Common "Lithium" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Lithium

Lithium is an antimanic drug used in the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder and mania episodes. A constant daily dose is recommended for better effect. Adequate fluid and salt intake are necessary. Side effects include weight gain, diarrhea, hand tremors, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, hair loss, poor memory, decreased thyroid function, drowsiness, acne, and muscle weakness.

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Why was my Lithium dose reduced due to creatinine levels?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been taking Lithium XR 400 mg twice a day and Valprol CR 300 mg twice a day for the last 19 years. I am also taking Geminor M1 once a day since the last two years. My local doctor checks regularly for my creatinine level and lithium level. My last report of creatinine was 1.36 m...  Read Full »


Dr. Ashaq Hussain Parrey

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your query. 1. The normal range of lithium 12 hours after the last dose is 0.6 to 1.2. Your level is 0.48, which is already low. So, instead of decreasing the dose, you may need to increase it to maintain it at a therapeutic level. Consult your specia...  Read Full »

Can sodium valproate cause frequent urination and thirst?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been on Lithium for bipolar disorder for over 20 years. From a blood test two years ago, I noticed that my GFR was below 40. So, I gradually started switching from Lithium to Epilim to avoid further damage to my kidneys. But now, I experience excessive thirst and I wake up at ni...  Read Full »


Dr. Pankaj Jawandhiya

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen your detailed reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Lithium commonly causes two types of renal disease, namely nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis. Diabetes insipidus is causing the symptom...  Read Full »

What medicine to avoid while taking Lithium and Quetiapine?

Query: Hi doctor, I am on Lithium 600 mg per day and Quetiapine 300 mg per day. I would like to know what kind of food, beverages and medicines I should avoid.  Read Full »


Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Medications for depression (antidepressant drugs) interact with Lithium. Do not take Lithium if you are taking medications for depression. Some of these medications include SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) like Fluoxetine and others in the same group, Ser...  Read Full »

Can you make a diagnosis of Grave's disease from my description?

Query: Hello doctor, Can you make a diagnosis of autoimmune or other thyroid disease based on the information? I was treated. My theory is I have autoimmune thyrotoxicosis or Graves' disease. I was taking Lithium for cluster migraine prevention. When I discontinued Lithium I become very anxious in line wit...  Read Full »


Dr. Aditi Gupta

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The diagnosis is correct viz hyperthyroid Graves' disease. You certainly need Methimazole for this as well as a thyroid surgery. You should not take Lithium for prolonged use. However, bearing in mind the side effects it has. But I understand you also need it for your gri...  Read Full »

My anxiety symptoms are coming back after stopping Lithium and Zoloft. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I was on Lithium 300 mg thrice a day and 50 mg Zoloft once a day for a year and a half but they were of no help so I stopped taking them. My anxiety symptoms are coming back. I have racing thoughts and panic attacks. I cannot wait for 30 days to see a psychiatrist. Would I be able to ...  Read Full »


Dr. Suresh Kumar G D

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I will strongly recommend to consult your psychiatrist at the earliest so that your mental state can be reviewed and started back on appropriate medication. You may know that stopping medication without medical supervision puts you at risk of relapse. Also I note tha...  Read Full »

Can lithium damage your kidney and thyroid?

Query: Hello doctor, My health issue started 11 years back when I was diagnosed with mania. Since then, I have been taking Olimelt 5 mg. My weight has increased from 65 to 100 kg. Whenever I tried to stop the medicine, the problem worsened. I have had four manic episodes in all these years. The last episod...  Read Full »


Dr. Aditya Gupta

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, Lithium can cause this side effect. Kindly discuss with your treating psychiatrist regarding substituting Lithium with Lurasidone or Quetiapine. Topiramate can be added to counter weight gain after discussing with your treating psychiatrist. Remember, every probl...  Read Full »

Can my diabetic and hypertensive father use Aripiprazole?

Query: Hello doctor, My father is 65 years old. He has bipolar disorder for 40 years. He also has diabetes. He is taking medicine for high blood pressure. For a very long time, he took lithium 1000 mg and oxcarbazepine 900 mg. 2-3 episodes used to happen, normally of long manic spell followed by gloomy/not...  Read Full »


Dr. Vivek Chail

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read through your query in detail. Please find my observations below. Medicines for mental health conditions should be taken under the strict supervision of the psychiatrist. As mentioned above, lithium toxicity is a serious concern and it is good that you have ...  Read Full »

I have depression and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Do I only have depression?

Query: Hello doctor,I have been experiencing mild depression since I was a child. My family problem made me extra depressed. After three years, I fell in love with a girl, but then she left me. This created a check for me, so I wanted to study more to prove myself. The depression kept increasing, but I sta...  Read Full »


Dr. Suresh Kumar G D

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is good to know that you are feeling better on your current medication of Lithium and Abilify (Aripiprazole). From the information you have given, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive opinion, but it does look like you have experienced some hypomanic symptom...  Read Full »

Is it possible for Lithium and Ibuprofen interaction to result in neurological toxicity?

Query: Hi doctor, I am a 27-year-old female. I have been taking Lithium 1200 mg for five years. Last year, I got an injury and it required regular pain management. So I was told to take Ibuprofen at a maximum dose. Within a week, I developed ataxia, muscle weakness, and spasticity, memory loss, polyuria...  Read Full »


Dr. Nagaraj

Answer: Hi,Welcome to icliniq.com.It is purely drug to drug interaction and it is well known with lithium. In fact, lithium interacts with many drugs and it is one of the drugs having a narrow therapeutic index. The symptoms of lithium toxicity can develop even with the absence of kidney damage as they are ...  Read Full »

Will lowering the dose of psychiatric drugs help to reduce the manic episodes in my son?

Query: Hi doctor, My 25-year-old son just came out of the psychiatric hospital and the medication given to him makes him more manic, delusional with side effects, but the doctor did not listen to them. Now I need to adjust quickly because he is escalating. This has happened after every release. They incre...  Read Full »


Dr. Seikhoo Bishnui

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Stopping the medicines abruptly might precipitate withdrawal. But you can reduce the doses gradually. Tegretol can be reduced to 100 mg twice daily, and then after a week evening dose can be stopped. Dose of Temazepam can be halved, and then this can be stopped aft...  Read Full »

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