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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on March 24, 2003, at 14:26:05
I'm curently on Eskalith, which in my area, apparently is hard to get hold of. I've also heard of Lithobid, another time relase form of Lithium (that's what Eskalith is - time release lithium) so I'm wondering what the difference is between these two? Anyone know? Thanks.
Posted by djmmm on March 24, 2003, at 14:55:03
In reply to ESKALITH vs. LITHOBID: what's the difference??, posted by Janelle on March 24, 2003, at 14:26:05
Eskalith is just Lithium carbonate produced by GlaxoSmithKline, many drug co's produce Lithium carbonate...
Posted by Ritch on March 25, 2003, at 10:46:07
In reply to ESKALITH vs. LITHOBID: what's the difference??, posted by Janelle on March 24, 2003, at 14:26:05
> I'm curently on Eskalith, which in my area, apparently is hard to get hold of. I've also heard of Lithobid, another time relase form of Lithium (that's what Eskalith is - time release lithium) so I'm wondering what the difference is between these two? Anyone know? Thanks.
Janelle, They are both a slower-release version of ordinary lithium carbonate. The lithobid (when I took it 20 years ago anyhow) also had a little bit of salt (sodium chloride) added to the tablets. I've taken Eskalith CR too-I don't think they add the salt to the Eskalith CR. Also, I think Eskalith CR only comes in 450mg versions. The Lithobid comes only in 300mg versions (unless they have marketed some different dosages recently).
Posted by Janelle on March 25, 2003, at 13:10:39
In reply to Re: ESKALITH vs. LITHOBID: what's the difference?? » Janelle, posted by Ritch on March 25, 2003, at 10:46:07
Ritch,
Thanks so much for the info. I knew that they're both a time-release version of ordinary lithium carbonate, which I was taking but could not tolerate more than 600 mg, which in my blood was below the minimum therapeutic level and not helping me.
So the doc switched me to Eskalith, 900 mg, but again, I could not tolerate that! (I have trouble with even the lowest therapeutic dose of the mood stabilizer group).
I had heard of lithobid and figured it was just a competitor to Eskalith, but wondered what, if any difference (chemically) there might be between the two.
Since you said that Lithobid has a little bit of salt (sodium chloride) added to the tablets, I'm glad my pdoc chose the Eskalith CR, which you think does not have any salt added to it.
You are right that Eskalith CR only comes in 450mg versions, because that is the minimum dose and that's what I'm currently on (augmented by low dose of depakote)
Plain old Lithium Carbonate now comes in 150 mg and 300 mg, because when the pharmacy backordered the Eskalith the pdoc switched me to 450 mg of Lithium Carbonate.
I wonder why Eskalith is so hard to come by, but Lithobid and of course Lithium Carbonate are easy to get? (in the US)???
Posted by Ritch on March 25, 2003, at 23:02:57
In reply to Re: ESKALITH vs. LITHOBID: what's the difference?? » Ritch, posted by Janelle on March 25, 2003, at 13:10:39
> Ritch,
>
> Thanks so much for the info. I knew that they're both a time-release version of ordinary lithium carbonate, which I was taking but could not tolerate more than 600 mg, which in my blood was below the minimum therapeutic level and not helping me.
>
> So the doc switched me to Eskalith, 900 mg, but again, I could not tolerate that! (I have trouble with even the lowest therapeutic dose of the mood stabilizer group).
>
> I had heard of lithobid and figured it was just a competitor to Eskalith, but wondered what, if any difference (chemically) there might be between the two.
>
> Since you said that Lithobid has a little bit of salt (sodium chloride) added to the tablets, I'm glad my pdoc chose the Eskalith CR, which you think does not have any salt added to it.
>
> You are right that Eskalith CR only comes in 450mg versions, because that is the minimum dose and that's what I'm currently on (augmented by low dose of depakote)
>
> Plain old Lithium Carbonate now comes in 150 mg and 300 mg, because when the pharmacy backordered the Eskalith the pdoc switched me to 450 mg of Lithium Carbonate.
>
> I wonder why Eskalith is so hard to come by, but Lithobid and of course Lithium Carbonate are easy to get? (in the US)???It could be because the Eskalith CR is more expensive and a lot of folks just take generic lithium tabs and don't feel there is much of a difference. Also, since it only comes in 450mg tabs (although they are scored), perhaps makes it a little dose-inflexible for some. Personally, I did like the Lithobid tabs best. I think the salt was added so that it would "compete" with the lithium ion while it was absorbed to help reduce side effects (just a guess here-no pdoc ever elaborated about it-but then I never asked either). When I was taking Lithobid it was made by CIBA-GEIGY, but I don't know who has picked up making the stuff now. Interestingly, there was a period in the early-mid '90's where they quit making it and it was not available at all for some time-evidently it has become common again.
This is the end of the thread.
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