Lithium Side Effects Still Do Not Outweigh Potential Benefits in Bipolar Patients
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Despite the fact that Lithium side effects can affect patients, the pharmaceutical drug remains one of the only recognized drugs to treat bipolar and prevent suicide in patients. Discontinuing lithium drug therapy may itself produce one of the worst withdrawal side effects ever: suicide.
A recent $2.15 million lawsuit coming to the state of Virginia’s circuit court involves navy veteran Mr. Scott Allan Star, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed lithium after a suicide attempt in 2008. Despite not having displayed any obvious side effects of lithium, he was abruptly withdrawn from the drug in August 2008 and later shot himself in his home three days later. According to Mr. Star’s wife, he was removed from the medication by his physician, deviating from standard medical practice. He could very well still be alive had he not been arbitrarily removed from the medication, Mrs. Star’s attorney claims.
The suit contends that there were no serious side effects of lithium or other legitimate reasons that would have prompted the physician to discontinue Mr. Star’s drug therapy and his suicide could have been prevented.
Common Side Effects of Lithium
Lithium is a potent anti-manic depressive drug, which also mixes with anti-depressants to treat bouts of depression. It is an effective mood stabilizer and reduces extreme changes in behavior. The most common side effects of lithium include dry mouth, low blood pressure, hypothyroidism, decreased heart rate, arrhythmia, and gastrointestinal upset and muscle twitches. Interactions with ACE inhibiters, caffeine, carbamazepine and diltiazem may produce other, more serious lithium side effects and perhaps even lithium toxicity.
