Many patients do not experince serious side effects when they begin Lithium therapy. Initially, the patient may have slight nausea, stomach cramps, diarhea, thirstiness, muscle weakness, and feelins of being somewhat tired, dazed, or sleepy. A mild hand tremor may emerge as the dose is increased. These effects are normally minimal and usually subside after several days of treatment. But some of the initial side effects may carry over into long-term therapy and others may emerge.
Some patients continue to have a slight hand tremor.
Weight gain often can be controlled with proper diet. Crash diets should be avoided, however, since they may adversly affect Lithium levels. Also, to avoid excessive weight gain, excessive amounts of drinks with high sugar content should be avoided. In patienst who have lower thyroid hormone, enlargement of the tyroid gland may develop, but this condition is generally not serious if monitored closely by the doctor. It can be treated with tyroid supplement medication without withdrawing from Lithium.