Lithium is a medication that is primarily used to treat bipolar disorder. It helps to stabilize moods and prevent manic or depressive episodes. However, long-term use of lithium can be associated with a number of side effects, including kidney damage and thyroid problems.
If you have been taking lithium for a long period of time, your body may have become dependent on the medication. Suddenly stopping lithium can cause withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Therefore, it is important to gradually reduce your dosage over time in order to minimize these withdrawal symptoms.
The lithium taper schedule involves slowly reducing your dosage of the medication over a period of time. The duration of the taper schedule will depend on how long you have been taking lithium and how much you have been taking.
Typically, the taper schedule will involve reducing your daily dosage by 10-20% each week. For example, if you are currently taking 1200mg of lithium per day, your taper schedule might look like this:
Suddenly stopping lithium can cause withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, and insomnia.
No, it is not recommended to suddenly stop taking lithium. A gradual taper schedule should be followed in order to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
The duration of the taper schedule will depend on how long you have been taking lithium and how much you have been taking. Typically, the taper schedule will last between 6 and 10 weeks.
If you experience withdrawal symptoms while tapering off lithium, you should speak to your healthcare provider. They may recommend adjusting your taper schedule or prescribing medications to manage your symptoms.
