Mental Health
Mental-health medicines are selected according to diagnosis, symptoms, physical health and previous response. Antipsychotics and anxiety medicines have different roles and should be reviewed as part of ongoing care.
Lithium Tablets
300mg
Lithium 300mg prolonged-release tablets, used in the management of bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. A mood stabiliser needing blood tests.
Key points
- Antipsychotics differ in sedation, movement, metabolic and heart-rhythm effects; response also varies by person.
- Do not start, switch or stop these medicines without clinical guidance, because abrupt changes can worsen symptoms or cause withdrawal effects.
- Thoughts of suicide, immediate danger, extreme agitation or inability to care for basic needs require urgent help.
The listings are for comparison; suitability and supply depend on clinician and pharmacy checks, stock, destination rules and any prescription requirements.
How the medicine groups differ
- Antipsychotics: risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine and aripiprazole have different adverse-effect and monitoring profiles.
- Selected anxiety medicines: buspirone and hydroxyzine work differently and are not substitutes for every anxiety treatment.
What these medicines are used for
The category includes medicines used in care for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and selected cases of anxiety. Response is usually gradual rather than immediate, and several need steady blood levels to work, which makes the schedule matter as much as the dose. Changes are made slowly and with review.
Important safety checks
The review may include weight, blood glucose, lipids, movement symptoms, heart rhythm, pregnancy and interactions with alcohol or other sedating medicines. Report marked restlessness, stiffness, tremor, fever or new involuntary movements promptly.
When to seek urgent care
Contact emergency or crisis services for suicidal intent, immediate risk of harm, severe confusion, extreme agitation or loss of contact with reality that creates danger. Fever with severe stiffness, collapse, seizure or breathing difficulty also needs emergency care.
Further reading
Related articles
Compare SSRI, SNRI, mirtazapine and older antidepressant classes by treatment role, expected timeline, side-effect profile and withdrawal planning.
Read guide
Understand why daily SSRI or SNRI treatment and short-term anxiety medicines have different roles, timelines, risks and review questions.
Read guide
Understand why lithium, lamotrigine, antipsychotics and valproate have different roles, interactions, pregnancy risks and monitoring needs.
Read guide
Compare oral and long-acting antipsychotic formulations and understand why metabolic, movement, hormonal and heart monitoring differs.
Read guide