DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LITHIUM CARBONATE

Lithobid SR Lithium Carbonate Lithobid SR Lithium Carbonate My son was dxed with Bipolar Disorder when he was 6 years old, he is now 12. My question is about one of the meds he takes: Lithobid SR 300 mg. tabs. He had a very bad experience when the pharmacy (and the insurance) substituted lithium carbonate for the brand Lithobid that he had been taking. He became very withdrawn, depressed, sensitive to sound of any kind and could not sleep. He was very agitated, and could not sit down or stop moving, all day and all night. By the time I realised something was terribly wrong, he was having suicidal thoughts. Has anyone ever experienced this before? His lithobid is slow release, is that the difference? Why is this med. delivery different from the generic? We are sticking with brand-name only from now on.