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Eskalith
What is Eskalith?
This medication is prescribed to people, who have manic-depression. Manic depression is where a person who has mood swings that turn into excessive excitement. These are called manic episodes. Manic episodes can have any of the following symptoms:
- Aggressiveness
- Fast, urgent talking
- Hostility
- Unrealistic ideas
- Little need for sleep
- Poor judgment
This medication is used to treat these symptoms.
How should this medication be taken?
This medication is given in a tablet should be swallowed whole do not chew it or crush it. If you have trouble swallowing pills or you are on a feeding tube your doctor will have to prescribe something that will work best for you. There may be a liquid form of this medication that can be given to you instead of the pill. , this medication can be taken with or without food depending on how it will affect your stomach. If it makes your stomach upset it is best to take it with a snack. You can also take it with milk so that it can coat your stomach and keep it from becoming upset. If it makes your stomach upset it is best to take it an hour before your meals or any hour after your meals. You should take it at the same time everyday so that you do not forget to take it. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember if it is almost time for your next dose skip the dose you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at once. While taking this medication you need to drink 10 to 12 glasses of water or fluid a day to minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Also be sure to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of slat and liquids, if you have high blood pressure and cannot eat a lot of salt be sure to talk to your doctor about that.
Precautions when taking this medication
Tell your doctor what medication you are allergic too and how it affected you what symptoms you got with the allergic reaction. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or might become pregnant, it is not known if this medication will harm an unborn baby it has not been known to happen. Also talk to your doctor if you are breast feeding it is also not known to cause harm to a baby and not known to pass through breast milk but to be on the safe side it is best not to breast feed while on this medication unless your doctor says it is okay for you to do so. Also tell your doctor if you family has a history of mental illness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery when taking this medication or anything that needs you to be alert until you know how this medication is going to affect you. This medication will cause you to become drowsy. Your doctor will recommend the right dose for you never take too little or too much of this medication. If the dose is too low you will not benefit from the medication but if the dose is too high you run the risk of suffering from lithium poisoning> your doctor will give you blood test through out your treatment to see how much of the medication is in your blood stream. You will need to watch for signs of lithium poisoning, signs of lithium poisoning can include any of the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unsteady walking
- Fainting
- Tremors
- Diarrhea
If you feel any of this symptoms stop taking this medication and call your doctor if your doctor is not around go to your local emergency room right away.
Important information to know when taking this medication.
Never share this medication with others and do not use others medication even if you have or they have the same symptoms as you it is not safe because your doctor has prescribed the medication for your body’s system. Keep a list of all the medications you are taking so your doctor knows to see if it will interact with this medication at his time there are no know drug or food interactions. Be sure to tell your doctor all the medications you are taking even if they are non prescription such as, vitamins, allergy meds, and also any herbal remedies you might be taking.
How to store this medication
This medication should be stored at room temperature in a cool dry place away from heat and moisture. And keep out of reach of children and animals. Do not store this medication in a bathroom or near a sink because this medication will not work if it becomes wet. If this medication becomes out dated ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely dispose of it. The best thing to do is give it to your doctor or pharmacist so they can dispose of it for you.
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