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. Do not stop taking lithium or change your dose without talking to with your healthcare provider first.
In order for lithium to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your healthcare provider. Periodically, your healthcare provider may ask you to provide a blood sample to make sure the appropriate level of medication is in your body and to assess for side effects, such as changes in blood cell counts or kidney function. People living with bipolar disorder who wish to become pregnant face important decisions.
It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. Lithium levels should be monitored monthly in early pregnancy and weekly near delivery. Do not stop taking lithium without first speaking to your healthcare provider. Discontinuing mood stabilizer medications during pregnancy has been associated with a significant increase in symptom relapse. Regarding breast-feeding, caution is advised since lithium does pass into breast milk.
In general, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking lithium. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.
The dose usually ranges from mg to mg daily, but some people may require higher doses depending on weight or symptoms. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you. Extended release tablets: Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or chew extended release tablets. Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication.
You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of lithium, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Do not double your dose or take more than what is prescribed. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking lithium. This medicine comes with a Medication Guide.
Read and follow these instructions carefully. Read it again each time you refill your prescription in case there is new information. You should talk to your doctor if you have any questions. You might have to take this medicine for several weeks before you begin to feel better. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Make sure that your doctor knows if you are on a low-sodium or low-salt diet. Too little salt in your diet could lead to serious side effects.
Talk to your doctor about the correct amount of fluid to take with this medicine. Some people need to drink extra fluid every day with lithium. Measure the oral solution with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. A regular teaspoon may not measure the correct amount of medicine. There are several different forms of lithium.
The dose for each is different and they are used at different times of the day. And in a few long term studies, patients actually had lower rates of renal problems if the lithium was dosed entirely at night rather than twice a day. It seems that the kidneys do better when they get a bolus of lithium at night, rather than spread evenly throughout the day.
Wouldn't you need to spread that out? Chris Aiken, MD: First of all, the dose doesn't really matter in lithium; it's the blood level. So that is a good question though, what if the blood level is high, would we need to spread that out.
Nobody knows the answer to that. But what I do is if the blood level is going above 0. The reason is that we do have long term studies where if lithium level is kept at 0. So we don't know for sure, but I'm hedging my bets and saying let's try to keep that level, less than 0.
Which one do you prefer? They are more likely to happen when you start taking lithium. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get worse or do not go away after a few days:.
The level of lithium in your blood is checked regularly. But rarely, you may get side effects because there's too much lithium in your blood. These are signs of lithium toxicity. Lithium toxicity is an emergency. Stop taking lithium straight away.
It's important not to reduce your salt intake suddenly. Talk to your doctor if you want to reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are doing intense exercise or in hot weather when you will sweat more.
Drinking alcohol causes your body to lose water. It's best not to drink too much as it's likely to make you dehydrated, especially in hot weather when you will sweat more.
Always tell any doctor or pharmacist that you are taking lithium before you take any new medicines. In rare cases, lithium may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. These are not all the side effects of lithium. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.
Lithium is not usually recommended in pregnancy, especially during the first 12 weeks first trimester where the risk of problems to the baby is highest. However, you may need to take lithium during pregnancy to remain well. Your doctor may advise you to take it in pregnancy if the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.
If you become pregnant while taking lithium, speak to your doctor. It could be dangerous to you and your unborn baby if you stop taking it suddenly. Do not stop taking it or make any change to your dose unless your doctor tells you to. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you plan to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.
If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take lithium while breastfeeding. Lithium passes into breast milk in small amounts. However, it has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies. It's important to continue taking lithium to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.
If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible. This are some medicines that may interfere with how lithium works and this can affect the levels of lithium in your blood.
These are not all the medicines that can affect the way lithium works. Always check with your doctor before you start or stop taking any medicine.
It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines and herbal supplements are safe to take with lithium. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. Lithium is a metal. Tiny amounts of lithium are found naturally in rocks, and in our food and bodies.
We do not really know exactly how lithium works for mental health conditions, though we do know it's very effective. There are a number theories about how it works.
One is that it works by protecting and helping to create neurons the cells that pass messages in your brain. If the amount of lithium in your blood is right, you probably will not have any problems taking this medicine. However, some people find it slows down their thinking or makes them feel a bit "numb". Sometimes it's hard to know whether this is because the lithium is doing its work to control your mood if you have mania.
Talk to your doctor if you're worried that lithium is slowing down your thinking or numbing your emotions. You may need to have your lithium levels checked again.
As long as it is working well to control your condition, you will generally take lithium for a long time. If you or your doctor decide to stop lithium, it must be reduced gradually over a number of weeks or months. If you stop taking it suddenly the symptoms of your condition are likely to come back.
0コメント