I took my cocktail of pills as usual the other day. I was driving along, coughed a few times and my Lithium capsule came up and dissolved in my throat. I instantly could not breathe and panic ensued. I pulled over at a gas station and nearly crashed in to the gas pumps. I managed to put the truck in park and I looked around for a drink. My cooler which is usually next to me was behind my passenger seat. I had to jump over to the passenger side, exit the truck and get my cooler from beside the seat. All I could remember was telling myself not to pass out. I got a gatorade and took a sip but the drink would not go down my throat. I was on my knees and could not even gasp for air. Finally I started weasing just a little bit so I calmed myself down and breathed as slowly and deeply as I could. I continued to try and get a drink down my throat until finally little sips started to go down. I don't know how long it took but I finally gained my composure and started breathing properly. It took several hours before I could swallow correctly.

When I questioned my Psych about it he said that acid reflux caused my Lithium to come back up and it could have killed me. I was lucky to have a drink nearby and that I should keep a drink with me at all times. He said that Lithium in the respritory tract is deadly.

If you have acid reflux and take Lithium BEWARE!

Jim