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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 27, 2006, at 19:04:15
Has anyone gone from Eskalith (form of lithium) by GlaxoKlineSmith lab to Generic lithium carbonate?
Did you suffer from hallucinations as a side effect of the Generic lithium?I have searched for data on this topic and found none.
Unfortunately it seems GlaxoKlineSmith no longer makes Eskalith for the United States. So the only choice is to take the Generic Lithium carbonate.
I have checked the notify to get follow-ups on this thread.
thanks
Jai Narayan
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 27, 2006, at 22:24:42
In reply to Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on February 27, 2006, at 19:04:15
Posted by wildcard11 on February 28, 2006, at 4:49:35
In reply to Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on February 27, 2006, at 19:04:15
i have never heard of that but will ask around and if i hear of anything, i'll let you know.
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 28, 2006, at 6:26:12
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by wildcard11 on February 28, 2006, at 4:49:35
> i have never heard of that but will ask around and if i hear of anything, i'll let you know.
thank you, for responding. I hope you can find something out.
Jai
Posted by TylerJ on February 28, 2006, at 12:36:51
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on February 28, 2006, at 6:26:12
Jai,
I've never heard of Lithium causing Hallucinations. I would go to GOOGLE and type in Lithium side-effects and see what you come up with. Do you feel you are having Hallucinations because of Lithium...if so call your doc immediately! Take care.Tyler
P.S. Anything is possible with psychotropic drugs...so I think lithium could be the culprit..just my opinion.
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 28, 2006, at 20:38:34
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium? » Jai Narayan, posted by TylerJ on February 28, 2006, at 12:36:51
> Jai,
> I've never heard of Lithium causing Hallucinations. I would go to GOOGLE and type in Lithium side-effects and see what you come up with. Do you feel you are having Hallucinations because of Lithium...if so call your doc immediately! Take care.
>
> Tyler
>
> P.S. Anything is possible with psychotropic drugs...so I think lithium could be the culprit..just my opinion.thanks so much for responding. It's not me but someone dear to me. I just don't know what to think.
It's kind of weird because both of the lithium's are carbonate and the same except the one that was discontinued had a ton of stuff in it, including artificial colors.
why would something that seems less pure be better?I have searched on line but found that to be frustrating.
It seems like people here are so knowledgeable so I thought I'd give it a go.thanks.
Jai
Posted by TylerJ on March 1, 2006, at 0:10:33
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on February 28, 2006, at 20:38:34
> > Jai,
> > I've never heard of Lithium causing Hallucinations. I would go to GOOGLE and type in Lithium side-effects and see what you come up with. Do you feel you are having Hallucinations because of Lithium...if so call your doc immediately! Take care.
> >
> > Tyler
> >
> > P.S. Anything is possible with psychotropic drugs...so I think lithium could be the culprit..just my opinion.
>
> thanks so much for responding. It's not me but someone dear to me. I just don't know what to think.
> It's kind of weird because both of the lithium's are carbonate and the same except the one that was discontinued had a ton of stuff in it, including artificial colors.
> why would something that seems less pure be better?
>
> I have searched on line but found that to be frustrating.
> It seems like people here are so knowledgeable so I thought I'd give it a go.
>
> thanks.
> Jai
>
>
> Jai,
What is your friends diagnosis? is he/she seeing a Psychiatrist or a reg. Doc? My advice is to get him/her to their doc as soon as possible.sincerely, Tyler
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 1, 2006, at 6:06:10
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium? » Jai Narayan, posted by TylerJ on March 1, 2006, at 0:10:33
> > Jai,
> What is your friends diagnosis? is he/she seeing a Psychiatrist or a reg. Doc? My advice is to get him/her to their doc as soon as possible.
>
> sincerely, TylerOkay I will pass your concern along. See what happens.
thanks.
Posted by ed_uk on March 3, 2006, at 16:53:19
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on March 1, 2006, at 6:06:10
Hi
The various brands of lithium are not interchangable, their bioavailability varies. It's important to always take the same brand.
