Lithium ER is the extended-release version of lithium carbonate - a prescription drug used to treat mania and mixed episodes related to bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder affects over 2 million people in the United States annually. Mania is one of two episodes or swings you experience when you have bipolar disorder. This might be expressed in feelings of euphoria, energy, and sometimes irritability. The other side of the spectrum, depression, swings your mood the opposite direction, resulting in feeling sad, hopeless, or unmotivated even in normal daily activities. It is called a “mixed episode,” when symptoms of both sides of the spectrum occur at the same time or in quick succession without any time in between to recover.
Lithium extended-release releases the medication more gradually than the immediate-release version. As a result, it is longer acting, allowing you to take it less frequently, and provides a more consistent dose of the medicine. Lithium ER may not be right for everyone. Consult with your doctor about which version is right for you.