Sauna and legionella

Going to the sauna while taking lithium medication

If you're taking lithium medication, it’s only safe to use our saunas with the explicit approval of your treating physician. Sweating in the sauna draws salt (sodium) from the body, which can lead to an elevated level of lithium in your bloodstream. This increases the risk of lithium toxicity.

Even if your doctor gives you the green light, we advise you to follow these precautions carefully — prevention is key:

• Avoid the hottest spots (upper benches) in the sauna

• Limit your time in the sauna to a maximum of 10 minutes

• Drink plenty of mineral water before, during, and after your sauna session

• Leave the sauna immediately if you start to feel unwell

How the sauna affects lithium
You lose a significant amount of fluid during a sauna visit. Sweating expels sodium from your body. To compensate for the loss of sodium, the body excretes less lithium — because lithium and sodium are chemically similar. This leads to higher lithium concentrations in your blood (source: www.levenmetlithium.nl).
As a result, symptoms such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, trembling, balance issues, and confusion may occur — all signs of potential lithium toxicity.

Thermen without the sauna
Taking lithium doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the full Thermen experience. Even without using the sauna facilities, you can still fully unwind and enjoy physical and mental relaxation. At our beauty center, you’ll find a range of deeply soothing massages and body treatments.

When will you take a moment to relax?