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