Once you're stabilized and taking maintenance therapy, your blood levels should be checked in a month, and then every three months. To lessen the chance of stomach irritation, it's a good idea to take lithium with or after meals. It usually takes from one to three weeks to notice an improvement in your mania and several months to ease the depression. Patients experiencing acute mania are usually started out with at least 900 milligrams of lithium carbonate per day, although dosage is regulated according to blood levels and response. More common and less dangerous side effects may include thirst and frequent urination.
Some people also gain weight during the first few months they take lithium.
A sensitivity to lithium might make you drowsy. If you have a mild case of toxicity, your doctor will probably just discontinue lithium temporarily, and give you fluids and electrolytes. Because more severe cases can cause lasting brain damage or death, serious lithium poisoning usually requires aggressive treatment with hemodialysis. If you have psoriasis or diabetes, you may notice your disease worsens during treatment with lithium. Because it's important not to lose too much salt while you take lithium, be careful not to sweat too much, which can deplete body stores of salt and water and cause lithium toxicity.