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