They should also tell their MD if they are taking Lithium or any other diretics. The patient needs to notify the doctor of any liver, kidney, or heart disease, which would require dosage adjustment. If the patient experiences dizziness, diarrhea, hypersensitivity symptoms, chest pain, or unexplained fever and chills, they should notify their MD immediately. Patients should have serum creatinine rechecked 2-4 weeks after starting treatment and 2 weeks after dosage titration. If hyperkalemia occurs, frequent monitoring of serum creatinine and potassium levels needs to be done with possible diuresis and Kayexylate treatment.
Clinical signs are irregular heartbeat and tingling in the hands and feet.
The earliest signs of toxicity are hypotension and tachycardia, within 1 hour of overdosage, which is clinically seen as dizziness, syncope, presyncope, and orthostatic symptoms. This requires blood pressure monitoring and possible pressor treatment. If symptoms like fever, sore throat, and lymph node enlargement occu white cell counts need to be checked. If any allergic symptoms occur, swelling of theface or larynx, the patient needs to be treated with antihistamines and steroids immediately and monitored closely. Laymen should seek professional advice and not rely on the information presented on these pages.