Lithium has adverse effects on the kidneys, thyroid gland and parathyroid glands, necessitating monitoring of these organ functions through periodic blood tests.
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. The amount of kidney damage depends on how long you have been taking lithium.
The most common renal side effect of lithium is of concentrating urine despite normal or elevated concentrations of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (Table 1). The concentrating defect leads to decreased urine osmolality and increased urine volume (polyuria).
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.
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].
Liver test abnormalities have been reported to occur in a small proportion of patients on long term therapy with lithium. These abnormalities are usually asymptomatic and transient, reversing even with continuation of medication.
The most concerning side effects of long term lithium use are hypothyroidism and kidney problems. According to a 2015 review article , these side effects are most likely to affect women below the age of 60 years. They are also more common among people with higher-than-average concentrations of lithium in the blood.
► Exposure to Lithium can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. ► Lithium can cause headache, muscle weakness, twitching, blurred vision, loss of coordination, tremors, confusion, seizures and coma.
(3). 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).
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).
Lithium inhibits thyroid function at various points in the thyroid axis. A large number of studies have shown that anywhere from 0; to 47% of patients on long-term lithium treatment will develop clinical hypothyroidism.
The established adverse effects of lithium therapy are primarily related to the urinary system and include polyuria, microcysts in the cortex and the cortical–outer medullary junction,5–8 and more infrequently, toxic interstitial nephritis, which may lead to impaired GFR and renal fibrosis.
Similarly, there is no compelling evidence to indicate that lithium carbonate is associated with pancreatitis.
Studies have shown that the average lithium-induced weight gain is between 4.85 and 22 lbs. Also, keep in mind that different causes contribute to lithium-induced weight gain - we will discuss them in more detail below.
Sodium-ion batteries also swerve sharply from lithium-ion chemistries common today. These batteries have a design similar to that of lithium-ion batteries, including a liquid electrolyte, but instead of relying on lithium, they use sodium as the main chemical ingredient.
1. Aqueous Magnesium Batteries. If it were not for a few key issues, magnesium metal would be an ideal candidate to replace lithium 一 it is the eighth most common element, non-toxic, has a negative electrochemical potential, and has a high capacity thanks to its additional valence electron.
The reputation that lithium got for being "toxic," "mind numbing," and so forth, certainly those things have an element of truth to them. But they come from earlier studies where people were kept at a much higher doses and blood levels of lithium.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking lithium. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your condition) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication. Avoid low sodium diets and dehydration because this can increase the risk of lithium toxicity.
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.
Although lithium has been used in significantly longer-term treatment than any other mood stabilizer, long-term therapy is not devoid of adverse effects, the most important of which is kidney damage.
Dental Side Effects of Lithium
People are more susceptible to particular dental issues when they lack saliva from lithium, such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. The gums and other oral tissue can become red, inflamed, and ulcerated, making it painful to eat and follow a proper oral hygiene regimen.
Some side effects are common when people first start lithium, such as: Tremors (shakiness), especially in the hands. Dry mouth. Feeling thirstier.
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.
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that can protect and even reverse renal toxicity, including toxicity from lithium.