Brand Licab

Licab contains Lithium, which is used to treat the manic episodes of manic depression. Manic symptoms include hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger. Lithium also helps to prevent or lessen the intensity of manic episodes.The active pharmaceutical ingredient contained in Licab Pills is lithium carbonate.
Licab 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. A manic episode may involve some or all of the following symptoms:

Aggressiveness
Elation
Fast, urgent talking
Frenetic physical activity
Grandiose, unrealistic ideas
Hostility
Little need for sleep
Poor judgment

Once the mania subsides, Licab treatment may be continued over the long term, at a somewhat lower dosage, to prevent or reduce the intensity of future manic episodes.
Some doctors also prescribe lithium for premenstrual tension, eating disorders such as bulimia, certain movement disorders, and sexual addictions.

Dosage
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
To avoid stomach upset, take Licab pills immediately after meals or with food or milk.  Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Do not change from one brand of lithium to another without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Take the drug exactly as prescribed.
While taking Licab, you should drink 10 to 12 glasses of water or fluid a day. To minimize the risk of harmful side effects, eat a balanced diet that includes some salt and lots of liquids. If you have been sweating a great deal or have had diarrhea, make sure you get extra liquids and salt.

Taking lithium can make it easier for you to become dehydrated, especially if you have any vomiting or diarrhea, if you are outdoors in the sun, or if you exercise vigorously or sweat more than usual. Dehydration can increase some of the side effects of lithium.
Drink extra fluids each day to keep from getting dehydrated while you are taking lithium. Tell your doctor if you have been sweating excessively, or if you are sick with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea for more than a few hours.

Missed Dose
Ask your doctor what to do; requirements vary for each individual. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage Instructions
Store lithium at room temperature away from moisture and heat

Warnings and Precautions
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lithium.
Lithium should generally not be given to patients with significant renal or cardiovascular disease, severe debilitation or dehydration, or sodium depletion, since the risk of lithium toxicity is very high in such patients.
Before taking lithium, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
heart disease;
kidney disease;
underactive thyroid;
a severe or debilitating medical condition; or
if you are dehydrated or have low levels of sodium in your blood (hyponatremia).
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take lithium.

Side Effects
The possibility of side effects varies with the level of lithium in your bloodstream. If you experience unfamiliar symptoms of any kind, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Side effects that may occur when you start taking lithium include: Discomfort, frequent urination, hand tremor, mild thirst, nausea. Other side effects may include: diarrhea, drowsiness, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, vomiting.