Sauna and lithium medication

Going to the sauna while taking lithium medication

If you're taking lithium medication, it's only safe to use our saunas with explicit permission from your treating physician. Sweating in the sauna causes your body to lose salt (sodium), which can lead to increased lithium levels in your blood. This raises the risk of lithium toxicity.

Even if your doctor approves your sauna visit, we strongly advise you to follow these precautions — better safe than sorry:

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

• Limit your sauna session to a maximum of 10 minutes

• Drink plenty of mineral water in and outside the sauna

• Leave the sauna immediately if you feel unwell

How the sauna affects lithium
When you use the sauna, you lose a lot of fluids — and with that, sodium. Your body compensates for this sodium loss by retaining more lithium, because lithium and sodium are chemically similar. As a result, lithium concentrations in your blood can rise (source: www.levenmetlithium.nl).
This can potentially cause symptoms such as stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, trembling, loss of balance, and confusion — signs that may indicate 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 saunas, you can enjoy deep relaxation for body and mind. Our beauty center offers a wide range of deeply soothing massages and body treatments.

When will you come to unwind?