Elemental Mania: The Cost of Lithium

You're just imagining things!!!

Actually, some sort of law went into effect on January 1st 2007 that allowed drug companies to change the pricing on all sorts of generic and non-generic drugs. Prices went up, down, and sideways. Your pharmacist can probably fill you in on the details.

Anyway, it makes me so depressed... No it doesn't... Yes, it does... No, it doesn't...

The name of the country within which the law was passed would be a useful thing to know, as this will determine the exchange rate on the $ for those who don't use the things.

Ay? Please expound. Or expostulate? Was this a rant?

Ahhh, if I'm the one being asked "which country," the law was passed in, it was the United States.

Thank you. There are other countries in the world that use $ and it is important to be specific.

Lithium is a key component of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles.

I am aware that lithium carbonate, in addition to its primary use as medicine, has other, industrial uses. I had also considered lithum application in battery cells...but these have been around for quite some time without reversing the generally stable or downward trend in "lithium" pharmacy prices. Does your post mean to imply that the emergence of broader supply and use of battery-powered vehicles might be placing pressure on the price of lithium to drug manufacturers? Have you seen or read any data regarding that possibility?

And, if that possibility is true, it seems to bring about a certain irony--actually, multiple ironies--in that:

Bipolars for whom lithium carbonate is the preferred (or only affordable) therapy are, with some exceptions, significantly income limited in comparison with the general, vehicle driving populace;

Accident proneness being a diagnostic aspect of the condition, many if not most bipolars eventually lose their vehicles, never to be replaced; and many as well must be content to give up driving vehicles, for life.

So it could be said, that with wider, or compulsory, adoption of battery powered vehicles, the burden of funding alternate fuel availablility, and with it environmental impacts reductions, could fall disproportionately on the very ones who would have less, or non-existent, direct access to the transportation modes reliant on lithium supplies.

....any thoughts on this?

Being in the mining industry has given me some insite to this discussion. Im sure that all of you are aleast moderatly versed in the concept of supply and demand so it is a very simple issue.

Presently there are 11 countries with known deposits of lithium, 10 of which have production of it. this number has not changed for some time, atleast not in the advent of effiecient lithium ion batteries. Although the production of lithium in almost all these countries has gone up, it is not nearly enough to satisfy the demand.

So, yes it is partially because of the battery industry, but more because of the demand exceeding supply. things such as light weight alloys, temperature resistant lubricants are also products made from lithium. All of this combines to increase the price.

You can purchase 300mg x 3 at Walmart and Target for $4 in most states. Hope this helps.