Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can Lithium Carbonate Be Taken For Treatment For Bipolar Disorder?
Question: My son is10, higly gifted , having G6PD and at risk of Asperger. I suspect him are having bipolar ! Can he take lithium carbonate treatment or take lithium orotate as supplement? I had Risperidone before which was a disaster and I am very alarm on taking drugs. I read Lithium Orotate is a safe supplement & want to try.
Brief Answer:
Lithium should be avoided until diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand your concern.
I am Dr. Vishal Garala, Psychiatrist, answering your concern.
Asperger syndrome (AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder in which qualitative impairment in social interaction occurs with stereotyped behaviour and activities. His IQ is 149 that is very good. In AS there are no cognitive decline.
Bipolar disorder is most common differential diagnosis but at 10 years of age, it is difficult to diagnose it or ADHD(attention deficit hyperactive disorder) is misdiagnosed as bipolar.
I want following information regarding bipolar disorder.
Is he talkative, has grand ideas(Grandiosity ideation), decrease need of sleep?
So give me details about it, so I can able to understand it more precisely.
Require psychological evaluation for more confirm diagnosis between AS with ADHD or AS with bipolar disorder or broadly Autism spectrum disorder(ASD).
The atypical antipsychotic medications risperidone and olanzapine have been shown to reduce symptoms. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline have been effective in some cases.
Lithium should be avoided until diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Risperidone has been associated with Extra pyramidal symptoms like tics as you mentioned so it can be reduced with add on anti cholinergic medicines or replaced with less EPS prone medicines like olanzapine. You can discuss this medication with your treating doctor.
Other than medicines behaviour therapy can help. Treatment under supervision in child guidance clinic (CGC) will be more beneficial.
Glad to answer your further concern
We wish you a best health at healthcare magic.
Thank you.
Lithium should be avoided until diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand your concern.
I am Dr. Vishal Garala, Psychiatrist, answering your concern.
Asperger syndrome (AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder in which qualitative impairment in social interaction occurs with stereotyped behaviour and activities. His IQ is 149 that is very good. In AS there are no cognitive decline.
Bipolar disorder is most common differential diagnosis but at 10 years of age, it is difficult to diagnose it or ADHD(attention deficit hyperactive disorder) is misdiagnosed as bipolar.
I want following information regarding bipolar disorder.
Is he talkative, has grand ideas(Grandiosity ideation), decrease need of sleep?
So give me details about it, so I can able to understand it more precisely.
Require psychological evaluation for more confirm diagnosis between AS with ADHD or AS with bipolar disorder or broadly Autism spectrum disorder(ASD).
The atypical antipsychotic medications risperidone and olanzapine have been shown to reduce symptoms. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline have been effective in some cases.
Lithium should be avoided until diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Risperidone has been associated with Extra pyramidal symptoms like tics as you mentioned so it can be reduced with add on anti cholinergic medicines or replaced with less EPS prone medicines like olanzapine. You can discuss this medication with your treating doctor.
Other than medicines behaviour therapy can help. Treatment under supervision in child guidance clinic (CGC) will be more beneficial.
Glad to answer your further concern
We wish you a best health at healthcare magic.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thx Dr!
He is demonstrating unusally anger out of the middle of nowhere & without reasons. eg. He woke up in the morning, feeling bad and hit the cat badly and then hit himself at his forehead. Hits his dad totally w/o sound reasons. H calls out loud, doing a lot of irritating actions,cry & compliants non-stop, throw & screw up homeworks & books. In the manic, nothing could stop him & almost no "reasonsable" causes. Reckless talking w/repeated contents such as how bad is school, howcome dad is so bad, why everything should be punished and died.
When he is back to normal, no one could imagine he could behave like that. He understand everything but he simply could not do one single thing.
He loves me, when he saw me in tears, he get into deep sadness & cry but no for long, he will start to talk & compliant & then come a non-stop manic for hours.
Do you think I could try Lithium Orotate to stablize his mood swing? I will also try Neurofeedback.
He always sleep very little, even as baby. Now, on average of 7 hrs.
I am very screw up with the doctor who only want Risperidone. She said it is the only answer and the dose should be double up! I am done w/her.
