Is there a way to combat the headaches and joint pains when taking the lithium?
Hi, Kim. Good question. Most importantly discuss these side effects with your doctor immediately. Your doctor may want to run a blood test to determine your lithium level and make sure your lithium level is not toxic. Headaches can indicate toxicity. Headaches may also be a sign of dehydration, which can occur with lithium, so keeping hydrated is important.
I have not had anyone complain of joint pains with lithium, although Joe informs me that his wife reported joint pain while taking lithium. Still, it is not a very common side effect, so consult with your doctor to make sure nothing else is going on.
A combination of joint pain and headaches could be from a number of causes ranging from stress and anxiety to Lyme disease to autoimmune disease. It’s important not to assume that these are lithium-related side effects until other issues have been ruled out.
Pain relief with something like acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually safe with lithium, but again, you need to check with your doctor.
For additional suggestions on how to combat undesirable side effects of medications used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, check out our previous post, “Managing Bipolar Medication Side Effects.”
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