LITHIUM CARBONATE

[The carbonate salt of lithium, a monovalent cation with antimanic activity. Lithium carbonate interferes with transmembrane sodium exchange in nerve cells by affecting sodium, potassium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase); altering the release of neurotransmitters; reducing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations and modulating cAMP second-messenger processes; and suppressing signal transduction pathways through the depletion of intracellular inositol and inhibition of the enzyme, glycogen synthase-kinase-3 (GSK-3). The exact mechanism through which lithium carbonate exerts its mood-stabilizing effect is not fully known. ( NCI )]

UMLS (NCI) C0085217