What is the brand name for Lithium?
The most common brand name for Lithium is Lithobid / Eskalith.
PTCE Top 200 · #187
Lithium
Lithobid / Eskalith
Lithium is the generic name for the brand-name drug Lithobid. It is a mood stabilizer (lithium) used to treat bipolar disorder. On the PTCE Top 200 drug list, Lithium ranks #187 and is one of the most frequently tested cns/psych medications — commonly quizzed on its brand–generic pair, drug class, and key side effects.
| Generic name | Lithium |
|---|---|
| Brand name(s) | Lithobid / Eskalith |
| Drug class | Mood stabilizer (lithium) |
| Class group | CNS/Psych |
| Common use | bipolar disorder |
| DEA schedule | Unscheduled |
| Availability | Prescription only (Rx) |
What is Lithium used for?
Treatment of bipolar disorder (acute mania and maintenance); also used as augmentation in refractory depression in some settings.
What drug class is Lithium?
Lithium is a Mood stabilizer (lithium) in the CNS/Psych group. Knowing the class is the fastest way to predict its uses, side effects, and the brand↔generic pairs the PTCE tests.
Common side effects of Lithium
- arrow_rightTremor
- arrow_rightIncreased urination
- arrow_rightThirst
- arrow_rightNausea
- arrow_rightDiarrhea
- arrow_rightWeight gain
- arrow_rightFatigue
- arrow_rightCognitive slowing
Major interactions
- arrow_rightThiazide diuretics increase lithium levels/toxicity risk
- arrow_rightACE inhibitors and ARBs increase lithium levels/toxicity risk
- arrow_rightNSAIDs (except aspirin/sulindac) increase lithium levels/toxicity risk
- arrow_rightDehydration/low sodium states increase lithium levels (monitor)
- arrow_rightAntipsychotics can increase neurotoxicity risk in some cases
Is Lithium a controlled substance?
No. Lithium is not a federally controlled substance (it is unscheduled by the DEA).
warning Boxed warning
BOXED WARNING: Lithium toxicity is closely related to serum lithium levels and can occur at doses close to therapeutic levels. Accurate serum lithium monitoring must be available before and during therapy.
How to remember Lithium (PTCE mnemonic)
LITHobid is the LITHmus of psych — lithium has NARROW window (0.6-1.2 mEq/L). Toxicity = tremor → confusion → seizure. 'LITH': Levels, Insipidus (DI), Thyroid, Hydration. NSAIDs/thiazides/ACE ↑lithium.
lightbulb
PTCE exam tip
Lithium is the narrow-therapeutic-index poster child: regular levels, toxicity with dehydration, and NSAIDs, diuretics, and ACE inhibitors all raise lithium — a triple-threat interaction item.
Lithium FAQ
What is Lithium used for?
Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Treatment of bipolar disorder (acute mania and maintenance); also used as augmentation in refractory depression in some settings.
What drug class is Lithium?
Lithium is a Mood stabilizer (lithium) (CNS/Psych group).
Is Lithium a controlled substance?
No. Lithium is not a federally controlled substance (it is unscheduled by the DEA).
Related drugs in the CNS/Psych group
Drill Lithium the way the PTCE asks it
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Last reviewed June 25, 2026. Educational use only — not medical advice. Verify clinical specifics with your pharmacist or a current label source such as DailyMed. RxReflex is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).