Even at the correct dose, you can feel somewhat drowsy and less mentally sharp when taking lithium. But, if you feel noticeably drowsy and confused when taking lithium, it could be a sign that the dose is too high and you’re experiencing lithium toxicity.
What are the emotional effects of taking lithium?
- Blurred vision
- clumsiness or unsteadiness
- convulsions ( seizures)
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- increase in the amount of urine
- lack of coordination
- loss of appetite
- muscle weakness
- nausea
What are your experiences with lithium and its side effects?
Lithium is a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar, depression, and schizoaffective disorder. Lithium helps decrease suicidal thoughts and manage both manic and depressive symptoms. Lithium side effects include weight gain, dizziness, hair loss, and nausea. Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.
What are the effects of taking lithium?
- Fine hand tremor, frequent urination, and mild thirst commonly occur during lithium initiation. ...
- Nausea during initiation is common but usually subsides with continued administration.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscular weakness, loss of appetite, and coordination difficulties may be an early sign of lithium toxicity. ...
How does lithium help the brain and mood?
Lithium is thought to help reinforce nerve cell connections in brain regions involved in controlling mood, thinking, and behavior. Doctors aren’t sure exactly how it functions to regulate a person’s mood, but it is thought to help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions involved in regulating mood, thinking, and behavior.
What does lithium do to your emotions?
Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania — the elevated, euphoric end of the mood scale — and may help to treat bipolar depression. If you have been at risk of suicide, lithium may help reduce these feelings. Lithium also helps prevent manic and depressive episodes occurring in the future.
Does lithium calm you down?
Lithium is known to have a mood stabilizing and calming effect in individuals thus used in schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder treatment. Lithium carbonate is used in the reduction of aggressive behavior in people who suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
How long does it take for your body to get used to lithium?
A reduction in manic symptoms should be noticed within 5 to 7 days but the full therapeutic effect may require 10 to 21 days. Lithium concentrations should be determined immediately before the next dose (ie, 8 to 12 hours after the previous lithium dose).
How is lithium supposed to make you feel?
When first starting lithium, many people experience common side effects, such as nausea, shakiness, or greater thirst. Regular blood monitoring is important to make sure you are taking a safe and effective dose of lithium.
Does lithium improve mood?
Lithium increases the amount of certain chemicals in your brain which help to balance mood. Some researchers believe that using lithium helps strengthen the nerve connections in your brain that control your mood because of proteins it contains.
Does lithium change your personality?
Substantial affect and mood changes are induced by lithium carbonate. Lethargy, dysphoria, a loss of interest in interacting with others and the environment, and a state of increased mental confusion were reported. No generalized effects were found in the responses to the personality inventories.
Does lithium make you sleepy?
Lithium can make you drowsy so it's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of taking lithium, or if your dose is increased. If you feel OK after this, you can drink alcohol but it's best not to drink too much it's likely to make you dehydrated.
How do you know lithium is working?
It usually takes several weeks for lithium to begin working. Your doctor will order periodic blood tests during your treatment, because lithium can affect kidney or thyroid function. Lithium works best if the amount of the drug in your body is kept at a constant level.
Is lithium good for anxiety?
Lithium improves the body's ability to synthesize serotonin. This simply means that the body's levels of serotonin increase in response to lithium, which has the effect of improving mood and reducing feelings of anxiousness.
Does lithium make you angry?
Although there are anecdotal reports of people experiencing increased episodes of irritability and anger after taking lithium, they aren't considered side effects of the medication. Side effects of mood stabilizers such as lithium include: restlessness. constipation.
Does lithium make you gain weight?
The mood-stabilizing drug lithium remains an effective mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder—but unfortunately, it can cause weight gain. Although the possibility of gaining weight while taking lithium is well known, this side effect does not affect everyone who takes the medication.
What are the most common side effects of lithium?
Common side effectsHeadache.Nausea or vomiting.Diarrhea.Dizziness or drowsiness.Changes in appetite.Hand tremors.Dry mouth.Increased thirst.More items...
