High lithium carbonate
If you or your child takes lithium for bipolar disorder, watch for the first signs of high levels of lithium in the blood. It's important to maintain a careful balance of lithium in the blood, and the difference between helpful (therapeutic) levels and toxic levels is very small. Signs of high lithium include:
- Shaky hands and muscle twitching.
- Weakness, loss of balance, and/or drowsiness.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
At the first signs of excess lithium buildup in the blood, call your doctor.
The bipolar spectrum is a concept which observes that many people with depression, substance abuse, and other conditions share many of bipolar disorder's symptoms. Under this concept, such people's conditions are in the "bipolar spectrum," without qualifying as true bipolar disorder. Although many psychiatrists find the bipolar spectrum concept useful, it has not yet been adopted widely.
Read the What Is the Bipolar Spectrum? article > >
Later symptoms of high lithium in the blood include:
- Slurred speech.
- Confusion.
- Seizures.
If you experience any of these later symptoms, you need immediate medical treatment. Call 911 or other emergency services.
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