Lithium

Description

What Is This Medicational Treatment And What Is It Designed To Do In Order To Help You?

 

Lithium is a prescription medication that’s able to have an effect on the flow of sodium through different nerve and muscle cells within the body. Sodium management is important because it has an effect on things such as excitation as well as mania. Lithium’s main use is to help treat manic instances of bipolar disorder. The symptoms would include

 

Lithium affects the flow of sodium through nerve and muscle cells in the body. Sodium affects excitation or mania. Hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger. Lithium is also able to help stop of decrease the seriousness of manic episodes. There are other uses for this medication not mentioned here, but this is left to the discretion of a medical professional.

 

Is there anything important users of Lithium need to know in order to make sure they take it the right way?

 

Make sure you don’t crush, chew or break the extended release version of this medication. You’ll want to make sure you swallow it whole. Make sure you drink plenty of additional fluids in order to prevent dehydration problems while using Lithium. Inform a doctor right away if you experience excessive sweating or if you become sick with a fever or have vomiting and diarrhea problems.

 

What’s the main thing you’ll want to avoid when using this medicational treatment that can prove problematic?

 

You’ll want to make sure you avoid doing anything that’s going to cause you to become overheated or dehydrated while exercising or in hot weather. This doesn’t mean you can’t partake in these activities at all, but you’ll need to be extra careful in order to be on the safe side. Make sure you follow a doctor’s instructions regarding the types and quantities of fluids you need to drink. In some rare instances if you drink too many fluids it can be just as dangerous as if you were to drink too little.

 

What is the best way to go about taking Lithium in order to ensure you keep the possibility of side effects to a minimum?

 

You’ll want to make sure you use this drug exactly as a doctor tells you. In the case that you’re using other medications or have some special condition where you can’t just follow the general directions on the package, be sure to follow what the doctor tells you. In some cases a doctor might decide it’s best to change the dose you’re taking if they feel you aren’t getting the type of results they feel you should be. Don’t take more of this medication or less than told to you.

 

What are some of the more common potential side effects you put yourself at risk for if you decide to use this medicational treatment?

 

 Drowsiness

 Tremors in your hands

 Dry mouth, increased thirst or urination

 Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain

 Changes in your skin or hair

 Cold feeling or discoloration in your fingers or toes

 Feeling uneasy

 Impotence, loss of interest in sex

 

What are some of the more serious potential side effects you put yourself at risk for if you use this medicational treatment for your condition?

 

 A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out

 

 Shortness of breath

 

 Pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest

 

 Increased urination

 

 Weakness, dizziness or spinning sensation

 

 Confusion, memory problems, hallucinations

 

 Fever

 

 Muscle stiffness, slurred speech

 

 Uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement)

 

 Loss of bowel or bladder control

 

 A seizure (blackout or convulsions)

 

 Early signs of lithium toxicity – vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, loss of balance or coordination, drowsiness or muscle weakness

 

 Dehydration symptoms – feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin

 

 Increased pressure inside the skull – severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes