Lithium (Lithonate) Nursing Considerations

Okay, let’s take a look at the drug. Lithium carbonate also known as lithizine. This is an oral medication, as you can see here in the picture. So the therapeutic class of a drug is how the drug works in the body. And in this case, the therapeutic class of lithium carbonate is a mood stabilizer. The pharmacologic class is the chemical effect of the drug. And for lithium, this is an anti manic agent. So lithium carbonate works by altering ion transport and neurotransmitter re uptake. We use lithium carbonate for the treatment of mania. So lithium does come with some side effects and these can include things like fatigue, confusion, nausea, and Anor, let’s take a look at a few nursing considerations for lithium. In addition to the already mentioned side effects, lithium may cause seizures, hypothyroidism, arrhythmias, and tremors. Be sure to monitor lithium drug blood levels frequently with a level being between 0.5 and 1.2 do not administer with NSAIDs use caution guys with ACE inhibitors, as ACE inhibitors may increase the serum levels of lithium and be sure to teach the patient to maintain adequate fluid levels. So guys, if lithium levels get too high, the patient may experience. So things like diarrhea, uh, vomiting, loss of coordination and ringing of the ears or tinnitus. And here is a fun fact about lithium. I think it’s a fun fact. Anyway, lithium was originally a patent medicine in the late 18 hundreds and early 19 hundreds, and it was marketed as a lemon lime soft drink that was later renamed as seven up. 

So that is it for lithium carbonate or lithizine now go out and be your, your best self today. And as always happy nursing, the.