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