Lithium Carbonate Tips from Pharmacists

• You can take lithium with or without food. If you develop gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or stomach pain, taking the medicine with food might help.

• Your doctor will start you on a low dose of lithium and increase the dose gradually. Follow the dosing instructions carefully and take the correct dose as prescribed.

• Swallow the extended-release lithium tablets whole. Do not cut, crush, or chew them.

• Use the oral dosing syringe supplied to measure the dose of liquid lithium.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking lithium even if you feel well. This medication can help to prevent and treat the acute manic phase of bipolar disorder, but it does not cure the underlying condition.

• Lithium can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or participate in other hazardous activities until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol while on lithium therapy as this can make side effects like dizziness and drowsiness worse.

• Avoid excessive exercise, sweating, or dehydration during lithium treatment as this can affect urinary lithium excretion.