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