I need more information on the long term effects, I am stressing long term here, of a medication called lithium carbonate, aka eskalith. A family member takes it, and she is criticaly ill. I just wonder if this is causing her illness. If someone could help me find some good sources of information, I can compare notes and see. Then I can follow up with her doctor with questions. Thanks for any help in advance.

These adresses contain useful information about the medicine you mentioned.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/l6610.htm
http://www.medhelp.org/lib/lithium.htm
Hope this helps!

This site should help: http://consumer.pdr.net/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/ESK1231.shtml

Lithium

Thyroid abnormalities may develop during chronic lithium therapy for affective disorders. Lithium, like iodide, inhibits TSH stimulation of adenylate cyclase and thyroid hormone release. The present study examined the effect of lithium on stimulation of intrathyroidal intermediary metabolism by several agonists. LiCl (5 mmol/l) did not inhibit basal cAMP, glucose oxidation or 32P incorporation into phospholipids in dog thyroid slices. Although LiCl inhibited TSH stimulation of cAMP, it did not abolish the hormone's effect on cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The stimulation of iodide organification, glucose oxidation or 32P incorporation into phospholipids by TSH, carbachol and phorbol esters was not inhibited by lithium. This is in contrast to the effects of iodide, which inhibited stimulation of glucose oxidation and 32P incorporation into phospholipids by various agonists. Thus, although both lithium and iodide inhibited TSH-stimulated cAMP formation, they act differently on intrathyroidal intermediary metabolism.

Hypothyroidism?

The symptoms it shares with depression include fatigue, memory loss and difficulty concentrating. But the distinguishing symptoms of hypothyroidism are: coarse, dry skin and hair, intolerance to cold and constipation. A blood test can determine if it is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism can also contribute to heart disease. One prominent side effect of a low level of thyroid hormone is an increased amount of LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood.

LDL is the so-called "bad" cholesterol, known to build up inside blood vessels. People whose hypothyroidism goes untreated can develop permanent damage to the coronary vessels of the heart. It can also damage other vessels throughout the body.

Therefore, some doctors recommend that all patients with high cholesterol levels, a condition known as hypercholesterolemia, have their thyroid function tested. Simply prescribing a thyroid supplement to these patients to control the hypothyroidism will resolve the associated cholesterol problem, and decrease the risk of heart disease.

Too much info?

That is just some of what Lithium can do to your health. There are many side effects. Hypothyroidism is the main one the drug can damage causing health problems.

This has nothing to do with the question but make sure she stays away from magnets. They sell them everywhere to wear or put in your shoes or bed. Someone ran one over my back and I was too dizzy to stand up for 2 days. Thought I had the worst flu of my life till I finally figured it out.