bipolar lithium
(LIH thee um)
Eskalith, Eskalith-CR, Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs
What is the most important information I should know about lithium?
• Call your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, slurredspeech, extreme drowsiness, or weakness bipolar lithium. These symptoms may be early signs oflithium toxicity bipolar lithium.
• Do not crush, chew, or break any extended-release forms of lithium (e.g.,Lithobid, Eskalith CR) bipolar lithium. They are specially formulated to release slowly in thebody bipolar lithium.
• Lithium may cause dizziness or drowsiness bipolar lithium. Use caution when driving orperforming other hazardous activities until you know how this medication affectsyou bipolar lithium. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities bipolar lithium.
What is lithium?
• Lithium is a naturally occurring substance bipolar lithium. As a medication, lithiumreduces chemicals in the body that cause excitation or mania bipolar lithium.
• Lithium is used to treat manic episodes of manic-depressive illness bipolar lithium. Lithium helps to prevent and control symptoms of mania such as hyperactivity,rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger bipolar lithium.
• Lithium may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide bipolar lithium.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lithium?
• Before taking lithium, tell your doctor if you
· have kidney disease;
· have heart disease; or
· have thyroid problems bipolar lithium.
• You may not be able to take lithium, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above bipolar lithium.
• Lithium is in the FDA pregnancy category D bipolar lithium. This means that lithium isknown to be harmful to an unborn baby bipolar lithium. Do not take lithium without first talkingto your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy bipolar lithium.
• Lithium passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant bipolar lithium. Do nottake lithium without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby bipolar lithium.
• Lithium may have greater effects in people over 65 years of age bipolar lithium. Yourdoctor may prescribe a lower dose or recommend special monitoring if you areover 65 years of age bipolar lithium.
How should I take lithium?
• Take lithium exactly as directed by your doctor bipolar lithium. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you bipolar lithium.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water bipolar lithium.
• Do not crush, chew, or break any extended-release or controlled-releaseforms of lithium (e.g., Lithobid, Eskalith CR) bipolar lithium. They are specially formulatedto release slowly in the body bipolar lithium.
• Measure the liquid form of lithium with a dose-measuring spoon or cup,not with a regular table spoon bipolar lithium. If you do not have a dose-measuring device,ask your pharmacist where you can get one bipolar lithium.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water orother fluid every day while taking lithium bipolar lithium. Vigorous exercise, prolonged exposureto heat or sun, excessive sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause dehydrationand side effects from lithium bipolar lithium. Call your doctor if you lose a significant amountof body fluid as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting bipolar lithium.
• Your doctor may want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests duringtreatment with lithium to monitor the amount of medication in your body bipolar lithium.
• Do not stop taking lithium without first talking to your doctor, evenif you begin to feel better bipolar lithium. Treatment with lithium may be necessary even ifyou are feeling well bipolar lithium.
• Store lithium at room temperature away from moisture and heat bipolar lithium.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember bipolar lithium. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take your next regularlyscheduled dose bipolar lithium. Do not take a double dose bipolar lithium.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention bipolar lithium.
• Symptoms of a lithium overdose include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness,weakness, decreased coordination, giddiness, blurred vision, ringing in theears, and seizures bipolar lithium.
What should I avoid while taking lithium?
• Lithium may cause dizziness or drowsiness bipolar lithium. Use caution when driving orperforming other hazardous activities until you know how this medication affectsyou bipolar lithium. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities bipolar lithium.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water orother fluid every day while taking lithium bipolar lithium. Vigorous exercise, prolonged exposureto heat or sun, excessive sweating, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause dehydrationand side effects from lithium bipolar lithium. Call your doctor if you lose a significant amountof body fluid as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting bipolar lithium.
• Do not change the amount of salt that you consume in your diet bipolar lithium. Consumingmore or less salt could change the amount of lithium in your blood bipolar lithium.
What are the possible side effects of lithium?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takinglithium and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· blurred vision or eye pain;
· nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
· slurred speech;
· extreme drowsiness, weakness, or confusion;
· involuntary movements; or
· ringing in your ears bipolar lithium.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur bipolar lithium. Continueto take lithium and talk to your doctor if you experience
· fine hand tremor;
· mild increase in thirst or urination;
· a rash;
· headache or mild dizziness; or
· swollen feet or hands bipolar lithium.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur bipolar lithium. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effects that you experience bipolar lithium.
What other drugs will affect lithium?
• Before taking lithium, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications,especially any of the following:
· haloperidol (Haldol);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail, Orudis KT), naproxen (Aleve,Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), indomethacin (Indocin), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam(Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), and others;
· a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril,others), furosemide (Lasix), triamterene (Dyazide, Dyrenium, Maxzide), chlorothiazide(Diuril), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), indapamide (Lozol), bumetanide (Bumex),spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (Midamor);
· an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) such asbenazepril (Lotensin), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), fosinopril (Monopril),captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril),and ramipril (Altace);
· the calcium channel blockers diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) or verapamil(Calan, Isoptin, Verelan);
· a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as fluoxetine(Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil),or citalopram (Celexa);
· carbamazepine (Tegretol);
· metronidazole (Flagyl);
· theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theo-Bid, Theolair, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin,others); or
· acetazolamide (Diamox) bipolar lithium.
• You may require special monitoring or a dosage adjustment if you aretaking any of the medicines listed above bipolar lithium.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with lithium bipolar lithium. Tellyour doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you take, includingover-the-counter preparations bipolar lithium. Do not take any medications without the approvalof your doctor bipolar lithium.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about lithium written for healthprofessionals that you may read bipolar lithium.
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