Ed
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 3, 2006, at 17:22:39
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium? » Jai Narayan, posted by ed_uk on March 3, 2006, at 16:53:19
> Hi
>
> The various brands of lithium are not interchangable, their bioavailability varies. It's important to always take the same brand.
>
> Edthank you for saying that. I was beginning to doubt my very dear friend. Yeks!
can you tell me any more?
Is there some way to make the generic brand more bioavailable?
My friend would love to take the same brand but they don't make it anymore.
bummer.
Jai
Posted by ed_uk on March 3, 2006, at 17:48:54
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on March 3, 2006, at 17:22:39
Hi J
>My friend would love to take the same brand but they don't make it anymore.
She needs to switch to a different brand and adjust the dose to get the best effect. Measuring the Li level can be useful at this point. If she takes a generic, she needs to remain on the same generic ie. from the same manufacturer.
Ed
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2006, at 21:16:17
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium? » Jai Narayan, posted by ed_uk on March 3, 2006, at 17:48:54
But does the same company make a generic? Love Phillipa
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 4, 2006, at 7:12:29
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2006, at 21:16:17
> But does the same company make a generic? Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,
GlaxoKlineSmith makes no lithium anymore is my understanding. That's the problem.
So now all that's available is the generic.
Ever since this shift (my friend) has had problems with hallucinations. I offered to help by posting on this board.
Thanks Jai
Posted by elzoid on March 6, 2006, at 9:47:37
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by Jai Narayan on March 4, 2006, at 7:12:29
> > But does the same company make a generic? Love Phillipa
>
> Hi Phillipa,
>
> GlaxoKlineSmith makes no lithium anymore is my understanding. That's the problem.
> So now all that's available is the generic.
> Ever since this shift (my friend) has had problems with hallucinations. I offered to help by posting on this board.
> Thanks Jai
>Lithium (Li) is an element. What can be generic about that? I don't get it.
Mike
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 6, 2006, at 11:19:37
In reply to Re: Does anyone Hallucinate on generic lithium?, posted by elzoid on March 6, 2006, at 9:47:37
> > So now all that's available is the generic.
> > Ever since this shift (my friend) has had problems with hallucinations. I offered to help by posting on this board.
> > Thanks Jai
> >
>
> Lithium (Li) is an element. What can be generic about that? I don't get it.
>
> MikeYou'd have to go back into the history books, to get the full picture. Lithium carbonate is not instantly soluble, even in stomach acid. Lithium chloride is, but we don't use that very often. It may be little more than an historical quirk of fate, but the carbonate salt was shown to be better tolerated than were other lithium salts, when the original research was done, decades ago.
Now, the specific composition of a pharmaceutical compound does vary between manufacturers, notwithstanding identical content of active ingredients (elemental lithium, as the cation). The other stuff that's in the pill/capsule includes binders and fillers and colourants. Those other things do make a difference, despite the presumptive idea that they ought not to do anything at all. Those other things are called, collectively, the excipients. "Substances that are released by or dissolve out of the pill, other than the active ingredient" is a loose definition of an excipient.
Here are the excipients for Eskalith, one patented form of lithium carbonate:
"Inactive ingredients consist of benzyl alcohol, cetylpyridinium chloride, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, gelatin, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide and trace amounts of other inactive ingredients."
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lithium.htmAny one of those excipients might prove to be an active ingredient in a particular sensitive individual (e.g. the colourants). Or, withdrawing from a particular group of active excipients (caused by changing brands), might lead to unanticipated trouble.
If you go back to that list of "inactive" ingredients, what the heck is included under the catch-all phrase "trace amounts of other inactive ingredients"? Who knows. Chemical companies used that loophole to continue using DDT in California for *twenty years* after it was banned in the United States.
If somebody tells you that brand matters, it simply matters.
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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