He is demonstrating unusally anger out of the middle of nowhere & without reasons. eg. He woke up in the morning, feeling bad and hit the cat badly and then hit himself at his forehead. Hits his dad totally w/o sound reasons. H calls out loud, doing a lot of irritating actions,cry & compliants non-stop, throw & screw up homeworks & books. In the manic, nothing could stop him & almost no "reasonsable" causes. Reckless talking w/repeated contents such as how bad is school, howcome dad is so bad, why everything should be punished and died.
When he is back to normal, no one could imagine he could behave like that. He understand everything but he simply could not do one single thing.
He loves me, when he saw me in tears, he get into deep sadness & cry but no for long, he will start to talk & compliant & then come a non-stop manic for hours.
Do you think I could try Lithium Orotate to stablize his mood swing? I will also try Neurofeedback.
He always sleep very little, even as baby. Now, on average of 7 hrs.
I am very screw up with the doctor who only want Risperidone. She said it is the only answer and the dose should be double up! I am done w/her.
Brief Answer:
Lithium orotate or carbonate should be avoided.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for reply.
I had gone through your detail history.
Unusual and uncontrollable anger, Irritability, stereotype activities and gestures, restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior are suggestive of autism spectrum disorder.
Symptoms that have you mentioned are not due to bipolar illness or manic illness. Mood swings and behavior abnormality are the part of ASD.
Lithium orotate is not indicative in this case. In fact it is not approved by US FDA for any medical illness.
Lithium carbonate has also serious side effects mainly in pediatric age group so it is also not indicated below 12 years of age.
It would be better to avoid any lithium preparation in pediatric age group.
Choice of medicines in this type of illness is anti psychotic medicines. Risperidone is the 1st choice. Alternative are olanzapine and aripriprazole.
Side effects due to risperidone therapy can be prevented by add on anti cholinergic medicines.
Combination of risperidone and benzexol is advisable. Doses are depending upon severity of illness and it is usually start in low dose and gradually increase in dose according to improvements. It is necessary to treat him under supervision and monitoring. Take advice and discuss with your treating doctor.
ASD or AS is very complex illness and no single treatment is best.
Glad to answer you for further concern.
Thank you
Lithium orotate or carbonate should be avoided.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for reply.
I had gone through your detail history.
Unusual and uncontrollable anger, Irritability, stereotype activities and gestures, restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior are suggestive of autism spectrum disorder.
Symptoms that have you mentioned are not due to bipolar illness or manic illness. Mood swings and behavior abnormality are the part of ASD.
Lithium orotate is not indicative in this case. In fact it is not approved by US FDA for any medical illness.
Lithium carbonate has also serious side effects mainly in pediatric age group so it is also not indicated below 12 years of age.
It would be better to avoid any lithium preparation in pediatric age group.
Choice of medicines in this type of illness is anti psychotic medicines. Risperidone is the 1st choice. Alternative are olanzapine and aripriprazole.
Side effects due to risperidone therapy can be prevented by add on anti cholinergic medicines.
Combination of risperidone and benzexol is advisable. Doses are depending upon severity of illness and it is usually start in low dose and gradually increase in dose according to improvements. It is necessary to treat him under supervision and monitoring. Take advice and discuss with your treating doctor.
ASD or AS is very complex illness and no single treatment is best.
Glad to answer you for further concern.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Dear Dr XXXXXXX Garala,
Got yr. points and content noted with thanks!
Giftedness+ASD+G6PD+.....indeed complex!
Thanks so much.
Got yr. points and content noted with thanks!
Giftedness+ASD+G6PD+.....indeed complex!
Thanks so much.
Brief Answer:
Thank you and best wishes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
ASD itself is complex. There are no interaction between medicine and G6PD.
Regular consultation and observation will help.
Thank you.
My best wishes for his good health.
If you are satisfied with my answer then close it and rate it.
Thank you and best wishes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
ASD itself is complex. There are no interaction between medicine and G6PD.
Regular consultation and observation will help.
Thank you.
My best wishes for his good health.
If you are satisfied with my answer then close it and rate it.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
