Lady Gaga Reveals She Once Used Lithium For Mental Health; What the Mood Stabilizer Really Does

Oscar-winning Lady Gaga has revealed she was on Lithium while filming the musical romance movie A Star Is Born due to mental health issues caused by challenging circumstances behind the scenes. The 39-year-old

popstar said the year was so busy for her as it also saw the release of her album Joanne and the accompanying tour, that she experienced what she called a psychotic break. “I did A Star Is Born on lithium,” she told Rolling Stone in an interview. “There was one day that my sister said to me, ‘I don’t see my sister anymore.’ And I canceled the tour. One day, I went to the hospital for psychiatric care. I needed to take a break. I couldn’t do anything … I completely crashed. It was really scary. There was a time when I didn’t think I could get better.… I feel really lucky to be alive. I know that might sound dramatic, but we know how this can go,” Gaga added. Lithium is a mood disorder medication used to reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes. In the same year, Gaga had canceled the last ten dates of her tour and wrote to fans on social media that she was suffering from severe pain, which made her unable to continue performing. At that time, it was reported that her pain was related to fibromyalgia - a long-term condition that causes pain across the body.

How does lithium work for mental health?

Lithium is medically used to treat bipolar disorder and helps to regulate and balance substances in your brain that regulate mood, behaviours, and thoughts. According to experts, it is used on a daily basis to reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes. Manic-depressive patients experience severe mood changes, all of which range from an excited or manic state, such as unusual anger or irritability or a false sense of well-being, to depression and extreme sadness. While it is not known how lithium works to stabilize a person's mood, doctors say it acts on the central nervous system and helps you to have more control over your emotions, and lets you cope better with the problems of living. Across the world, medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Important precautions to take

Doctors say it is important that your healthcare provider checks your progress at regular visits to make sure that lithium is working properly. Blood and urine tests can also be carried out to check for unwanted side effects. Using lithium while you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. And so, it is important to use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. It is always advisable to call your doctor right away if you suffer from:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Muscle weakness
• Tremors
• Unsteadiness
• Issues with muscle control or coordination

Doctors say all of these may be signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity. Also, make sure your doctor knows if you have a heart disorder known as Brugada syndrome, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.