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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.
Research: Lithium & ALSLithium 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.
See more information, including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.
Reasons taken
76 patients in the community are taking or have taken Lithium.
| Reason | # Patients | Percentage of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Treat my mood condition(s) | 29 | 38% |
| Other | 10 | 13% |
| Bipolar Disorder | 6 | 7% |
| Bipolar, rapid cycling | 4 | 5% |
| Support another treatment | 3 | 3% |
| Slow my ALS progress | 3 | 3% |
| General health | 1 | 1% |
Other treatments patients are taking for Treat my mood condition(s) include Bupropion, Lamotrigine, and Venlafaxine.
Duration
How long current patients have been taking Lithium or how long patients were taking Lithium before stopping.
Currently Taking Lithium
Stopped Taking Lithium
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 | 19% | 3 |
| Mild | 38% | 6 |
| None | 31% | 5 |
Top reported side-effects include: thirst, hand tremors, Memory problems
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)
-
- Baja Rev
- Sex: M
- Mouth/throat: unreported
- Arms: unreported
- Chest: unreported
- Legs: unreported
- See profile
-
by Baja Rev
Apr 04, 2009
- EfficacyCan't tell
- Side-effectsNone
- Slow my ALS progress
- Advice/Tips
- As yet this has not been proven to help. but how can I tell. I don't know how much fastere the ALS would be going if I was not on it. You do need to get blood work to check the levels of the lithiam .
- See full evaluation
-
0 helpful marks
-
- misswho
- Sex: F
- Depression: 2
- Emotional: 3
- Compulsion: 3
- Anxiety: 2
- Mania: 2
- Physical: 2
- External Stress: Severe
- 37 F
- Function: Low
- Distress: Moderate
- See profile
-
by misswho
Apr 10, 2009
- EfficacySlight
- Side-effectsModerate
- Bipolar, rapid cycling
- See full evaluation
-
0 helpful marks
Report created on July 04, 2009.