Lithium (Systemic)
Brand Names : Cibalith-S, Eskalith, Eskalith CR, Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithizine
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lithium, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to lithium. Also tell your health care professional if you
are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Diet - Make certain your health care professional
knows if you are on a low-sodium or low-salt diet. Too little salt in your
diet could lead to serious side effects.
Pregnancy - Lithium is not recommended for use during pregnancy,
especially during the first 3 months. Studies have shown that lithium may
rarely cause thyroid problems and heart or blood vessel defects in the baby.
It has also been shown to cause muscle weakness and severe drowsiness in newborn
babies of mothers taking lithium near time of delivery.
Breast-feeding - Lithium passes into the breast milk. It has been
reported to cause unwanted effects such as muscle weakness, lowered body temperature,
and heart problems in nursing babies. Before taking this medicine, be sure
you have discussed with your doctor the risks and benefits of breast-feeding.
Children - Lithium may cause weakened bones in children during
treatment.
Older adults - Unusual thirst, an increase in amount of urine, diarrhea,
drowsiness, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, trembling, slurred speech,
nausea or vomiting, goiter, or symptoms of underactive thyroid are especially
likely to occur in elderly patients, who are often more sensitive than younger
adults to the effects of lithium.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
lithium, it is especially important that your health care professional know
if you are taking any of the following:
-
Acetazolamide (e.g., Diamox)
-
Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) - Blood levels of
both medicines may change, increasing the chance of serious side effects
-
Diuretics (water pills) or
-
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics - Higher blood
levels of lithium may occur, increasing the chance of serious side effects
-
Medicine for asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, sinusitis, or cystic
fibrosis that contains the following:
-
Calcium iodide or
-
Iodinated glycerol or
-
Potassium iodide - Unwanted effects on the thyroid gland may
occur
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of lithium. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Brain disease or
-
Schizophrenia - You may be especially sensitive to lithium, and
mental effects (such as increased confusion) may occur
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - Lithium may increase the
blood levels of insulin; the dose of insulin you need to take may change
-
Difficult urination or
-
Infection (severe, occurring with fever, prolonged sweating, diarrhea,
or vomiting) or
-
Kidney disease - Higher blood levels of lithium may occur, increasing
the chance of serious side effects
-
Epilepsy or
-
Goiter or other thyroid disease, or
-
Heart disease or
-
Parkinson's disease or
-
Psoriasis - Lithium may make the condition worse
-
Leukemia (history of) - Lithium may cause the leukemia to occur
again
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