Can lithium cause memory problems?

Lithium has been associated with impaired memory, word finding difficulties, and impaired recall. Often, my patients have reported a cognitive "dulling" and a loss of cognitive "creativity" with lithium use that they found most disturbing.

Does lithium affect memory?

Lithium has a negative effect on memory, as concluded from a relatively small number of well designed and controlled studies that showed an improvement of memory functions after temporary discontinuation of lithium.

Does lithium affect cognitive functioning?

Meta-analyses, comparing bipolar patients treated with lithium with those without the drug show a moderate negative effect of this drug on cognition and, among clinicians, negative impact on cognitive functioning is considered one of the side effect of the drug.

Does lithium affect your thinking?

Bipolar patients commonly complain of lithium-induced cognitive slowing, which may lead to nonadherence, even though limited and poorly controlled studies have shown that lithium has, at most, mild cognitive effects.

Does lithium cause memory loss in bipolar disorder?

Lithium is an important treatment for bipolar disorder. It can help to control moods, but it can also have adverse effects. Some reports suggest that lithium can affect thinking and memory.

Cognitive Impairment and Sexual Problems With Lithium

Does lithium slow thinking?

Conclusions: Many patients administered lithium carbonate complained of mental slowness. Lithium carbonate also appeared to have definite, yet subtle, negative effects on psychomotor speed.

Can lithium give you dementia?

What did the scientists find? In those exposed to lithium, 9.7% of patients were also subsequently diagnosed with dementia. In those that weren't exposed to lithium, 11.2% of people went on to develop dementia. Lithium conferred this beneficial effect even when people were exposed to it for less than one year.

Does lithium make you confused?

In mild lithium toxicity, symptoms include weakness, worsening tremor, mild ataxia, poor concentration and diarrhea. With worsening toxicity, vomiting, the development of a gross tremor, slurred speech, confusion and lethargy emerge (Bauer and Gitlin 2016).

Does lithium make it hard to concentrate?

Patients taking lithium often report of difficulties in concentration, memory, learning, and attention. Laboratory tests of cognitive functions in healthy volunteers on chronic lithium demonstrate that disruptions in memory-learning processes are apparent at the time of memory retrieval.

Why do people quit lithium?

Adverse effects were the most common cause for lithium discontinuation. Among the adverse effects, diarrhoea, tremor, creatinine increase, polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus and weight gain were the top five reasons for discontinuing lithium.

What are the long term effects of taking lithium?

Lithium also exerts antisuicidal, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective effects. The main problems associated with long-term lithium treatment include kidney, thyroid, and probably cognitive issues.

What is the downside of taking lithium?

If you've been taking lithium for some time, it can cause weight gain. It can also cause problems with your kidneys or thyroid gland. Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.

What are the symptoms of too much lithium?

Call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremors, unsteadiness, or other problems with muscle control or coordination. These may be symptoms of lithium toxicity. Make sure your doctor knows if you have a heart disorder called Brugada syndrome.

Does lithium affect the brain long term?

The research showed that after eight weeks of lithium treatment, the subjects had significant increases in gray matter fraction, global cortical thickness, and the thickness of frontal and parietal cortices. Volume increases were also seen for putamen, hippocampus, thalamic nuclei, and thalamic substructures.

Can lithium cause neurological problems?

Rarely, lithium is reported to cause irreversible, permanent neurological sequelae such as cerebellar impairment, dementia, parkinsonian syndromes, choreoathetosis, brain stem syndromes, and peripheral neuropathies.

Can lithium cause altered mental status?

The possible complications of lithium overdose include altered mental status, hand tremor, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizure, syncope, and arrhythmia. Lithium intoxication can be fatal and is difficult to diagnose in patients without a history of lithium intake.

Which are the most serious adverse effects associated with lithium?

Rare/serious side effects

Signs of lithium toxicity include severe nausea and vomiting, severe hand tremors, confusion, vision changes, and unsteadiness while standing or walking. These symptoms need to be addressed immediately with a medical doctor to ensure your lithium level is not dangerously high.

Can lithium change your personality?

Substantial affect and mood changes are induced by lithium carbonate. Lethargy, dysphoria, a loss of interest in interacting with others and the environment, and a state of increased mental confusion were reported.

What drugs should not be taken with lithium?

Common drug–drug interactions with lithium

The most commonly prescribed drugs that have the potential to interact with lithium are ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists (sartans), diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

What are the symptoms of silent syndrome with lithium?

The first sign may be decreased alertness or slight apathy, followed by muscular rigidity or fasciculations and mild ataxia. These symptoms increase and become severe, and then impaired consciousness with a stupor-like presentation can develop.

Is 300 mg of lithium a lot?

Typical dosing for lithium

The typical starting dose depends on what form of lithium you're prescribed. Lithium immediate-release tablets and capsules: Adults and children above 30 kg (66 lbs): The typical starting dose is 300 mg by mouth 3 times a day.

Why take lithium at night?

Take your lithium each night at the same time. You need to take it at night because blood tests need to be done during the day, 12 hours after a dose (see Section 4 'Blood tests after starting to take lithium').

What are the 3 main symptoms of lithium toxicity?

Symptoms of lithium toxicity include severe nausea and vomiting, severe hand tremors, confusion, and vision changes. If you experience these, you should seek immediate medical attention to check your lithium levels.

What can I take instead of lithium for depression?

The ones that treat bipolar depression are cariprazine (Vraylar), lurasidone (Latuda), olanzapine-fluoxetine combo (Symbyax), and quetiapine (Seroquel). Among them, lurasidone offers a good balance of efficacy and tolerability.

Why did doctors stop prescribing lithium?

In 62% of episodes, lithium was discontinued due to adverse effects, in 44% due to psychiatric reasons, and in 12% due to physical reasons interfering with lithium treatment.