lithium is a medicine that belongs to the group of mood stabilizers. It is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania and depression in people with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. It can also reduce the risk of self-harm and suicide in this population. It works by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. lithium therapy requires regular blood tests to monitor the amount of lithium in the blood, as well as the functioning of the kidneys and thyroid . lithium can cause side effects such as nausea, tremor, weight gain, and dry mouth.
