Eskalith Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Eskalith is used to treat the manic episodes of manic-depressive illness, a condition in which a person's mood swings from depression to excessive excitement. Lithium adjusts signaling activities regulating second messengers, transcription factors, and gene expression. The outcome of these effects appears likely to result in limiting the magnitudes of fluctuations in activities, contributing to a stabilizing influence induced by lithium, and neuroprotective effects may be derived from its modulation of gene expression.

Eskalith Dosage

• The usual starting dosage is 1,800 milligrams per day and you should be taken 3 or 4 doses per day.
• For children up to 12 years of age, the usual dose is 15 to 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight a day.

Uses of Eskalith

• Lithium is used to treat the manic stage of bipolar disorder. Manic-depressive patients experience severe mood changes, ranging from an excited or manic state to depression or sadness.
• In addition, lithium increases the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Lithium's effects usually begin within one week of starting treatment, and the full effect is seen by 2 to 3 weeks.

Side Effects of Eskalith

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• diarrhea
• drowsiness
• loss of appetite
• muscle weakness
• nausea, vomiting
• slurred speech
• blurred vision
• confusion
• dizziness
• seizures
• trembling
• fainting
• hair loss
• hoarseness
• sensitivity to cold
• swelling in the neck
• unusual weight gain

These side effects usually subside with continued treatment or a temporary reduction or cessation of dosage. If persistent, cessation of lithium therapy may be required.

Warnings and precautions before taking Eskalith:

• This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert .
• In humans, lithium carbonate may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
• Data from lithium birth registries suggest an increase in cardiac and other anomalies, especially Ebsteins anomaly.
• If this drug is used in women of childbearing potential, or during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Drug Interaction:-

• I ndomethacin and piroxicam have been reported to increase significantly, steady state plasma lithium levels.
• In some cases, lithium toxicity has resulted from such interactions.
• There is also some evidence that other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents may have a similar effect.

Overdose

Symptoms of eskalith overdose may include:

• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Nausea
• Ringing in the ears
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Giddiness
• Weakness

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