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