What are the health issues with lithium?
Tolerance and thyroid issues are the only major issues with low-dose lithium in general. Around one out of every ten to fifteen people becomes dull, flat, and “blah” (the “lithium turned me into a zombie” effect, which is overrepresented in online testimonials).
How long can you stay on lithium?
It is recommended that you remain on lithium medication for at least 6–12 months if you are new to it. This will assist you in determining whether or not it will be an appropriate therapy for you. If you’ve been absolutely free of relapses for 3–5 years after taking lithium, you may be able to go without it.
How much lithium should I take for long term?
Lithium levels in the blood should be between 0.6 and 1.2 mEq/l for long-term control. The dosage varies from person to person, but 300 mg of lithium carbonate t.i.d. or q.i.d. is normally enough to keep this amount at bay.
What is lithium used for?
Lithium is thought to help reinforce nerve cell connections in brain regions involved in controlling mood, thinking, and behavior. Doctors aren’t sure exactly how it functions to regulate a person’s mood, but it is thought to help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions involved in regulating mood, thinking, and behavior.
Does lithium help with mood?
Lithium raises the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that tend to keep the mood in check. Because of the proteins it contains, some researchers suggest that taking lithium helps improve the nerve connections in your brain that regulate your mood.
Does lithium make you numb?
5. Consequences You do not have any trouble taking this medication if you’re on the right dosage and your blood lithium level is correct. However, some people report that lithium makes them feel ” numb ” or slows down their thought.
Does lithium affect sleep?
Lithium carbonate’s effects on sleep habits have been studied acutely in normal and depressed subjects, as well as chronically in depressed subjects . Total sleep time did not change in normal subjects given lithium for two weeks, but REM sleep decreased and REM sleep latency increased .
How to keep lithium side effects to a minimum?
2 They include: Using an anti-diarrheal medication for a time, until your system adjusts to the lithium.
What are the symptoms of lithium overdose?
Early symptoms of lithium overdose or toxicity: Diarrhea; drowsiness; loss of appetite; muscle weakness; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech; trembling; ears ringing; frequent urination.
What is lithium used for?
Lithium is a drug developed from a naturally occurring element often prescribed as a mood stabilizer for patients with bipolar disorder. 1 Lithium is sold under many brand names, including Duralith, Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithotabs, Lithane, Lithizine, and Lithonate. If you are taking lithium, you need to be aware of this medication's possible side effects.
How long can you stay on lithium?
Most side effects go away with treatment and many people stay on low doses of lithium for years with success.
What are the symptoms of low thyroid?
Rare: Blue color and pain in fingers and toes; coldness of arms and legs; dizziness; eye pain; headache; noises in the ears; vision problems. Signs of low thyroid function: 4 Dry, rough skin; hair loss; hoarseness; mental depression; sensitivity to cold; swelling of feet or lower legs; swelling of neck; unusual excitement.
When was lithium first used?
Lithium was first used for mental illnesses in the mid-19th century but fell out of favor in the psychiatric world until it was brought back into use to treat mania around 1949 . 6 It has proven through time and research to be one of the most effective treatments for bipolar disorder in keeping moods stable and mood episodes at bay.
Does lithium cause thirst?
Although increased thirst and increased urine output are very common side effects of lithium, it's important to tell your doctor if you have them. About 5% of patients on lithium develop lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes inspidus (NDI) 5 over time, which can be serious if not treated.
How long does it take for lithium to work?
Lithium can take weeks to reach its full effectiveness.
Why is lithium the lowest dose?
The lowest possible dose of lithium is recommended in order to limit and reduce the likelihood of negative side effects. It is still important to note that weight gain and hypothyroidism (a condition that can also cause weight gain) can increase feelings of depression and may pose a risk if your anxiety is complicated by depression.
How much lithium is safe to ingest?
