Lithium side effectsPeople always ask "What about lithium side effects?" It is a sad but simple fact that all medications have side effects. I started this page saying this is nature's wonder drug because of the low side effect profile. I know that a lot of people do not agree! Yes, it is true that there are a range of side effects, and some of them really suck. However, most either: 1. Go away relatively quickly with regular use of the medication, OR 2. Go away if the dose is adjusted. This point is very important. The main reason lithium has a bad name is because in the past people were given doses that were higher than necessary. Today we know that it is possible to get great results at lower doses.
My own balancing act is easy now, although it started out a disaster. Today I take a low'ish dose and have NO lithium side effects! For years I resisted lithium because I was scared of somethng that existed only in my head. Lithium has turned out to be the the only med that has worked for me - Depakote, Lamictal, Geodon and others were actually the ones where I had horrible side effects. Of course everone is different so please keep in my mind this is just my personal experience - you will have to try and see. I also advise reading books by people who take lithium, for example Patty Duke and Kay Redfield Jamison. Like me, these women take it with no pronounced problems and are thriving. Most lithium side effects can be minimized through simple management strategies. The most persistent and bothersome side effects are: - thirst -
weight gain
We will discuss how to deal with these in a moment. Transient side effectsSome other, usually transient side effects that pass relatively quickly are:
- mental dulling - mild sleepiness - dizziness - skin problems like acne or psoriasis - loose bowel movements - decreased libido - dry mouth or weird metallic taste. Agreed, these are all pretty yucky, but they are not dangerous. (Please see the section on Toxicity Symptoms for a discussion of medically dangerous side efects). The good news is that the side effects on this second list are the ones that almost always decrease or disappear with time - they represent the downside of the body adjusting to treatment and need to be weighed on a cost benefit basis - can you put up with them for a few weeks or is it better to lose your mariage, gamble away your home, wrap your car around a tree at 100 miles an hour, spend the rest of your life hiding under the covers, or whatever your particular brand of bipolar may be? An important thing to know is that some of the most common side effects can arise from thyroid changes. If taking the medication causes swelig or underactivity of the thyroid, then common thyroid drugs can be used to solve the problem. There is no need to discontinue your treatment! Most important lithium side effects
WARNING!! This is experienced by nearly everyone: 1. CONTROL OF YOUR MANIA! 2. CONTROL OF YOUR DEPPRESSION!!
How to handle lithium side effects1. Thirst. Lithium is a salt so this natural. Drink plenty of water. You probably need it anyway.2. Hand tremors - Discuss with your medical practitioner. My personal take on this is it shows the dose may be too high and a slight reduction could be tried. 3. Weight gain is one of the most unpopular side effects and is a reason why many people give up too soon or never get started. An easy way to make money on the Internet is to offer products that claim to "cure" depression or bipolar disorder with no risk of weight gain! The laws of the universe won't change because you are on medication - calories consumed versus calories burned will still be the basic determinant of weight gain or weight loss. Lithium, when it does cause weight gain, seems to vary. For most people this is usually a gain of 5-10 pounds. A few people report up to 50 pounds. I know this is bad news - but it is way better than the 100 pound weight gain and diabetes you may get from Zyprexa - and for me - I was able to control weight gain through my
Bipolar Diet.
Return from Lithium Side Effects to Lithium
|
