Sometimes lithium carbonate (Lithobid, Lithane, Eskalith) is added to
other medicines to treat
schizophrenia. It is not clear exactly how lithium
works, but it may help regulate certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that cause mood changes. Lithium
carbonate may be most helpful for treating the mood problems associated with
schizophrenia, such as
depression.
Common side effects of lithium carbonate include:
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Loss of
appetite, feeling of fullness or swollen stomach, and/or stomach upset.
- Dry mouth, increased thirst, and increased urination.
- Headache, slight memory loss, or confusion.
- Sensitivity to cold.
- Tiredness and sleepiness.
- Weight gain.
- Slight hand tremor.
Lithium carbonate is a salt and acts like other salts (such as
sodium) in the body. Any change in the balance between
body salts and liquids (mostly water) in the body can change the amount of
lithium carbonate in the blood. Lithium carbonate blood levels need to be kept
within a safe range. Levels that are high can cause serious side effects, even
death. Levels that are low can cause symptoms of mood swings or emotional
instability. You will need to learn how to keep lithium carbonate blood levels
at a safe and effective level and to recognize the signs of
high lithium carbonate. It is very important to have
your blood tested regularly (from every week to every 6 or 12 months) to check
lithium carbonate blood levels.
You also need to be aware of the following:
- Because lithium carbonate may make you tired and
less alert, avoid driving a car or using other dangerous machinery until you
know how lithium affects you.
- Always seek care from a health
professional if you are a woman and become pregnant while taking lithium
carbonate. Women who take lithium carbonate and breast-feed their babies also
need medical care from a health professional.
- Do not drink alcohol
if you are taking lithium carbonate. Lithium can hide the signs of alcohol
intoxication; your blood alcohol levels could become dangerously high if you
drink while taking this medicine.
- Lithium carbonate can affect
thyroid and kidney function. Your doctor may have your blood tested to monitor
thyroid and kidney function while you are taking lithium.
- Always
seek medical treatment if you notice signs of excess lithium in the blood.
Always tell each health professional who treats you that you are taking lithium
carbonate. Taking certain medicines can interfere with the amount of lithium in
your blood. Some medicines can cause your lithium blood level to get too high,
and other medicines can cause it to get too low.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference
is not available in all systems.)