Lithium in Your Body. While ingesting metallic substances can be dangerous, a dosage of 15–20 mg of lithium per kg of body weight falls below the level of toxicity for anyone eight years old and over, though in children the levels of lithium in the blood need to be closely monitored. In addition, when taken in the correct dosage, ...
How to deal with anxiety when stopping medication?
Eating right will keep your body feeling good and better suited to handle any anxiety symptoms that crop up unexpectedly. Write About It When you are feeling anxious or undergoing the physical and mental changes that can occur while starting or stopping a medication, writing about it can help to settle your mind.
What does it mean when anxiety becomes overwhelming?
When anxiety starts to become overwhelming it may be a sign that you have moderate to severe anxiety. With this free 7 minute anxiety test, you can receive: Take the anxiety test today to gain better insight into your anxiety and its symptoms. Start The Test.
Is lithium a dangerous drug?
Though lithium is not addictive, overdosing can be highly dangerous. Too much lithium in the body functions as a poison, which is why it can be a risky medication if you suffer from anxiety complicated by depression.
Can lithium salts be used for anxiety?
Many medications designed to treat depression-related conditions are often also prescribed for anxiety conditions. Lithium salts are a component of many psychiatric medications for depression-related conditions including mania and bipolar depression, and their effectiveness is the standard against which other medications for these conditions have ...
How does lithium affect the body?
What we do know is that lithium affects the movement of sodium (a mineral in the body) across nerve and muscle cells, can alter levels of neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the body like serotonin and dopamine, and can affect the way nerve cells receive and send messages.
How long does it take for lithium to work?
Even after the correct dose of lithium is reached, it can take one to three weeks for this medication to take full effect.
Why do doctors need to monitor lithium levels?
Even after the right dose of lithium is found, your doctors still need to monitor the levels of lithium in your blood, because many factors can affect these levels, such as certain other medications, salt intake, and the amount of liquid you drink.
What is lithium used for?
Another use is what’s called “maintenance therapy.” This means lithium helps prevent future manic and depressive episodes and helps someone keep their mood stable and avoid major mood disturbances.
How to make changes to medication?
If you feel your symptoms are not well managed on your current medication, speak with your doctor. The best way to make changes is to do so slowly . This may include slowly changing the dose of medication, slowly stopping a medication, or slowly adding a different medication (or a combination of these) — the key word in all this is "slowly."
Is lithium a mood stabilizer?
Lithium is considered a mood stabilizer — a group of medications used to treat the highs (mania) and lows (depression) of bipolar disorder. It’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two important uses related to bipolar disorder.
Did Britney Spears take lithium?
Pop star Britney Spears reported being forced to take lithium after declining to perform in Las Vegas. What is this drug? A psychiatrist explains.
What are the side effects of lithium?
The most common side effects of lithium are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, a dry mouth and a metallic taste in the mouth. Your doctor will carry out regular blood tests to check how much lithium is in your blood. The results will be recorded in your lithium record book.
What can affect the level of lithium in your blood?
Infections and illnesses like colds and flu can make you dehydrated, this can affect the level of lithium in your blood.
How to take lithium if you are sick?
feeling or being sick – take lithium with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you do not eat rich or spicy food. If you are being sick, take sips of water to avoid dehydration.
What to take to A&E for lithium?
If you need to go to A&E, take the lithium packet or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
How many different types of lithium are there?
There are 2 different types of lithium – lithium carbonate and lithium citrate. It's important not to change to a different type unless your doctor has recommended it. This is because different types are absorbed differently in the body.
What do you get when you start taking lithium?
When you start taking lithium, you will get a lithium treatment pack (usu ally a purple folder or book) with a record booklet. You need to show your record booklet every time you see your doctor, go to hospital, or collect your prescription.
How old do you have to be to take lithium?
Lithium can be taken by adults and children over the age of 12 years.
What is lithium used for?
In the year 1998, researchers from Wisconsin University discovered that lithium used for depression targets the brain nerve cells, and the glutamate neurotransmitter receptors.
