[twinkle]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering..those of you taking lithium...how much water do you drink? I am tring to set up the ideal healthy eating and drinking plan for me to follow to improve my mental and physical wellbeing. ANy ideas peoples? Or are there any tips you can bestow upon a newbie bipolarite?

Cheers
Twinkle

[darkeyes]

I've never been told to limit water consumption, neither my brother, who has been on it for over 30yrs. I'm no longer on it, but changed to Lamictal for it's ant-depressant properties, while at the same time it's not an AD, but a mood stabilizer.
I have heard, it is not good to restrict or lower fluid consumption, but to stay with what has always been a comfortable and normal amount of water/fluids.
restricting fluid intake, can cause the body to store the med and become borderline toxic or even toxic, but as ALWAYS check with the prescribing physician for exact details and recommendations, cause everyone has a different idea of how much or too little fluid intake may be.

[blackdragon]

I didnt change anything in my diet. But 8 glasses of water a day and add a few more on hot days or days you are working out alot. Also if you dont like the idea of drinking so much water do what i do, eat alot of salads (and snicker salads dont count), eat fruit like watermelon or oranges, and gello is a good way to get water in. And taste good too.

[crazymusiclvr]

I am uncertain as to exactly how much water I drink a day but it is a lot. I would say at least 32 ounces. The only thing is, I gained about 15 pounds very quickly after I started lithium. I've been on it for a year and have gained just those 15 pounds. I feel like i'm retaining a lot of water so I'm thinking a lot of it is water weight. Has anyone else experienced this? Of course, I don't try to drink less water to make me feel less like a water balloon! lol. Yes, it's annoying that I have gained the weight but I don't worry about it too much because I feel so much better, mentally!

~Lia

[(JD)]

One expert recently put it simply to figure out (how much water to drink normally) Take your weight in pounds, divide it in half and change the factor to ounces. That's how much water to drink each day to be healthy. (i.e. if you weigh 150 lbs then you should drink 75 ounces a day.)

[twinkle]

Hey thanks everyone! Perhaps I need to be drinking a little more. I dont know why but my belly is very bloated and no jelly-like. Hubby is worried I may be stressed??

Twinkle

[DaveyJones]

A bit on lithium and fluid levels in the bady from Drugs.com...

"Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water or other fluid every day while taking lithium. Vigorous exercise, prolonged exposure to heat or sun, excessive sweating, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting may cause dehydration and side effects from lithium. Call your doctor if you lose a significant amount of body fluid as a result of sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting."

So, the advice above "1/2 your body weight in ounces of water" should work great!

DJ