Should i use lithium

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Advocacy State Fact Sheets. Advocacy Public Policy Reports. Know the warning signs Learn the common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents. Mental health conditions Learn more about common mental health conditions that affect millions. Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your provider.

Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication. Any other psychiatric or medical problems you have All other medications you are currently taking including over the counter products, herbal and nutritional supplements and any medication allergies you have Other non-medication treatment you are receiving, such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment.

Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication. If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding If you drink alcohol or use illegal drugs How Should I Take Lithium? Lithium is usually taken times per day with or without food. Liquid: Measure with a dosing spoon or oral syringe, which you can get from your pharmacy. Avoid low sodium diets and dehydration because this can increase the risk of lithium toxicity.

What are possible side effects of lithium? Hypothyroidism low levels of thyroid hormone may occur with long-term lithium use. Summary of Black Box Warnings Lithium toxicity Lithium toxicity is closely related to lithium blood levels and can occur at doses close to therapeutic levels; lithium levels should be monitored closely when starting the medication or if individuals experience side effects of the medication.

In a crisis,. Lithium pronounced as lith' ee um. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow?

What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Swallow the extended-release tablet whole; do not split, chew, or crush it.

Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking lithium, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lithium or any other medications. Your doctor may tell you not to take lithium if you are taking this medication or will monitor you carefully for side effects. Your doctor may have to change the doses of your medication or monitor you more carefully for side effects.

Also tell your doctor if you have or develop severe diarrhea, excessive sweating, or fever during your treatment. Your doctor may tell you not to take lithium or may monitor you more carefully for side effects. Do not stop taking it or make any change to your dose unless your doctor tells you to. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you plan to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take lithium while breastfeeding. Lithium passes into breast milk in small amounts. However, it has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies. It's important to continue taking lithium to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

This are some medicines that may interfere with how lithium works and this can affect the levels of lithium in your blood. These are not all the medicines that can affect the way lithium works. Always check with your doctor before you start or stop taking any medicine. It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines and herbal supplements are safe to take with lithium. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines.

They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Lithium is a metal. Tiny amounts of lithium are found naturally in rocks, and in our food and bodies. We do not really know exactly how lithium works for mental health conditions, though we do know it's very effective. There are a number theories about how it works. One is that it works by protecting and helping to create neurons the cells that pass messages in your brain.

If the amount of lithium in your blood is right, you probably will not have any problems taking this medicine. However, some people find it slows down their thinking or makes them feel a bit "numb". Sometimes it's hard to know whether this is because the lithium is doing its work to control your mood if you have mania.

Talk to your doctor if you're worried that lithium is slowing down your thinking or numbing your emotions. You may need to have your lithium levels checked again. As long as it is working well to control your condition, you will generally take lithium for a long time. If you or your doctor decide to stop lithium, it must be reduced gradually over a number of weeks or months. If you stop taking it suddenly the symptoms of your condition are likely to come back.

Do not stop taking lithium suddenly even if you feel better, or because you think the dose is too little or too much. However, if you think you have lithium toxicity, or are having an allergic reaction, it's important to stop taking lithium straight away and get medical help.

Lithium is generally safe to take for a long time. Most people take it for years with no problems. If you've been taking lithium for some time, it can cause weight gain. It can also cause problems with your kidneys or thyroid gland. Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.

Signs of kidney problems include swollen hands or ankles, feeling tired and short of breath, changes in your pee and feeling sick. Tell your doctor if you get any these symptoms. Your doctor will test your thyroid and kidneys every 6 months to check for any changes. If you find you're putting on weight after taking lithium for a while, try to have a healthy balanced diet. Regular exercise will also help you keep your weight stable.

Your doctor will usually monitor your weight while you're taking this medicine. Your doctor may discuss topping up levels of the hormone that the thyroid gland normally produces thyroxine with a tablet. Lithium is not an antipsychotic medicine , it's known as a mood stabiliser. However, your doctor might prescribe an antipsychotic medicine with lithium.

Usually, if you have depression, you'll be prescribed an antidepressant medicine first as they are considered more effective for depression than lithium. However, when antidepressants have not worked, your doctor might prescribe lithium as well.

This may be more effective and help your symptoms get better. Lithium can make you drowsy so it's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of taking lithium, or if your dose is increased. If you feel OK after this, you can drink alcohol but it's best not to drink too much it's likely to make you dehydrated. This can increase the chance of high levels of lithium in your blood. News 11 NOV Article 10 NOV News Feature 10 NOV University of Washington UW. Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

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