What happens when you start lithium?

Fine hand tremor, frequent urination, and mild thirst commonly occur during lithium initiation. Sometimes these effects may persist throughout treatment. Nausea during initiation is common but usually subsides with continued administration.

What do I need to know before starting lithium?

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.

What happens if someone takes lithium that doesn’t need it?

Bipolar disorder requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking lithium, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Missing doses of lithium may increase your risk for a relapse in your mood symptoms.

Does lithium make you feel like a zombie?

In general, the only significant problems with low-dose lithium are tolerability and thyroid issues. About 1 person in 10 to 15 gets dull, flat, and “blah” (the “lithium made me a zombie” effect, overrepresented in online testimonials).

What happens if you take lithium and don’t need it?

What happens if I take lithium and don’t need it?

Can lithium make you emotional?

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.

Can lithium make you suicidal?

Results Patients who purchased lithium had a higher rate of suicide than persons who did not purchase lithium. Depressive and bipolar disorders are associated with a high risk of recurrence1,2 and a 10- to 15-time increased rate of suicide compared with the suicide rate in the general population.

What drugs can be used instead of lithium for bipolar?

Anti-Epileptic Drugs. Anti-epileptic drugs are medications usually used in the treatment of seizure disorders.

How long does lithium take to work for bipolar?

Doctors don’t know exactly how lithium works to stabilize a person’s mood, but it is thought to help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions that are involved in regulating mood, thinking and behavior. It usually takes several weeks for lithium to begin working.

Is lithium a good medication for bipolar disorder?

Lithium (Lithium Citrate This medication is used to treat manic-depressive disorder. , Lithobid) is one of the most widely used and studied medications for treating bipolar disorder. Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania. It may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression.

How does lithium help treat bipolar disorder?

Lithium treats the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder, which is the more severe of the two types of this disorder. It helps decrease the intensity of manic episodes . It also makes depressive symptoms less severe.