Lithium & Heat Exhaustion

Lithium and heat exhaustion are commonly linked. Lithium is often prescribed as the first line of treatment for bipolar disorder for people 12 and older and patients taking lithium often complain of feelings of heat exhaustion.

Lithium

• According to the the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), lithium is a mood stabilizer approved by the FDA in the 1970s. Lithium carbonate is essentially a salt and can be taken in capsule, tablet or liquid form.

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a psychiatric condition in which a person has severe shifts between mania and depression. According to NARSAD, the Brain and Behavior Research Fund, bipolar disorder affects more than 5.7 million Americans over 18 years of age. Lithium is often prescribed to treat the manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Lithium Side Effects

• According to the NIMH, side effects of lithium include restlessness, dry mouth, bloating or indigestion, drowsiness, dizziness and acne. Regular blood tests are also done to check lithium-level toxicity and kidney and thyroid functions.

Heat Exhaustion and Lithium

• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness to heat stroke, caused by excessive water and salt loss.

  Along with the other side effects mentioned above, lithium can cause dehydration, a symptom of heat exhaustion. Lithium in itself does not cause heat exhaustion but exacerbates the symptoms of it.

Prevention

• Healthy Place, an online mental health community, writes that it is essential for patients to maintain a healthy normal diet and "an adequate fluid intake (2500 to 3000 ml)," especially during the stabilization period when first starting lithium.