What is the highest amount of lithium you can take?

Maximum Dosage

For most adults, a total daily dosage of 1,200 to 1,800 mg/day PO (in divided doses) will provide appropriate lithium concentrations. Maximum dosage not well defined. Individualize dosage to patient disease and response, and lithium concentrations; avoid concentration above 1.5 mEq/L.

What is the max amount of lithium you can take?

Adults and children 12 years of age—600 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, or 3 times a day up to 1200 mg per day. Children younger than 12 years of age—Use is not recommended.

Is 1500 mg of lithium too much?

Some people take more than 1,200 mg per day, especially during acute episodes. Others may be more sensitive to lower doses. A safe blood level of lithium is 0.6 and 1.2 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Lithium toxicity can happen when this level reaches 1.5 mEq/L or higher.

Can you take 600 mg of lithium at once?

Lithium is usually taken 1-3 times per day with or without food. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The dose usually ranges from 600 mg to 1200 mg daily, but some people may require higher doses depending on weight or symptoms.

How many mg of lithium is fatal?

The treatment serum level range is 0.8-1.2 mmol/L, but Lithium levels above 1.2 mmol/L can be toxic and a level above 2.0 mmol/L is potentially fatal.

Where is the largest deposit of lithium? Will we run out of lithium?

What mental illness does lithium treat?

About lithium

It's used to treat mood disorders such as: mania (feeling highly excited, overactive or distracted) hypo-mania (similar to mania, but less severe) regular periods of depression, where treatment with other medicines has not worked.

Can lithium give you brain damage?

Rarely, lithium is reported to cause irreversible, permanent neurological sequelae such as cerebellar impairment, dementia, parkinsonian syndromes, choreoathetosis, brain stem syndromes, and peripheral neuropathies.

Is 1200 mg of lithium too much?

The window between a therapeutic dose and an overdose or potential lethal dose can be quite narrow. Doses are typically between 900 mg and 1200 mg per day, but again, the level of the drug in the blood is monitored and a dose that maintains that level is used. Lithium has numerous interactions with other drugs.

What happens if lithium levels are too high?

Indeed, in some cases, lithium toxicity can lead to coma, brain damage, or even death. Moreover, lithium can induce serotonin syndrome, a potentially fatal and life-threatening condition[31].

What level of lithium is considered toxic?

However, research has shown that lithium toxicity can occur at blood lithium levels around or above 1.5 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/l). Moderate-to-severe cases typically develop at levels between 2.5 and 3.5 mEq/l.

Does lithium make you gain weight?

2) Although not very common, weight gain is another adverse effect seen with chronic use of lithium. 3–5) An early study had found that lithium maintenance therapy stimulated weight gains of over 10 kg in 20%, which was attributed to increased thirst in majority of individuals.

Does lithium help with anger?

Lithium is a mood stabilizer that is used to treat or control the manic episodes of bipolar disorder (manic depression). Manic symptoms include hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger.

What drugs should not be taken with lithium?

Common drug–drug interactions with lithium

The most commonly prescribed drugs that have the potential to interact with lithium are ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists (sartans), diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Can lithium taken for lifetime?

Long-term treatment with lithium is associated with a reduction of the GFR and a twofold increased risk of chronic kidney disease (86). Patients with BD in older age are consequently at a higher risk of these adverse effects after having taken lithium for several years (78).

Is 2400mg of lithium too much?

The target range for this acute phase is usually 0.6-1.2 mEq/L. This target range is usually obtained with daily doses of 900mg to 2400mg. In the elderly, levels <1.0 mEq/L are preferred. In other patients, levels up to 1.5 mEq/L may be required.

Is 1800 mg of lithium a lot?

People who have never taken lithium will start treatment at lower doses, typically around 900 mg per day. Most people take 900-1800 mg per day in tablet/capsule form or 16-48 mEq per day in solution form. Individuals with bipolar I disorder may also be prescribed antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or antidepressants.

Is lithium a powerful drug?

While there are different medications used to treat manic and depressive episodes in people with bipolar disorder, lithium is a commonly used medication. Studies suggest that lithium is very effective at both treating symptoms of bipolar disorder and preventing relapses of the condition.

Can too much lithium cause anxiety?

Similarly, lithium itself can have what's known as a "paradoxical" reaction where it actually creates more anxiety and depression, which is another important reason not to use lithium without talking to your doctor.

Can you get addicted to lithium?

It does not seem to be addictive or even habit-forming. Lithium does not produce any of the classic withdrawal symptoms associated with substance use disorder, and it is inexpensive. Since lithium is a medication, it must be obtained with a prescription and according to a physician's instructions.

What does lithium do to the brain?

At a neuronal level, lithium reduces excitatory (dopamine and glutamate) but increases inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission; however, these broad effects are underpinned by complex neurotransmitter systems that strive to achieve homeostasis by way of compensatory changes.

Why take lithium at night?

Take your lithium each night at the same time. You need to take it at night because blood tests need to be done during the day, 12 hours after a dose (see Section 4 'Blood tests after starting to take lithium').

What organs can lithium damage?

The three organ systems that may be negatively affected by lithium are the thyroid gland, kidneys and parathyroid glands.

Will lithium change my personality?

The results of this study show that long-term treatment with lithium can influence both cyclothymic temperament and cognitive disorganization in a direction favouring a good therapeutic response. Lithium-treated patients obtained lower scores for irritable temperament that those not on lithium.

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 if 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.