Lithium bromide is a chemical compound related to salts. Get it by mixing hydrobromic acid and lithium carbonate. Able to form several crystalline hydrates. Anhydrous salt forms specific cubic crystals that resemble common salt in the external structure.
What is it
Based on lithium bromide, psychotropic drugs are released from the group of normotimics. These drugs were discovered in 1949, but they are still used by modern doctors for affective disorders, manic, hypomanic bipolar disorders, for the prevention of severe depressive conditions. Compounds of bromine and lithium have a calming effect on the nervous system, they help prevent suicides, and are therefore highly regarded by psychiatrists.
Lithium is an alkaline metal, therefore it is used in the form of salts of carbonate, orotate, lithium sulfate, carbonate, citrate. In its pure form, lithium bromide is not used in medicine, since it causes chronic intoxication when taken with 250 mg per day. Of the lithium salts in medical institutions, only carbonate is used.
How do lithium salts affect a sick person? Emotional excitement passes, sleep is restored, behavior is ordered. A psychotropic positive effect is achieved with manic-depressive psychosis.
Application and Indications
Lithium bromide is most often used as a dehumidifier in air conditioners. It acts as a reagent in organic synthesis.
Soothing preparations for the nervous system are made on the basis of this compound. In the early twentieth century, the substance was used as a sedative. Lithium bromide is used to treat bipolar affective disorder. The danger is that salts have a psychoactive effect.
Lithium is effective not only in endogenous disorders, but also helps patients who suffer from organic psychoses, epilepsy, chronic alcoholism, and leukopenia. In addition, lithium salts are used for external use in dermatological problems, viral infections, mycoses, seborrheic dermatitis, and malignant tumors. It has a stable effect in bipolar affective disorder.
Lithium salts should be taken by the patient according to a specific pattern. On the first day, the dosage is from 0.6 to 0.9 grams, the next dose is increased by 0.3 g. If the substance is well tolerated, then the dosage is gradually increasing. Exceeding a dose of 1.2 g is unacceptable.
Contraindications
A solution of lithium bromide is not absolutely safe for human health. Drugs containing it should be prescribed only by a doctor. For example, the medicine "Sedalite" contains this substance. The main contraindications for use include kidney and thyroid dysfunction. There is a serious risk of hypothyroidism. Throughout the course of treatment with lithium drugs, you need to abandon driving and other potentially dangerous activities. Exclude at the time of treatment and the intake of large amounts of salt, junk food. It is completely unacceptable to take lithium-based drugs for pregnant and lactating women. There are other contraindications that are determined individually. Remember that an overdose of lithium often leads to the death of the patient.
Side effects
An overdose of the drug is observed in those who take excessively high doses of lithium bromide, does this by accident or intentionally. It accumulates in the body, causing severe side effects. Among them are the following reactions:
- nausea;
- vomiting
- diarrhea;
- muscle weakness;
- retardation of reactions;
- confused consciousness;
- cramps
- coma.
In addition, a person may feel muscle twitching, tremors, cramps, and kidney failure. A solution of lithium bromide is toxic if this substance accumulates in the body. An overdose of lithium is dangerous to health and life. If the patient takes drugs based on it, such unpleasant symptoms as cardiac arrhythmias, severe muscle weakness, increased thirst, and exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can also occur. It is important during the treatment to take the necessary tests for the level of lithium in the blood. The use of sedative drugs for the nervous system occurs strictly under the supervision of the attending physician, if the patient does not feel well, lithium therapy is canceled, symptomatic treatment is performed.