What is lithium carbonate used for?
Lithium carbonate is used in the reduction of aggressive behavior in people who suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
What element is used to treat bipolar disorder?
Learn More. However, history has it that since the 1940s, the element lithium was discovered to have effects on mood problems and has ever since been the chief medication for bipolar disorder.
Is lithium orotate used for depression?
Therefore, when they seek out lithium treatment for depression, unknowingly, they are also treating themselves against alcoholism. The lithium compound, lithium orotate, is mainly used in alcoholism treatment.
Does lithium increase VEGF?
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) production is increased with lithium for depression treatment. VEGF is responsible for the promotion of the growth of cells and blood vessels’ remodeling after suffering from a stroke. Lithium does this through GSK-3 inhibition mechanism.
Does lithium help with excitotoxicity?
Prolonged lithium medication was established to bring glutamate-induced excitotoxicity into a robust reduction mediated by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Lithium for depression can inhibit calcium influx that mediates the NMDA receptor action. As a result, it is useful in the treatment of depression.
Can lithium cause addiction?
Lithium used for depression does not cause addiction. However, when one ceases using it, some symptoms might reoccur though not for a long time. Therefore, it is wise to stop lithium medication in stages. For instance, you can start by being off lithium for some days, weeks, months, years, and then forever.
Is lithium a salt?
Also, when on Lithium you need to drink much more water than normal as Lithium is a salt and is absorbed in the urine.
Does lithium cause weight gain?
It seems to cause slight cognitive impairment, and definitely causes mad weight gain. I haven't taken lithium in 10 years, but I still don't think my metabolism has yet recovered.
Is lithium good for bipolar?
Lithium is the usual drug of choice for Bipolar Disorder, but . . . Every psychotropic medication like any other pharmaceutical has a range of outcomes and potential side effects. What works for most or many: doesn't work for some, may create quality of life side effects, may require additional meds (cocktail) to.
Is lithium a neuroprotective drug?
The molecular mechanism of lithium is not well understood. But it would have a neuroprotective effect.
Does lithium cause drowsiness?
One advantage with lithium was that it didn’t cause daytime drowsiness which some of my other drugs tend to do. However, I had poor tolerance to Lithium: it led to severe rashes which needed treatment and also caused Hypothyroidism.
Is lithium good for depression?
Lithium is one of the best treatment for depression and mania in bipolar disorder. The problem with lithium is that it destroys thyroid gland tissue and affect kidney in the long-term. The molecular mechanism of lithium is not well understood. But it would have a neuroprotective effect.
What are the side effects of lithium?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: Fine hand tremor, frequent urination, and mild thirst commonly occur during lithium initiation. Sometimes these effects may persist throughout treatment.
Why is it so difficult to take lithium?
Dosing may be difficult because there is not much of a margin between an adequate dose of lithium and a toxic dose. Facilities should be available that can quickly and accurately monitor serum lithium concentrations.
How much lithium is in 5mL of citrate?
5mL of lithium citrate solution contains about 8mEq of lithium and is approximately equivalent to 300mg of lithium carbonate.
What class of medicine is lithium?
Lithium belongs to the class of medicines known as antimanic agents.
What to do if you miss a lithium dose?
If it is close to your next dose, do not double up on the dose. Do not crush or chew extended-release tablets; swa llow whole. Too much caffeine may decrease the amount of lithium in your body.
How long does it take for lithium to be absorbed?
Response and effectiveness. Lithium is completely absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract with peak levels occurring 0.25 to 3 hours after oral administration of immediate-release preparation s and two to six hours after sustained-release preparations.
What is lithium used for?
Lithium may be used to treat mania associated with bipolar disorder. Experts are not sure exactly how lithium works but believe it alters sodium transport in nerve and muscle cells which adjusts the metabolism of neurotransmitters within the cell. Lithium is an element found naturally in the environment and our bodies.
