Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Use extra care in hot weather and during activities that cause you to sweat heavily, such as hot baths, saunas, or exercising. If you have an infection or illness that causes heavy sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, shakiness, or muscle weakness, check with your doctor right away.
The loss of too much water and salt from your body could lead to serious side effects from this medicine. Do not go on a diet to lose weight and do not make a major change in your diet without first checking with your doctor. Improper dieting could cause the loss of too much water and salt from your body and could lead to serious side effects from this medicine. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
This includes prescription or nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicines and herbal eg, St. John's wort or vitamin supplements. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
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What side effects can lithium cause? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Short term effects Long term effects Pregnancy When to see a doctor Summary Lithium is a medication that healthcare professionals prescribe to prevent and treat manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
Short term effects. Share on Pinterest Cognitive dulling is one possible side effect of taking lithium. Long term effects. Share on Pinterest A person with hypothyroidism may experience fatigue, depression, and intolerance to cold. Effects in pregnancy. When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest People should talk to their doctor if they experience extreme increases in thirst.
Your doctor will also monitor you for changes in kidney and thyroid function while you're on this treatment. Lithium can cause weight gain. In addition to checking your weight before you start treatment to monitor future weight gain, your doctor will check you for high cholesterol levels , high fat levels, and for prediabetes or diabetes. These test results allow your doctor to both assess your individual risk in starting the medication and to monitor any side effects you may experience from the medication.
Even after the right dose of lithium is found, your doctors still need to monitor the levels of lithium in your blood, because many factors can affect these levels, such as certain other medications, salt intake, and the amount of liquid you drink. When I counsel people on lithium, I get very different responses each time. The truth is that all psychiatric medications can have serious side effects. In my experience as a psychiatrist , even if someone is psychiatrically impaired and needs help making decisions, they are still included in the decision-making process when it comes to medical interventions.
Typically, if this person is willing to take one type of treatment and not another, the treatment option they prefer is selected. Even at the correct dose, you can feel somewhat drowsy and less mentally sharp when taking lithium. Additional signs of lithium toxicity include tremors, slurred speech, muscle weakness, and stomach issues like vomiting and diarrhea.
These symptoms need to be addressed immediately with a medical doctor to ensure your lithium level is not dangerously high. In rare cases, lithium may lead to a reversible condition known as diabetes insipidus. If this occurs you would notice a significant increase in thirst and how much fluid you drink and how much you urinate.
Talk to your doctor if you notice you are urinating more frequently than usual. Rare kidney problems have been associated with long-term use of lithium. The risk increases with high levels of lithium. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function at routine check-ups to ensure this does not occur. It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking lithium.
It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if lithium is the right medication for you. Mood stabilizer treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with bipolar disorder. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness. 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.
Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions.
Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein.
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