What Are The Common Side Effects Of Lithium?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:24:02 +0000

Lithium is a medication used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Additionally, it is used in the management of acute manic episodes, treatment of resistant depression, and resistant schizophrenia.
In this video, our main goal is to explore the common adverse effects of lithium.
Gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Tremors.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, where the individuals have increased urine output, also known as polyuria, and increased thirst.
This adverse effect of lithium is due to the inhibition of ADH hormone by the drug.
Lithium also inhibits the hormone TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormones.
This can cause hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone levels in blood.
Lithium also causes increased white blood cells, more specifically lymphocytes.
Lithium is not safe to use during pregnancy since it increases the risk of congenital heart defects in the baby.
Lithium has a narrow therapeutic window. Therefore, blood levels should be monitored closely.
If lithium in blood rises to toxic levels, it can cause several complications, including acute renal failure, and severe neurological complications like ataxia, confusion, inability to speak, coma, and even death.

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