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LITHIUM CARBONATE

All products: general benefit

Apo-Lithium Carbonate · DIN 02242837 · 150mg · capsule

General benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-20
StatusGeneral benefit
Write on scriptno code needed
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Apo-Lithium Carbonate · DIN 02242837 Manufacturer: Apotex Inc.; listing date 2001-10-11 Health Canada: Marketed since 2001-02-12 · brand APO-LITHIUM CARBONATE · ATC N05AN01 LITHIUM · form Capsule · route Oral · ingredients LITHIUM CARBONATE 150 MG · company Apotex inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Apo-Lithium Carbonate: Formulary list price $0.0667/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Ministry pays: $0.0667 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=66667 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02242837)

Source record
DIN 02242837: Apo-Lithium Carbonate Raw flags: sec3=Y Item: 281612008; group id 512; item number 1352; lccId None; manufacturer id APX Source form: Cap; strength: 150mg Recorded listing: General benefit Source prices (unrounded): $0.0667; ministry $0.0667 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02242837 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=66667
Interchangeable products
Carbolith · DIN 00461733 · $0.0667 PMS-Lithium Carbonate · DIN 02216132 · $0.0667
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Other drugs in the same formulary class (28:16:12 Other Psychotropics) and how they are covered

Matched class: 28:16:12 Other Psychotropics

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. No displayed product is listed as a general benefit in this extract. Check its listing requirements below. 28:16:12 Other Psychotropics

TRYPTOPHAN

· 11 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 500mg, 750mg, 1g · Cap, Tab Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 28:16:12
Full class listing Related classes: 28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents, 28:08:08 Opiate Agonists, 28:08:12 Opiate Partial Agonists, 28:08:92 Miscellaneous Analgesics and Antipyretics, 28:16:04 Antidepressants, 28:16:08 Tranquilizers, 28:36:08 Anticholinergic Agents, 28:36:20 Dopamine Receptor Agonists Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1 INDICATIONS LITHANE (lithium carbonate) is indicated for:  the treatment of acute manic episodes in patients with manic-depressive disorders. Maintenance therapy has been found useful in preventing or diminishing the frequency of subsequent relapses in bipolar manic-depressive patients (with a strong history of mania). 1.1 Pediatrics Pediatrics (<18 years of age): Health Canada has not authorized an indication for pediatric use (see 7.1.3 Pediatrics). 1.2 Geriatrics Evidence from clinical studies and experience suggests that use in the geriatric population is associated with differences in safety or effectiveness (see 7.1.4 Geriatrics). https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00067512.PDF PM date: SEP 21, 2022 Source product: LITHANE; DIN 00406775; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.