I a previous post I have spoken about ranitidine side effects
There are a number of lithium salts that are used for treatment of bi-polar disorder and depression and they may carry little to severe lithium side effects on the patients. The side effects vary from individual to individual and have to be treated either by the discontinuation of the medication or altering of the dosage.
It is actually a mood stabilizing drug and the increasing intake of it by people all over the world reflects the stressful lifestyle that humanity has adopted. The depression particularly of mania can be felt by the person in mild forms or acute forms. It helps in the reduction of suicidal tendencies among patients.
A real salt for medicinal purposes!
Lithium is chemical quite simple in structure and resembles salt in some ways. The product occurs naturally and is used especially in the treatment of mania. The product has been in existence for the past fifty years and has been recommended by doctors without much of a doubt as to the efficacy of the medicine.
There is little doubt about the medicinal qualities of lithium as it has been in use since a long time. Again, the drug has been succeeding in mitigating several types of mania. It is seen that in case of patients experiencing their first attack of mania the doctors do not prescribe lithium as an initial medicine. They rather resort to other milder doses of medicines for lithium has a powerful quality unlike others where the first time afflicted person may have lithium side effects.
The course of other lesser powerful medicines are carried on and if the patient is still experiencing problem then lithium is given. Lithium it is seen may alter the way the nerve cells of the human body respond to some of the chemicals that pass between the nerve cells.
In this way the medicine interacts with numerous neurotransmitters and receptors to augment its effect. The body through this way is able to respond to the normal functions designed for it and continues to maintain the balance.
Mind boggling advantages of lithium
As a medication lithium has stood the test of time in the treatment of mania, depression and as a mood stabilizer. In some patients the mood swings tend to be so strong that they go to the doctor or are taken there by their family or friends. In such cases the symptoms have already assumed significant level and thus the best option for the doctor is to recommend a course of lithium.
Once it is ingested lithium quickly spreads and distributes itself in the whole of the central nervous system. During the process it helps in decreasing norepinephrine release and increasing serotonin synthesis. The use of lithium is only at second stage when other medicines have failed. Doctors usually resort to this type of medication process due to the fact that lithium is a little too powerful medication and may carry several lithium side effects for the patient.
However, lithium although powerful works very slowly. In fact its effect is not seen for weeks and in some cases months to even couple of years. This is because the potential of lithium reaches only within such long periods and once it reaches that point it greatly reduces the severity of the disease.
In many cases it does not stop the disease, but greatly reduces the negative effects of the ailment. Studies have revealed that the other medicines used as anti-depressant or other related ailments may get a boost if lithium is added with it or taken along with the course. The excess amount of lithium doesn’t get stored within the body and is driven out through urine.
The doctors can test the level of lithium concentrated in the body by taking blood samples and watch the level of discharge by taking a urine test in the laboratory. Accordingly further treatment or continuation of lithium can be advised.
Lithium Side Effects
There is a full post dedicated to side effects of Lithium. There are mild to severe types of side effects to patients from consumption of lithium. In its milder forms the side effects reported by patients are mild shakiness, frequent urination, diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness and weakness in muscles. This is all curable or can be mitigated by altering the dose of lithium and by administering other medicines in small and large doses.
In the case of severe side effects the patient experiences giddiness, blurred vision, ringing in both ears, shaking of body and sudden seizures. Some patients have reported to have gained significant weight while others have reported increased appetite and thirst.
The regular users of the medicine have been asked to take periodical serum tests to detect any abnormalities. Thyroid problems and malfunctioning of kidney are other abnormalities. Since the medicine functions to regulate sodium and water levels of the body it can cause dehydration. The patients rush to consume more and more water and in the process passes out urine more and more frequently.
Pregnant woman are advised to take the doctor’s advice rather than take the dosage at will. In the case of young people it is only when the other medicines have ceased to deliver the results that they should take lithium as the next best alternative medicine otherwise they might end up with lithium side effects.
In the next post, I will talk about reglan side effects
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