Correct lithium intake

Lithium is an oral drug used to treat manic depression episodes. Symptoms of mania include hyperactivity, aggression, anger and poor judgment, and reduced sleep needs. Lithium affects the way sodium chloride (salt) enters and leaves human cells. Because sodium also affects the movement of water in the body, salt and liquid intake is important for people taking lithium. You must drink enough water to prevent dehydration and take in the same amount of salt every day.

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sodium, water and lithium

Your body uses sodium as part of the system to manage fluid levels in cells. If you eat a lot of salty foods and your sodium level goes up, you may feel thirstier than usual. If your body produces too much urine, you may drink more liquid to maintain high production, and excessive liquid will wash away electrolytes such as sodium. The amount of salt you consume also affects the amount of lithium in your blood.

According to data from Harvard Medical School, a healthy person produces about one to two liters of urine a day. If you produce more than three liters a day, this is considered polyuria, or excess urine production. Lithium reduces the kidney's ability to concentrate urine, so you'll produce more urine and need to drink more water to keep up with excess fluid loss. If you don't drink enough water to sustain high yields, you may dehydrate and become lithium-poisoned - with high levels of lithium in your blood. The influencing factors of

liquid intake are people's different needs for liquid intake. If you live in a hot climate or exercise regularly, you need to replenish the water lost by sweating. Vomiting or diarrhea can increase fluid output, and you may not be able to ingest enough fluid. According to the Mayo Clinic, in mild climates, adults need an average of 3 liters or 13 glasses of liquid a day. Women need two liters or nine cups. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you drink 400 to 600 milliliters more and exercise vigorously for less than an hour. Too much liquid can also cause problems. Your urine will be diluted and you will lose sodium, which can lead to hyponatremia or symptoms of hyponatremia. This is usually not a problem for most people, but since lithium can make you thirsty, you should pay attention to your intake and not drink too much. Excessive thirst and excessive urine may be symptoms of lithium poisoning. The doctor who prescribes lithium will tell you how much water you should drink. You need to monitor your health and adjust the total amount according to conditions that may dehydrate you, such as sickness or hot weather. If you can't drink water for some reason, please inform your doctor immediately. You may need an intravenous infusion. Lithium is toxic to kidneys and can cause permanent damage. If you are thirsty or have more urination than usual, please inform your doctor.