Lithium is a prescription drug approved to help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. This eMedTV article provides a detailed overview of the drug, including how it works, possible side effects, and tips on when and how to take it.
Lithium side effects are generally signs of toxicity and should be immediately reported to your doctor. This eMedTV Web page outlines these side effects and explains what your healthcare provider will do if you develop any of them.
Hair loss is a possible side effect of lithium. This selection from the eMedTV Web site explains why it's difficult to determine if hair loss is due to lithium or other factors and describes what to do if you are taking lithium and hair loss occurs.
There are several side effects of lithium, and dry mouth appears to be one of them. This page of the eMedTV library offers some suggestions that may offer relief, such as sipping water or sugarless drinks often and avoiding caffeine and alcohol.
Although it is not a cure for bipolar disorder, lithium can help control the symptoms of the condition. This eMedTV resource provides detailed information on how lithium works, its use in children, and a list of several off-label lithium uses.
The recommended starting lithium dosage will depend on several factors, which this eMedTV article describes. This page also provides the typical starting dosages for acute mania and maintenance treatment, as well as tips for taking the medication.
Drug interactions can occur when lithium is combined with other medicines, such as diuretics and ARBs. This eMedTV segment lists other medicines that can cause lithium drug interactions and explains the negative consequences that may result.
This eMedTV Web page describes several lithium warnings and precautions people should be aware of prior to taking it. This page explains what to tell your doctor before starting lithium and provides a list of those who should avoid the drug.
If too much lithium is taken, vomiting, blurred vision, or seizures may result. This eMedTV Web page provides additional symptoms of a lithium overdose and explains how an overdose may be treated (such as with dialysis or pumping the stomach).
It is generally considered unsafe to take lithium during pregnancy. This page on the eMedTV Web site explains how animal and human studies on lithium and pregnancy showed that the drug increases the risk of birth defects (specifically heart defects).
Because lithium passes through breast milk, it may not be safe to take the drug when breastfeeding. This eMedTV page explains what to do if you are taking lithium and breastfeeding at the same time, including what to watch for in your nursing child.
This selection from the eMedTV Web site explains the various forms and strengths of generic lithium that are currently available. This article also explains why many companies no longer make the brand-name version of lithium.
Toxicity is common in people taking lithium because the effective dose is close to the toxic dose. This eMedTV resource explains how lithium toxicity is determined and describes some symptoms to watch out for.
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