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| *Women health>>>Bipolar Disorder |
What are the long term affects of bipolar disorder? |
What does lithium do to your body? And what other mental illness can also be confused with bipolar disorder? Lithium Active Ingredients: Lithium Representative Names: Eskalith, Lithane, Lithonate, Lithotabs Available Product Images: What are lithium tablets or capsules? What should my health care professional know before I take lithium? How should I take this medicine? What if I miss a dose? What drug(s) may interact with lithium? What side effects may I notice from taking lithium? What should I watch for while taking lithium? Where can I keep my medicine? What are lithium tablets or capsules? (Back to top) LITHIUM (Eskalith庐, Lithonate庐, Lithane庐, Lithotabs庐) helps to control extreme mood swings in manic-depressive illness. Lithium helps you to maintain a more balanced state, without swinging from a highly elated, over-excited state to that of being very sad and depressed. Lithium can prevent or reduce these episodes. Generic lithium tablets or capsules are available. What should my health care professional know before I take lithium? (Back to top) They need to know if you have any of these conditions: 鈥ehydration (diarrhea or sweating) 鈥eart or blood vessel disease 鈥idney disease 鈥eukemia 鈥ow level of salt in the blood, or low-salt diet 鈥arkinson's disease 鈥soriasis 鈥eizures (convulsions) 鈥nder-active thyroid, or thyroid disease 鈥n unusual or allergic reaction to lithium, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives 鈥regnant or trying to get pregnant 鈥reast-feeding How should I take this medicine? (Back to top) Take lithium tablets or capsules by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets or capsules with a drink of water. Take after a meal or snack to avoid stomach upset. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice. Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. Elderly patients over age 65 years may have a stronger reaction to this medicine and need smaller doses. What if I miss a dose? (Back to top) If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose (less than 2 hours), take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. What drug(s) may interact with lithium? (Back to top) 鈥ntiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, or COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib) 鈥affeine 鈥alcium iodide 鈥arbamazepine 鈥ilgrastim, G-CSF, or pegfilgrastim 鈥uarana 鈥edicines for diabetes 鈥edicines for high blood pressure 鈥edicines for mental problems and psychotic disturbances 鈥etronidazole 鈥otassium iodide, KI 鈥odium bicarbonate 鈥odium chloride 鈥erapamil 鈥ater pills Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines. What side effects may I notice from taking lithium? (Back to top) Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible: More common: 鈥iarrhea 鈥rowsiness 鈥oss of appetite 鈥uscle weakness 鈥ausea, vomiting 鈥lurred speech These symptoms can progress to: 鈥lurred vision 鈥lumsiness or loss of balance 鈥onfusion 鈥izziness 鈥eizures 鈥rembling Rare or uncommon: 鈥ifficulty speaking or swallowing 鈥ainting 鈥air loss 鈥oarseness 鈥low, fast, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations) 鈥ain, coldness, or blue coloration of fingers or toes 鈥ough, dry skin 鈥ensitivity to cold 鈥welling in the neck 鈥nusual tiredness or weakness 鈥nusual weight gain Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): 鈥ncreased thirst 鈥ncreased frequency and urgency to pass urine 鈥uscle twitches 鈥ausea 鈥kin rash 鈥tomach bloating, full feeling 鈥rembling of the hands What should I watch for while taking lithium? (Back to top) Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. It can take several weeks of treatment to get improvement in your condition. You must continue to take lithium at regular intervals even when your symptoms are better. Do not stop taking lithium except on your prescriber's advice. The amount of lithium you take is very important. Taking more than the prescribed dose can cause serious side effects. The amount of salt (sodium) in your body influences the effects of lithium, and lithium can increase salt loss from the body. Eat a normal diet that includes salt. Do not change to salt substitutes. Avoid changes involving diet, or medications that include large amounts of sodium (such as sodium bicarbonate). Ask your prescriber or health care professional for advice if you are not sure. Drink plenty of fluids while you are taking lithium. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea and colas. You will need extra fluids if you have diarrhea or sweat a lot. This will help prevent toxic effects from lithium. Be careful not to get overheated during exercise, saunas, hot baths, and hot weather. Consult your prescriber or health care professional if you have a high fever or persistent diarrhea. You may get dizzy, drowsy, or have blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how lithium affects you. Make sure that family members or friends know of early signs of lithium toxicity (see side effects above). If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking lithium. Where can I keep my medicine? (Back to top) Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date. Lithium is one of the best drugs to use for bipolar disorder because it helps to manage the mania and depression associated with it. You just have to be careful because there is a small range between the therapeutic levels and the levels of toxicity Source(s): http://www.drugdigest.org/dd/dvh/uses/0,... Lithium is not great it can cause your thyroid to go out of wack and cause weight gain. Sometimes the benefits on your moods outweigh these side effects. http://www.ithyroid.com/lithium1.htm... You need to get the bipolar taken care of, you will not have a good life, if it goes untreated. Psychotic mania and psychotic depression will end you up in a loony bin before you kill yourself Lithium is one of the best drugs to use for bipolar disorder because it helps to manage the mania and depression associated with it. You just have to be careful because there is a small range between the therapeutic levels and the levels of toxicity. http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.co... |
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