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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zuzu80 on September 7, 2007, at 9:40:00
Hello everyone,
Is it true that lithium can cause kidney or liver damage?! What about taking 83mg X 2 daily?! or blood concentration of 0.3-0.4?!
Any ideas, experiences?
I also wonder whether it can be taken to prevent psychotic episodes.
Thanks
Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2007, at 11:52:59
In reply to Lithium - Is it dangerous?, posted by zuzu80 on September 7, 2007, at 9:40:00
There has been some research to suggest that lithium can help some aspects of schizohprenia, especially if there is a mood disorder present as well.
Yes, lithium can cause kidney dammage, dose dependantly.
Linkadge
Posted by Squiggles on September 7, 2007, at 15:56:09
In reply to Lithium - Is it dangerous?, posted by zuzu80 on September 7, 2007, at 9:40:00
> Hello everyone,
>
> Is it true that lithium can cause kidney or liver damage?! What about taking 83mg X 2 daily?! or blood concentration of 0.3-0.4?!
>It does not effect the liver; it can effect the kidneys if you have problems, or if you don't drink enough water. That dose is tiny -- not
therapeutic unless combined with some other drug;
> Any ideas, experiences?
>
> I also wonder whether it can be taken to prevent psychotic episodes.Yes.
S
>
> Thanks
Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2007, at 17:09:06
In reply to Re: Lithium - Is it dangerous? » zuzu80, posted by Squiggles on September 7, 2007, at 15:56:09
>it can effect the kidneys if you have problems, >or if you don't drink enough water
It can also affect the kidneys if you don't have problems or drink sufficant water.
Linkadge
Posted by James_glasgow on September 10, 2007, at 9:31:17
In reply to Re: Lithium - Is it dangerous?, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2007, at 17:09:06
I have not taken such a small dose I am in the UK and was on the sustained release preparation called Priadel taken once per day before bed, at 400mg it gave me a blood level of 0.4, and at 600mg a blood level of 0.7. I stopped it as I did not like the side effects, however, my friends told me I was going too fast again and I decided off of my own back (my Pdoc was not too happy), to start taking 400mg again which again gave me a blood level of 0.4, and brought me down in 5 days. It depended on many factors and it is unusual to get a blood level of 0.4 for the dose you are taking, but a level of 0.4 will certainly have an affect for many.
I am not on it anymore but sometimes I actually crave the serenity it gave me even at a blood level of 0.4 mmol/l
James
Posted by CareBear04 on September 13, 2007, at 22:21:43
In reply to Lithium - Is it dangerous?, posted by zuzu80 on September 7, 2007, at 9:40:00
Lithium, for me, has been the most helpful mood stabilizer I've taken, but it does have a lot of side effects. I've always done better with a lithium level at the high end of the therapeutic range, so between 1.0 and 1.2. Three years ago, I needed four times the dose I need now to get that level. I had a creatinine clearance test done to assess my kidney function, and the doctors found that I had diminished GFR, meaning my kidneys weren't working as well as they should. Before, when I was on the mega dose of lithium, my kidneys worked better than great. At such a low dose as you're on, you probably won't have any problems, but the effects can be cumulative over the years. Hope things turn out okay!
CB
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