Lithium is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder and some other mental illnesses. It is a mood stabilizing medicine that helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania, and may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression. Lithium works by acting on a person's central nervous system, although the exact way it works is not known. It is thought to help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions that are involved in thinking and behavior. Additionally, lithium is used on a daily basis to reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes. It is available in various forms, such as lithium carbonate, and is usually prescribed for long periods of time as maintenance therapy. However, long-term lithium treatment can interfere with kidney function or lead to permanent kidney damage, so it requires periodic blood tests to monitor kidney and thyroid function. It is important to consult a doctor before making any changes to lithium treatment and to inform the doctor about all other drugs being taken. Lithium is also available as a supplement in small doses, but its use for conditions like alcohol use disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and depression lacks good scientific evidence to support these uses
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