Do NOT use Lithium Carbonate if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Lithium Carbonate
• you have moderate to severe kidney, heart, or blood vessel problems
• you have low blood sodium levels
• you are severely dehydrated, ill, or weakened
• you are taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (eg, enalapril) or a diuretic (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide).

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Lithium Carbonate. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, dehydration, fever, infection, or illness, or you are in a weakened state
• if you have kidney, heart, blood vessel, or thyroid problems
• if you have brain or nerve problems (eg, organic brain syndrome)
• if you are on a low-salt diet.

Some medicines may interact with Lithium Carbonate. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Acetazolamide, urea, urinary alkalinizers (eg, sodium bicarbonate), or xanthines (eg, theophylline) because they may decrease Lithium Carbonate's effectiveness
• ACE inhibitors (eg, enalapril), angiotensin II receptor antagonists (eg, losartan), calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil), carbamazepine, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), methyldopa, metronidazole, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, indomethacin, celecoxib), or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of toxicity of Lithium Carbonate may be increased
• Butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol) or other medicines for mental or mood problems because the risk of serious side effects, such as confusion, involuntary muscle movements, fever, and brain damage, may be increased
• Iodide preparations (eg, potassium iodide) because the risk of low thyroid levels may be increased
• Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers (eg, vecuronium) or succinylcholine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Lithium Carbonate.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lithium Carbonate may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Lithium Carbonate may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Lithium Carbonate with caution. Do not drive or perform other possible unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• It may take 1 to 3 weeks for Lithium Carbonate to work. Do not stop using Lithium Carbonate without checking with your doctor.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lithium Carbonate before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Fever, infection, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating may affect the levels of Lithium Carbonate in your blood. If you experience any of these conditions, contact your doctor. Talk to your doctor about how to replace the salt lost through sweating during exercise.
• Do not change the amount of salt in your diet unless instructed by your doctor. Check with your doctor before restricting your salt intake. Tell your doctor if you are on a low-salt diet.
• Lab tests, including blood lithium levels and kidney function tests, may be performed while you use Lithium Carbonate. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Lithium Carbonate with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Lithium Carbonate should not be used in children younger 12 years; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Lithium Carbonate may cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Lithium Carbonate while you are pregnant. Lithium Carbonate is found in breast milk. Do not breastfeed while taking Lithium Carbonate.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

Mild hand tremor; mild thirst; temporary, mild nausea and general discomfort at the beginning of treatment.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; confusion; diarrhea; drowsiness; excessive weight gain; fainting; giddiness; inability to control the bladder or bowels; increased thirst; increased or decreased urination; involuntary twitching or muscle movements; loss of consciousness; loss of coordination; muscle weakness; persistent headache; persistent or severe nausea; ringing in the ears; seizures; slow or irregular heartbeat; slurred speech; swelling of the ankles or wrists; unsteadiness; vision changes; vomiting.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.