Lithium (Systemic)

Brand name(s): Cibalith-S

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lithium, the following should be considered:

Allergies-Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to lithium. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy-Lithium is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially during the first 3 months. Studies have shown that lithium may rarely cause thyroid problems and heart or blood vessel defects in the baby. It has also been shown to cause muscle weakness and severe drowsiness in newborn babies of mothers taking lithium near time of delivery.

Breast-feeding-Lithium passes into the breast milk. It has been reported to cause unwanted effects such as muscle weakness, lowered body temperature, and heart problems in nursing babies. Before taking this medicine, be sure you have discussed with your doctor the risks and benefits of breast-feeding.

Children-Lithium may cause weakened bones in children during treatment.

Older adults-Unusual thirst, an increase in amount of urine, diarrhea, drowsiness, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, trembling, slurred speech, nausea or vomiting, goiter, or symptoms of underactive thyroid are especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are often more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of lithium.

Other medicines-Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking lithium, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Acetazolamide (e.g., Diamox)
• Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness)-Blood levels of both medicines may change, increasing the chance of serious side effects

• Diuretics (water pills) or
• Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics-Higher blood levels of lithium may occur, increasing the chance of serious side effects

• Medicine for asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, sinusitis, or cystic fibrosis that contains the following:
  • Calcium iodide or
  • Iodinated glycerol or
  • Potassium iodide-Unwanted effects on the thyroid gland may occur

Other medical problems-The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of lithium. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Brain disease or
• Schizophrenia-You may be especially sensitive to lithium, and mental effects (such as increased confusion) may occur

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)-Lithium may increase the blood levels of insulin; the dose of insulin you need to take may change

• Difficult urination or
• Infection (severe, occurring with fever, prolonged sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting) or
• Kidney disease-Higher blood levels of lithium may occur, increasing the chance of serious side effects

• Epilepsy or
• Goiter or other thyroid disease, or
• Heart disease or
• Parkinson's disease or
• Psoriasis-Lithium may make the condition worse

• Leukemia (history of)-Lithium may cause the leukemia to occur again

Last Revised: 02/02/2000