buy 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 buy lithium. These symptoms may be early signs oflithium toxicity buy lithium.
• Do not crush, chew, or break any extended-release forms of lithium (e.g.,Lithobid, Eskalith CR) buy lithium. They are specially formulated to release slowly in thebody buy lithium.
• Lithium may cause dizziness or drowsiness buy lithium. Use caution when driving orperforming other hazardous activities until you know how this medication affectsyou buy lithium. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities buy lithium.
What is lithium?
• Lithium is a naturally occurring substance buy lithium. As a medication, lithiumreduces chemicals in the body that cause excitation or mania buy lithium.
• Lithium is used to treat manic episodes of manic-depressive illness buy lithium. Lithium helps to prevent and control symptoms of mania such as hyperactivity,rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger buy lithium.
• Lithium may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide buy 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 buy 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 buy lithium.
• Lithium is in the FDA pregnancy category D buy lithium. This means that lithium isknown to be harmful to an unborn baby buy lithium. Do not take lithium without first talkingto your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy buy lithium.
• Lithium passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant buy lithium. Do nottake lithium without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby buy lithium.
• Lithium may have greater effects in people over 65 years of age buy lithium. Yourdoctor may prescribe a lower dose or recommend special monitoring if you areover 65 years of age buy lithium.
How should I take lithium?
• Take lithium exactly as directed by your doctor buy lithium. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you buy lithium.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water buy lithium.
• Do not crush, chew, or break any extended-release or controlled-releaseforms of lithium (e.g., Lithobid, Eskalith CR) buy lithium. They are specially formulatedto release slowly in the body buy lithium.
• Measure the liquid form of lithium with a dose-measuring spoon or cup,not with a regular table spoon buy lithium. If you do not have a dose-measuring device,ask your pharmacist where you can get one buy lithium.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water orother fluid every day while taking lithium buy lithium. Vigorous exercise, prolonged exposureto heat or sun, excessive sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause dehydrationand side effects from lithium buy lithium. Call your doctor if you lose a significant amountof body fluid as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting buy lithium.
• Your doctor may want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests duringtreatment with lithium to monitor the amount of medication in your body buy lithium.
• Do not stop taking lithium without first talking to your doctor, evenif you begin to feel better buy lithium. Treatment with lithium may be necessary even ifyou are feeling well buy lithium.
• Store lithium at room temperature away from moisture and heat buy lithium.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember buy lithium. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take your next regularlyscheduled dose buy lithium. Do not take a double dose buy lithium.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention buy lithium.
• Symptoms of a lithium overdose include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness,weakness, decreased coordination, giddiness, blurred vision, ringing in theears, and seizures buy lithium.
What should I avoid while taking lithium?
• Lithium may cause dizziness or drowsiness buy lithium. Use caution when driving orperforming other hazardous activities until you know how this medication affectsyou buy lithium. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities buy lithium.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water orother fluid every day while taking lithium buy lithium. Vigorous exercise, prolonged exposureto heat or sun, excessive sweating, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause dehydrationand side effects from lithium buy lithium. Call your doctor if you lose a significant amountof body fluid as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting buy lithium.
• Do not change the amount of salt that you consume in your diet buy lithium. Consumingmore or less salt could change the amount of lithium in your blood buy 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 buy lithium.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur buy 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 buy lithium.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur buy lithium. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effects that you experience buy 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) buy lithium.
• You may require special monitoring or a dosage adjustment if you aretaking any of the medicines listed above buy lithium.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with lithium buy lithium. Tellyour doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you take, includingover-the-counter preparations buy lithium. Do not take any medications without the approvalof your doctor buy lithium.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about lithium written for healthprofessionals that you may read buy lithium.
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