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Side Effects of Exposure to Lithium Ions

Lithium ions are used in treating manic depression in bipolar disorder, most often under brand names such as Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, or Lithotabs. When used as directed by a physician, lithium causes few adverse reactions; however, when taken at higher concentrations, it has been known to have adverse effects on almost all the systems of the body.

  1. Nervous System Side Effects

    • The most common side effect of lithium exposure to the nervous system is tremors of the hand or other parts of the body. Other side effects may include dizziness, vertigo, blackouts, coma, stupor of thought, trouble sleeping, seizures, incontinence, worsening of organic brain syndrome, lethargy, muscle weakness, headaches, and movement disorders such as ataxia, dysarthria, and hyperreflexia.

    Urinary System Side Effects

    • Lithium is known to affect the kidneys; in fact, as many as 50 percent of patients undergoing lithium treatments suffer kidney-related side effects such as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, a form of diabetes characterized by excessive urination and extreme thirst due to dehydration.

    Cardiovascular Side Effects

    • Reported side effects of the cardiovascular system include cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension, peripheral circulatory collapse, and changes in EKG patterns. One lithium patient was reported to have interstitial myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle.

    Gastrointestinal Side Effects

    • Lithium exposure has been known to cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anorexia, and dry mouth.

    Endocrine System Side Effects

    • Lithium affects the thyroid gland in different ways; the most common effect is increased production of thyotropin, which often results in goiter. Goiter occurs in as many as 5 percent of lithium patients.

    Miscellaneous Side Effects

    • Other side effects from lithium exposure include skin ailments like rash, psoriasis, hair loss, ulcers, acne, hypersensitivity, a decreased sperm count, loss or gain in weight, metallic taste in the mouth, and fever.

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