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Research:
Lithium & ALS

See how ALS patients taking lithium are doing in real-time by viewing FRS scores before and after starting lithium. Easily compare individual dosages and blood levels, and filter results by a rich set of patient characteristics.

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Lithium Treatment Report

See also: Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Orotate, Lithium Sulfate

What is Lithium? Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania in people with bipolar disorder (manic depressive disorder). Lithium is in a class of medications called antimanic agents, which work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain. Read more...Click to read more below

See more information, including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.


Reasons taken

66 patients in the community are taking or have taken Lithium.

Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Treat my mood condition(s) 27 40%
Bipolar, rapid cycling 9 13%
Bipolar Disorder 8 12%
Support another treatment 4 6%
Other 2 3%
General health 1 1%

Other treatments patients are taking for Treat my mood condition(s) include Bupropion, Lamotrigine, and Venlafaxine.

Dosages

Based on the patients currently taking Lithium.

Top 10 (Show all)

All (Show top 10)

  150 mg daily 300 mg daily 350 mg daily 450 mg daily 600 mg daily 750 mg daily 900 mg daily 1200 mg daily 1250 mg daily 1350 mg daily 1500 mg daily 1600 mg daily 1800 mg daily
  1 Number of Patients: 1 16 Number of Patients: 16 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 8 Number of Patients: 8 2 Number of Patients: 2 14 Number of Patients: 14 8 Number of Patients: 8 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 3 Number of Patients: 3 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1  

Duration

How long current patients have been taking Lithium or how long patients were taking Lithium before stopping.

Currently Taking Lithium

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
1
0
3
10
9
6

Stopped Taking Lithium

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
4
2
1
0
0
0
Why Patients Stopped Taking Lithium (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe 3 38% Side effects too severe: 38%
Did not seem to work 2 25% Did not seem to work: 25%
Other 2 25% Other: 25%
Expense 1 13% Expense: 13%
Personal research 1 13% Personal research: 13%
Doctor's advice 1 13% Doctor's advice: 13%

Patient Reported Evaluations

Results from 16 patient evaluations. See the overall results and all individual evaluations.

Efficacy (Effect based on reason taken)

Major 67% 4
Moderate 33% 2

Treat my mood condition(s)

Side-effects (as an overall problem)

Severe 13% 2
Moderate 31% 5
Mild 38% 6
None 19% 3

Top reported side-effects include: thirst, hand tremors, get the shakes

Summary results are based on 16 individual responses. For more information, see overall results for Adherence, Burden and Cost.

Individual Patient Reported Evaluations (2 of 16)

  • misswho
    Sex: F
    Depression: 2
    Emotional: 3
    Compulsion: 3
    Anxiety: 2
    Mania: 2
    Physical: 2
    External Stress: Severe
    38 F
    Function: Low
    Distress: Moderate
  • misswho
  • by misswho
    Apr 10, 2009
  • EfficacySlight
  • Side-effectsModerate
  • Bipolar, rapid cycling

  • sumac333
    Sex: F
    Depression: 2
    Emotional: 2
    Compulsion: 2
    Anxiety: 2
    Mania: 0
    Physical: 2
    External Stress: Severe
    57 F
    Function: Moderate
    Distress: Moderate
  • sumac333
  • by sumac333
    Apr 12, 2009
  • EfficacyModerate
  • Side-effectsMild
  • Other
Advice/Tips
An old-fashion but basic treatment. In the old days symptoms, including weight gain was aweful, now it's closer regulated and lower blood levels for sympton relief.

See all evaluation results for Lithium

Report created on November 07, 2009.