Where is lithium used

Do not stop taking lithium suddenly or change your dose without speaking to your doctor first. It's important you keep taking it, even if you feel better. If you stop taking it suddenly you could become unwell again very quickly. Infections and illnesses like colds and flu can make you dehydrated, this can affect the level of lithium in your blood.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. This is because very high amounts of lithium can cause problems with your kidneys and other organs. It can cause symptoms such as:. If you're on the right dose and the level of lithium in your blood is right, you may not have any problems taking this medicine.

However, some people find lithium slows down their thinking or makes them feel a bit "numb". These are usually mild and go away by themselves. They are more likely to happen when you start taking lithium. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get worse or do not go away after a few days:. The level of lithium in your blood is checked regularly. But rarely, you may get side effects because there's too much lithium in your blood.

These are signs of lithium toxicity. Lithium toxicity is an emergency. Stop taking lithium straight away. It's important not to reduce your salt intake suddenly. Talk to your doctor if you want to reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are doing intense exercise or in hot weather when you will sweat more. Drinking alcohol causes your body to lose water. It's best not to drink too much as it's likely to make you dehydrated, especially in hot weather when you will sweat more.

Always tell any doctor or pharmacist that you are taking lithium before you take any new medicines. In rare cases, lithium may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.

These are not all the side effects of lithium. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. Lithium is not usually recommended in pregnancy, especially during the first 12 weeks first trimester where the risk of problems to the baby is highest. However, you may need to take lithium during pregnancy to remain well.

Your doctor may advise you to take it in pregnancy if the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking lithium, speak to your doctor. It could be dangerous to you and your unborn baby if you stop taking it suddenly. Do not stop taking it or make any change to your dose unless your doctor tells you to. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you plan to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take lithium while breastfeeding. Lithium passes into breast milk in small amounts. However, it has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies. It's important to continue taking lithium to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

This are some medicines that may interfere with how lithium works and this can affect the levels of lithium in your blood. These are not all the medicines that can affect the way lithium works. Always check with your doctor before you start or stop taking any medicine. It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines and herbal supplements are safe to take with lithium. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines.

They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. Lithium is a metal. Tiny amounts of lithium are found naturally in rocks, and in our food and bodies. There is also an enormous lithium deposit in Bolivia at the Uyuni Salt Flat the world's largest salt flat , but this resource remains untapped for now due to political and economic reasons.

The largest producer of lithium from spodumene is Australia, which has a large deposit near Perth. Other major lithium producers include China, which produces it at salt lakes in Tibet and Qinghai, and the United States, which produces it from brine in Nevada.

Lithium is also present in seawater, but the concentration is too low to be economic. The amount of lithium that a battery must contain can be calculated with some very simple chemistry.

Lithium, like the other alkali metals, only has one oxidation state and only forms ions with a single positive charge. In the case of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery, the reaction proceeds like this: As the battery discharges, one lithium atom at the negative electrode splits into a lithium ion and an electron; the lithium ion migrates through the internal structure of the battery, while the electron exits the battery and flows through whatever circuit the battery is attached to; the lithium ion and electron then recombine at the positive electrode.

The same reaction runs in reverse during recharging. Therefore, to drive one mole of electrons through a circuit, a lithium battery must contain one mole of lithium.

One mole of electrons is I am now going to focus on the specific case of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries as opposed to non-rechargeable lithium batteries. To calculate the energy capacity, I need the average battery voltage during discharge. Swallow the extended-release tablet whole; do not split, chew, or crush it. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking lithium, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lithium or any other medications. Your doctor may tell you not to take lithium if you are taking this medication or will monitor you carefully for side effects. Your doctor may have to change the doses of your medication or monitor you more carefully for side effects. Also tell your doctor if you have or develop severe diarrhea, excessive sweating, or fever during your treatment.

Your doctor may tell you not to take lithium or may monitor you more carefully for side effects. Also tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family have or have ever had Brugada syndrome a disorder that can cause a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm or if anyone in your family has died suddenly with no explanation before the age of 45 years.

If you become pregnant while taking lithium, call your doctor. Lithium may harm the fetus. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Lithium may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: restlessness fine hand movements that are difficult to control mild thirst loss of appetite stomach pain gas indigestion weight gain or loss dry mouth excessive saliva in the mouth change in the ability to taste food swollen lips acne hair loss unusual discomfort in cold temperatures constipation depression joint or muscle pain paleness thin, brittle fingernails or hair itching rash Some side effects may be serious.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help: unusual tiredness or weakness excessive thirst frequent urination slow, jerky movements movements that are unusual or difficult to control blackouts seizures fainting dizziness or lightheadedness fast, slow, irregular, or pounding heartbeat shortness of breath chest tightness confusion hallucinations seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist crossed eyes painful, cold, or discolored fingers and toes headache pounding noises inside the head swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking lithium and call your doctor immediately: drowsiness shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control muscle weakness, stiffness, twitching, or tightness loss of coordination diarrhea vomiting slurred speech giddiness ringing in the ears blurred vision Lithium may cause other side effects.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following: diarrhea vomiting drowsiness muscle weakness loss of coordination giddiness blurred vision ringing in the ears frequent urination. What other information should I know? The lightest known metal can also lighten your mood.

Lithium, atomic number 3, is an element of many uses. It's used in the manufacture of aircraft and in certain batteries. It's also used in mental health: Lithium carbonate is a common treatment of bipolar disorder , helping to stabilize wild mood swings caused by the illness. Lithium has a flashy discovery story — literally. The mineral is white to gray, but when thrown into fire, it flares bright crimson.

In , Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson discovered that petalite contained a previously unknown element. He wasn't able to isolate the metal entirely, but he did isolate one of its salts. The name, lithium, comes from "lithos," the Greek word for "stone.