psychosis. It helps alleviate the symptoms of euphoria, hyperexcitability, crying spells and delusions and hallucinations. The exact mechanism of the drug is not clear but lithium alters the transport of sodium in neurons and muscle cells and intraneuronal metabolism of catecholamnines.

Dosage:

Litarex should be taken as advised by your doctor. You can take this medicine with or without meals at regular intervals. Do not stop taking the medicine abruptly without the consent of your doctor as it may worsen your present condition.

Warning and Precautions:

Do not take Litarex if you are allergic to it.

This medicine is not recommended for patients diagnosed with kidney disorders, cardiovascular disease, disturbances in electrolyte balance and major surgery.

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant.

When taking Litarex, it is important for you to get your serum levels monitored from time to time.

You must also consume a high salt diet when taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you are lactating before taking this medicine as it may pass into the breast milk.

Drug Interactions:

Liatrex can cause lithium toxicity when taken with ACE inhibitors. It should not be co-administered with diuretics and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (Except aspirin) as they reduce lithium excretion from the body. When lithium is combined with neuroleptics it may result in encephalitis. Litarex should not be taken along with antidepressants and mono amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) as it augments the CNS depressant effects of these drugs.

Side effects of Litarex:

Some of the most common side effects of the drug are tremors, acnes, psoriasis, loss of concentration, tremors, hypothyroidism, weight gain, cardiac arrhythmias, restlessness, anxiety and depression. Litarex can also result in lithium intoxication in the kidney as well as on the central nervous system (CNS). Intake of a low salt diet can increase the tubular re-absorption of lithium and cause increased toxicity.

Overdose:

In case of an overdose of the medication, you must report to your doctor at the earliest or contact your local poison control center.