Avoid excessive intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, cola or energy drinks, since these may decrease levels of lithium and decrease effectiveness of the medication. Discontinuing caffeine use may increase lithium levels. Consult your health care provider before reducing or stopping caffeine use.
Dietary changes, particularly those containing caffeine and salt, may affect lithium levels and increase your risk of developing lithium toxicity. Salt consumption can cause fluctuations in serum lithium levels. While taking lithium, do not make sudden changes to your salt intake.
Lithium in Food Products
The main sources of Li in the diet are cereals, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and some mineral waters [44]. It may also be found in some spices such as nutmeg, coriander seeds, or cumin; however, their share in the total supply of this element is negligible in many geographic regions [49].
Notes for Consumers: Caffeine may decrease the effectiveness of Lithium. It is advisable to limit your caffeine intake (including teas, coffees, colas and non-prescription or herbal medicines containing caffeine) while taking Lithium.
Caffeine – avoid sudden changes in how much you drink coffee, tea, cola or other caffeinated drinks. Caffeine makes you lose water, which can affect your lithium level. Other medication and alcohol – you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any other medication or drink alcohol.
Research from 2016 found that approximately 70% of people taking lithium experience increased thirst and, consequently, excessive urination. You may start to notice symptoms of excessive urination, also known as polyuria, as early as 2 to 4 months into treatment with lithium.
Recent population studies suggests that the lithium found in drinking water could reduce the risk of suicide and possibly contribute as a mood stabilizer (8–10).
Amiloride is recommended as a diuretic because it blocks entry of lithium through the epithelial sodium channel in the collecting duct. This reduces lithium accumulation and may improve kidney function in patients on long-term treatment.
They should also have their weight routinely monitored during treatment. The strategies for weight loss or weight management to offset lithium weight gain mainly involve healthy eating and regular exercise.
Approximately 25% of people gain weight from taking lithium, according to a review article published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1 After analyzing all relevant published medical studies, the authors reported an average weight gain of 10 to 26 pounds among those who experience this troubling side effect.
Lithium may cause problems with kidney health. Kidney damage due to lithium may include acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) kidney disease and kidney cysts.
Adverse effects were the most common cause for lithium discontinuation. Among the adverse effects, diarrhoea, tremor, creatinine increase, polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus and weight gain were the top five reasons for discontinuing lithium.
In mild lithium toxicity, symptoms include weakness, worsening tremor, mild ataxia, poor concentration and diarrhea. With worsening toxicity, vomiting, the development of a gross tremor, slurred speech, confusion and lethargy emerge (Bauer and Gitlin 2016).
Controlled carbohydrate cravings and a low-calorie diet can help manage your body weight when on lithium. According to the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, a drug called topiramate helps bipolar patients on lithium lose weight.
Eating a balance of protective, nutrient-dense foods. These foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats, cold-water fish, eggs, low-fat dairy, soy products, and nuts and seeds.
Lithium is generally safe to take for a long time. Most people take it for years with no problems. If you've been taking lithium for some time, it can cause weight gain. It can also cause problems with your kidneys or thyroid gland.
Short-term side effects can include nausea and diarrhoea, muscle weakness or a dazed feeling. A long-term side effect can be weight gain. Your lithium dose needs to be adjusted to suit you. Go for your blood tests to make sure you have the right amount in your system.
Lethargy, dysphoria, a loss of interest in interacting with others and the environment, and a state of increased mental confusion were reported. No generalized effects were found in the responses to the personality inventories. 1. 2.
It takes about 1 to 3 weeks for lithium to show the effects and remission of symptoms. Many patients show only a partial reduction of symptoms, and some may be nonresponders. In cases where the patient does not display an adequate response, consider monitoring plasma levels, and titrating the dose.
Muscular weakness develops early in lithium toxicity, and may occur at lithium levels below 2 mEq/L. Muscle hyperirritability includes fasciculations, twitching, clonic movements of whole limbs. The development of swollen/painful joints and polyarthralgia were unrelated to dosage.
Lithium may cause sodium depletion, especially during initial therapy until consistent blood levels are achieved. A low-sodium (salt-restricted) diet can decrease lithium elimination, leading to increased lithium levels and risk of toxicity in lithium users who reduce their salt intake.
The amount of water in the body affects blood lithium levels. Too little water (dehydration) can lead to high, or even toxic lithium levels So it's important to drink plenty of water while taking lithium. Diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive exercise or sweating can also dehydrate you.
Lithium improves the body's ability to synthesize serotonin. This simply means that the body's levels of serotonin increase in response to lithium, which has the effect of improving mood and reducing feelings of anxiousness.
While lithium may seem like a simple element, it has complex effects on the brain at many different levels: Neuroprotection: Lithium shields neurons from biological stress and toxins. Neurogenesis: Lithium enhances the growth of new neurons, leading to increased number of neurons and brain volume.