Comparison of side effects with coated lithium carbonate tablets and lithium sulphate preparations giving medium-slow and slow-release.

Side effects with coated, rapidly dissolving lithium carbonate tablets, medium-slow-release and slow release lithium sulphate tablets, all administered twice a day, were compared in a double-blind, cross-over study in 27 patients who had only used lithium carbonate tablets. The relation between medication and meals was not standardized. The repidly dissolving tablets and the medium-slow-release tablets had a similar tendency to produce side effects, while slow-release tablets more often produced purgative side effects than the other two preparations did.