Does lithium affect your thinking?

A common complaint made by those who take lithium, but one which may easily be overlooked, is cognitive compromise. Clinically, patients describe this as “brain fog”-an elusive admixture of complaints regarding attention, concentration, and memory occurring in conjunction with a slowing of thought processes.

Does lithium slow down thinking?

Conclusions: Many patients administered lithium carbonate complained of mental slowness. Lithium carbonate also appeared to have definite, yet subtle, negative effects on psychomotor speed. Studies reviewed also showed a trend toward impaired verbal memory.

Does lithium affect cognitive function?

Some clinicians believe that lithium use can result in an impairment of cognition. A meta-analysis of bipolar patients treated with lithium compared with patients not receiving the drug shows a moderately unfavorable effect of this drug on cognitive functions (Wingo et al., 2009).

Does lithium make you confused?

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).

Does lithium help with thoughts?

Lithium appears to be particularly effective for the long-term management of bipolar disorder. This is because it can reduce the number of manic episodes or suicidal thoughts that a person with this condition would otherwise have. Doctors do know that lithium targets the central nervous system.

Lithium: How it Might Protect the Brain (8 of 11)

Does lithium affect memory?

Lithium has a negative effect on memory, as concluded from a relatively small number of well designed and controlled studies that showed an improvement of memory functions after temporary discontinuation of lithium.

What is the downside of taking lithium?

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. Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.

Does lithium affect motivation?

Chronic lithium alone slowed PRLT acquisition. Reduced DAT functioning increased motivation (PRB), an effect attenuated by lithium in GBR12909-treated mice. Neurochemical analyses revealed that DAT knockdown mice exhibited elevated homovanillic acid levels, but that lithium had no effect on these elevated levels.

How does lithium affect you mentally?

Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania — the elevated, euphoric end of the mood scale — and may help to treat bipolar depression. If you have been at risk of suicide, lithium may help reduce these feelings. Lithium also helps prevent manic and depressive episodes occurring in the future.

Can lithium change your life?

Lithium can be life changing for those who find bipolar disorder difficult to manage, but its use does come with side effects. In this article, we outline some of the more common short term and long term side effects of taking lithium.

Does lithium affect intelligence?

A common complaint made by those who take lithium, but one which may easily be overlooked, is cognitive compromise. Clinically, patients describe this as “brain fog”-an elusive admixture of complaints regarding attention, concentration, and memory occurring in conjunction with a slowing of thought processes.

Does lithium make you happier?

It is not known how lithium works to stabilize a person's mood. However, it does act on the central nervous system. It helps you to have more control over your emotions and helps you cope better with the problems of living. It is important that you and your family understand all the effects of this medicine.

What does it feel like to be on lithium?

When first starting lithium, many people experience common side effects, such as nausea, shakiness, or greater thirst. Regular blood monitoring is important to make sure you are taking a safe and effective dose of lithium.

How long can you stay on lithium?

If you have bipolar disorder, you may be offered lithium for a longer period, to prevent or reduce your risk of relapse. Your doctor may suggest that you commit to taking lithium for at least six months, possibly longer. This is because it can take some time to make sure the medication is working effectively.

What are two long term side effects of lithium?

Results: Long-term lithium treatment is associated with a reduced urinary concentrating ability, with subsequent polyuria and polidypsia and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (in 10-40% of patients).

How do you know when lithium is working?

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.

How much weight do you gain on lithium?

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.

Should healthy people take lithium?

In my psychiatry practice, I often recommend lithium supplements for a wide variety of patients, not just those with bipolar disorder. With low-dose lithium supplementation, patients typically report fewer mood swings, less anxiety, and better sleep.

Why is lithium no longer prescribed?

In 62% of episodes, lithium was discontinued due to adverse effects, in 44% due to psychiatric reasons, and in 12% due to physical reasons interfering with lithium treatment.

Is there a better alternative to lithium?

Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging technology with promising cost, safety, sustainability and performance advantages over commercialised lithium-ion batteries.

Why is lithium high risk?

If the prescribed dose is too low, the medicine will not be effective. If the dose is too high, it could be harmful due to lithium toxicity. Very rarely, a high dose can be fatal.

What is lithium belly?

Research has shown that in some bipolar patients, weight gain occurs with lithium monotherapy because lithium alters their taste. This side effect causes cravings for beverages and food that are salty, fatty, or sugary.

Does lithium make you poop more?

Diarrhea increases in prevalence in patients through the first 6 months of treatment and is seen in up to 10% of lithium-treated patients (Vestergaard et al. 1988). Serum lithium levels >0.8 mEq/l are associated with higher rates of diarrhea (Vestergaard et al.

How can I avoid gaining weight on lithium?

Weight gain is a known unwanted side effect associated with lithium use. Limiting caloric intake from beverages can help avoid or keep weight gain to a minimum. Lithium can make you very thirsty. Replace sugary drinks or juices with water, flavored waters, or other low- to no-calorie beverages.

Does lithium cause hair loss?

Lithium causes hair loss in 12-19% of long-term users. Valproic acid and/ or divalproex precipitates alopecia in up to 12% of patients in a dose-dependent relationship. Incidences up to 28% are observed with high valproate concentration exposures.