Combining alcohol with lithium intensifies the medication's sedating side effects and may lessen the medication's benefits. In severe cases, combining lithium and alcohol can lead to dehydration and lithium toxicity — a potentially life-threatening complication.
Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of lithium such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment.
Common drug–drug interactions with lithium
The most commonly prescribed drugs that have the potential to interact with lithium are ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists (sartans), diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Lithium reacts violently with MOISTURE, WATER or STEAM to produce heat and flammable and explosive Hydrogen gas and toxic Lithium Hydroxide.
Alcohol and certain anti-anxiety benzodiazepine medications used in bipolar disorder (for example: clonazepam or lorazepam) can result in additive dizziness, drowsiness, and depressed breathing and should never be mixed. In general, it is best to avoid combined use of bipolar disorder medications and alcohol.
Alcohol is known to intensify bipolar disorder due to its sedating effects. It acts similarly to some medications, risking feelings of depression with each swig of alcohol. Alcohol also greatly increases the severity of mania, which many who suffer from bipolar find extremely pleasurable.
Research has found a strong connection between bipolar disorder and alcoholism. Estimates show that up to 45% of individuals with bipolar disorder also engage in alcohol abuse. [i] Even on its own, bipolar can be a difficult diagnosis to handle.
Elevated ambient temperatures can trigger thermal runaway in batteries – which is when the heat generated within the cell is greater than the heat that is dissipated from the battery. Thermal runaway will not only destroy your lithium-ion battery, it will also contribute to the risk of fires or explosions.
Although the possibility of gaining weight while taking lithium is well known, this side effect does not affect everyone who takes the medication. Approximately 25% of people gain weight from taking lithium, according to a review article published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
It has long been known that lithium has toxic effects on the thyroid gland and the kidneys. The thyroid toxicity, caused primarily by lithium's interference with thyroid hormones' release from the gland (19) affects up to 19% of treated patients (20).
Lithium can make you drowsy so it's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of taking lithium, or if your dose is increased. If you feel OK after this, you can drink alcohol but it's best not to drink too much it's likely to make you dehydrated.
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.
But in unresponsive BD patients, lithium is ineffective because LEF1 levels are too low for the pairing to occur, so there's no regulation of cell activity. “When we silenced the LEF1 gene, the neurons became hyperexcitable,” says Shani Stern, co-first author on the study and a Salk visiting scientist.
Like many other antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs, lithium may also cause sexual and erectile dysfunction [20,21]. About one-third of bipolar or schizoaffective patients receiving lithium report sexual dysfunction [20,21].
Alcohol has an impact on both mania and depression. It can calm nervousness and anxiety, and binge drinking in particular can give a quick lift in mood to a person with bipolar disorder who's experiencing a depressive episode.
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. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience any of these events.
Lithium may also affect the levels of certain hormones that regulate metabolism, such as insulin and leptin, leading to changes in energy expenditure and the accumulation of body fat.” In addition to causing a heartier appetite, lithium can lead to sodium retention, which can cause bloating.
Lithium is a mood stabiliser, but the exact way that it works is not known. Lithium may work by changing the release of chemicals like dopamine or serotonin in your brain. Taking lithium helps you to have more control over your emotions. It helps you cope better with bipolar mood swings.
Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes caused by the medication may affect metabolism, resulting in slower fat burning and, ultimately, more stored energy as body fat. “Approximately 20% of users gain weight with Lithium due to the adverse effects causing increased appetite, thirst, and constipation.
These side effects include: use of large quantities of water and related pollution; potential increase in carbon dioxide emissions; production of large quantities of mineral waste; increased respiratory problems; alteration of the hydrological cycle. Obviously the economic interests at stake are enormous.
If you touch it worst case is you might burn yourself because of the heat it lets off from reacting with oxygen due to being punctured. Wash your hands thoroughly. Some of the materials are very unhealthy to touch or breathe.
Lithium toxicity signs are obvious and can be identified and managed easily; however, ignoring it can be fatal. Indeed, in some cases, lithium toxicity can lead to coma, brain damage, or even death. Moreover, lithium can induce serotonin syndrome, a potentially fatal and life-threatening condition[31].
Bipolar blackout is a term that refers to a period of memory loss during and after a manic episode.
ADHD affects attention and behavior; it causes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While ADHD is chronic or ongoing, bipolar disorder is usually episodic, with periods of normal mood interspersed with depression, mania, or hypomania.
While bipolar disorder can't be cured, symptoms can be controlled with an effective treatment plan. Are you struggling with your mental health? Call us today to get help. Bipolar disorder may worsen with age or over time if the condition is left untreated.