Lithium primarily affects the central nervous system by altering neurotransmitter release and modulating the activity of certain signaling pathways, such as those involving inositol and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). This modulation is believed to contribute to its mood-stabilizing effects in treating bipolar disorder.
In terms of toxicity, lithium can disrupt electrolyte balance, particularly by affecting sodium channels in cells. Lithium and sodium ions are similar in size, so lithium can enter cells through sodium channels, especially in the kidneys. This can lead to sodium depletion and, if lithium levels become too high, cause lithium toxicity, which manifests in neurological symptoms such as tremors, confusion, seizures, and even coma.
Red flag symptoms for the Lithium Blood Test
Please get in touch with your GP if you are experiencing any symptoms related to lithium supplementation.
Your Results and Health Dashboard
The results of your Lithium Blood Test will be emailed to you as a secured PDF file, ready for your GP and will also be uploaded to our Health Dashboard area of the website. It’s a unique and powerful tool, powered by our in-house clinical analysis research, to match your biomarkers across test panels and symptoms, as well as provide clinical commentary on all individual biomarkers you tested for.
The health dashboard will also provide "panel level" commentary - a birds eye view of the biomarkers that were tested. This feature allows you to view your test results and clinical commentary, and compare them to previous results, giving you a clear understanding of how your health is progressing.
By using the Health Dashboard, you can identify changes in your biomarkers and make necessary adjustments to your lifestyle. This added value is immense, as it empowers you to monitor your health and make informed decisions about your well-being.
It's free and is available with all of our tests.