LES-uh-thin

Therapeutic Classification: lipid-lowering agents, anti-Alzheimers's agents

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

• Hepatic steatosis.
• Alzheimer's dementia.
• Hypercholesterolemia.
• Tardive dyskinesia.
• Mania.
• Improving athletic performance.

• Lecithin is a phospholipid found in egg yolks, organ meats, nuts, and spinach. It contains phosphatidylcholine, which contains choline which is a precursor to acetylcholine. Lecithin also increases omega-6 fatty acid levels.

• Decreased cholesterol levels.
• As a source of choline, lecithin may improve symptoms of cholinergic diseases.

Absorption: Unknown.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Unknown.

Half-life: Unknown.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity.
• Egg and soy allergy.

Use Cautiously in:

• Pregnancy and lactation (when using amounts greater than found in foods).

Derm: skin reactions (in soy and egg allergic patients).

GI: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain.

Natural-Drug Products:

• None.

Natural-Natural Products:

• None.

• PO (Adults): Hypercholesterolemia–20–30 g/day. Athletic performance–3.6 g twice daily. Tardive dyskinesia — 20–50 g/day. Mania — 10 mg three times daily.Dementia — 1.2–45 g/day.

• Capsules: Liquid: Granules:

• Assess mental status and memory periodically during therapy.

• Monitor liver function tests prior to and periodically during therapy.

• PO: Administer 1 to 3 times daily.

• Instruct patient to take lecithin as directed.
• Advise female patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.

• Decrease in serum cholesterol.
• Improvement in signs and symptoms of cholinergic diseases.

egg lecithin, soy lecithin

• Deficient knowledge, Relate med (Patient/Family Teaching).