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)???
poster:Janelle
thread:212220
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030325/msgs/212569.html