Lithium is an element occurring naturally in groundwater, stones and rocks,
among other sources. Lithium has preventive and healing effects on both
depression and mania. Lithium may also prevent suicidal behaviour. It has also been demonstrated that there is a lower incidence of suicide in areas with a high concentration of lithium in the drinking water.
Excessive doses of lithium may be harmful to the kidneys. That is why it is very important for the dose of lithium to be just right for you. When you begin therapy, therefore, you will have regular blood tests during the first 4 weeks.
Once you and your therapist have found the right dosage for you, it is still necessary to check your treatment with a blood test about 1-4 times a year. This allows your therapist to ensure your kidneys are still able to tolerate the
amount of lithium. At the same time, your metabolism will be checked, because in some cases it may be affected by the treatment. If that happens, you may be given a metabolic hormone supplement to take with the lithium.
Not everyone gets adverse effects from treatment with lithium, but many
do experience slight adverse effects. The most frequent are shaky hands,
increased thirst or a tendency towards loose stools. Some people put on a bit of weight or develop acne. In some cases, co-medication can be taken to relieve unpleasant side-effect.
Remember fluids
When you are on lithium therapy, you must make sure you drink fluids
regularly. Otherwise, it is rather like cordial; if you put cordial in a glass,
but not enough water, the beverage will be too strong. It is the same way
if you are taking lithium but forget to drink fluids; the lithium concentration in your blood will be too high.
Therefore, remember to drink more fluids, put more salt in your food or reduce your lithium dose if you have a high temperature or perspire a lot (e.g. when travelling in hot countries). In such a case, it is a good idea to contract your therapist for guidance before you travel.