LITHICARB FC
Lithium carbonate 250 mg and 400 mg Tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about LITHICARB FC. It does not
contain all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using LITHICARB FC against the
benefits expected it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using
this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
What LITHICARB FC is used for and how it works
Your LITHICARB FC tablets contain the active ingredient lithium carbonate.
Lithium carbonate provides a source of lithium ions, which compete with sodium
ions at various sites in the body.
LITHICARB FC is used to treat patients with mental conditions (e.g.
over-activity and mood changes) and recurring bipolar disorder. LITHICARB FC is
also used in the prevention of mood problems.
Your doctor may, however, prescribe LITHICARB FC for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why LITHICARB FC has been prescribed for
you.
There is no evidence that LITHICARB FC is addictive.
LITHICARB FC is available on prescription from your doctor.
Before you take LITHICARB FC
When you must not take it
Do not take LITHICARB FC if:
- You are allergic to lithium carbonate or any of the ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet - You have a heart or kidney problem
- You have adrenal gland problems, or an under active thyroid gland
- If you are pregnant
- If you intend to become pregnant or to breastfeed. Lithium carbonate
may be harmful to the foetus and newborn baby. It is therefore strongly
recommended that lithium carbonate therapy is not started if pregnant or
breastfeeding. Lithium carbonate is secreted into breast milk, therefore
bottle-feeding is recommended.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Before you take it
Tell your doctor:
- If you are taking any other lithium supplements or any other medicines
that you think may contain lithium - If you have a heart or kidney problem
- If you have any thyroid problems
- If you do not have a balanced diet
- If you plan to have surgery
Your doctor will arrange for blood tests and other health checks to be
carried out prior to and during your treatment with LITHICARB FC.
Treatment with LITHICARB FC requires regular monitoring of serum lithium
levels. Your doctor will arrange for the necessary blood tests to be carried
out. Frequent blood tests are required at the start of treatment. The period
between blood tests is then increased gradually up to about 3 months. Additional
blood tests may be required following alteration of your dosage, change in your
condition, or following a significant change in your sodium (e.g. salt) or fluid
intake.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a
prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, it is very
important you tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Medicines that may increase lithium concentration include:
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - medicines used to treat
depression - Metronidazole
- Tetracyclines
- Topiramate
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - medicines used to
alleviate pain, inflammation and fever - Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - medicines used to treat
high blood pressure and heart failure - Thiazide diuretics - medicines that help reduce the amount of water in the
body by increasing the flow of urine - Spironolactone
- Frusemide
- Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists - medicines used to treat high blood
pressure - Other drugs affecting electrolyte balance may alter lithium excretion,
e.g. steroids.
Substances that may decrease lithium concentrations
- Xanthines, such as theophylline and caffeine
- Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium chloride (table salt)
- Psyllium or Ispaghula husk such as Metamucil and Mucilax
- Urea
- Mannitol
- Acetazolamide
Medicines that may cause nerve damage include:
- Neuroleptics - a type of sedative such as risperidone, clozapine,
phenothiazines and haloperidol - SSRIs, sumitriptan and tricyclic antidepressants
- Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, diltiazem and enalapril -
medicines used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure - Carbamazepine or phenytoin
- Methyldopa
Other medicines
- Neuromuscular blocking agents - medicines used to induce muscle paralysis
- Thioridazine
- Iodide
- Baclofen
- Cotrimoxazole
- Aciclovir
- Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors - medicines used to treat inflammation
and pain
These medicines may be affected by LITHICARB FC or may affect how well
LITHICARB FC works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may
need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking LITHICARB FC.
How to take LITHICARB FC properly
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you exactly how much LITHICARB FC you should take each
day. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other
medication at the same time. The doctor will also carry out tests to determine
the dose that is best for you. It is not unusual for your doctor to alter the
dose from time to time. It is important that you take LITHICARB FC as directed
by your doctor, as the directions given by the doctor may differ from the
information contained in this leaflet.
Do not take more than the recommended dose.
LITHICARB FC is usually given as a single daily dose, in the morning or
evening. Alternatively, the dose may be divided and given morning and evening.
LITHICARB FC should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. They are not to
be crushed, chewed or swallowed with hot water.
During treatment with LITHICARB FC you should try to stick to a balanced diet
and fluid intake. This will help you maintain a stable salt and water balance.
This is particularly important in hot weather and during periods of illness.
The use of LITHICARB FC is not recommended for children.
How long to take it
LITHICARB FC helps to control your condition but does not cure it. Therefore,
LITHICARB FC must be taken everyday. Continue taking LITHICARB FC for as long as
your doctor prescribes.
If you forget a dose
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take
your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you
remember, and then go back to taking LITHICARB FC as you would normally.
It is important that you do not take more than one dose at a time to make up
for the doses that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an
unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to
take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask
you pharmacist for some hints.
While you are taking LITHICARB FC
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking LITHICARB FC.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking LITHICARB FC before you
start any new medicine.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant
while taking LITHICARB FC.
If you are going to have a surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you
are taking LITHICARB FC.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are
taking LITHICARB FC.
Do not take LITHICARB FC to treat any other complaints unless your doctor
tells you to.
Do not stop taking LITHICARB FC or lower the dose without first checking with
your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar
to yours.
LITHICARB FC may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. Be careful when
driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until
you are certain that LITHICARB FC does not affect your performance.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking LITHICARB FC. All medicines can have some unwanted effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical
treatment if you experience some of the side effects.
The side effects of LITHICARB FC are usually related to high levels of
lithium ions in the blood. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to these side
effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
- Mild gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness and
a dazed feeling may occur on commencing treatment with LITHICARB FC, but
frequently disappear once the dose is stabilised. - Tremor of the hands
- Weight gain and/or swelling
- Increased urine output and mild thirst
- Skin conditions including acne, psoriasis (thickened patches of red skin
that may be scaly), rashes and leg ulcers. - Enlarged thyroid
- Memory impairment
- Impairment of kidney function
- Episodes of nausea and vomiting, or other conditions that may lead to salt
or water depletion (including severe dieting).
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Excessive urine output or thirst
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of co-ordination
- Drowsiness or lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Disorientation
- Convulsions and epileptic seizures
- Swelling of the tongue, mouth, throat, face or lips.
These side effects are rare but serious. You may need urgent medical
attention.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
In case of overdose
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre
(0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has
taken any LITHICARB FC by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of
discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the
container of LITHICARB FC with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Storage conditions
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the
packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your LITHICARB FC tablets in the container until it is time to take
them.
Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light
and moisture.
Do not store LITHICARB FC, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a
sink.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking LITHICARB FC or if the tablets have
passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining
medicine.
Product Description
What LITHICARB FC tablets look like
LITHICARB FC 250 mg tablets are white, round tablets that are marked with
"LC" breakline "250" on one side and with a line on the other.
LITHICARB FC 400 mg tablets are white, round tablets that are marked with
"LC" breakline "400" on one side and with a line on the other.
Each LITHICARB FC tablet contains the active ingredient, lithium carbonate.
Both LITHICARB FC 250 mg and LITHICARB FC 400 mg tablets also contain
lactose, maize starch, povidone, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate,
hypromellose, diethyl phthalate and carnauba wax.