![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fukus on October 25, 2013, at 20:10:43
anyone know what the max amount of alcohol to drink in a given night would be medically sound when i'm on 900 mg lithium per day?
Posted by doxogenic boy on October 26, 2013, at 14:58:34
In reply to lithium and alcohol, posted by fukus on October 25, 2013, at 20:10:43
Welcome to Babble.
You should avoid alcohol when on litium. A friend of mine says alcohol doesn't work when on lithium.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-risks-of-combining-lithium-and-alcohol.htm
Excerpt of the article above:
Combining lithium and alcohol can have serious risks and may make the medication less effective.
[...]
Lithium is a salt and can create severe problems if too much water or salt is lost, a common problem when combining lithium and alcohol. The medication also acts as a sedative, which can be increased if the patient consumes alcohol.The combination of lithium and alcohol can lead to a dangerous condition known as lithium toxicity if too much of the drug builds up in the body. Alcohol can cause dehydration, depriving the body of the necessary water levels to process lithium and keep the drug at safe levels. Lithium toxicity symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and tremors or muscle twitches. Patients who experience symptoms of lithium toxicity, particularly after drinking alcohol, should seek emergency medical attention to prevent coma and kidney problems.
Many lithium patients experience a sedative-like effect after taking the drug. Alcohol can increase this side effect, leading to fatigue, disorientation, and muscle weakness.
[...]
Drinking alcohol while taking lithium can also make the drug less effective. Many patients experience worsening depression symptoms when they drink, negating the beneficial effects of the drug.- doxogenic
Posted by Toph on October 28, 2013, at 16:59:00
In reply to lithium and alcohol, posted by fukus on October 25, 2013, at 20:10:43
I've been taking lithium for about 35 years. I also take 900 mgs. I can handle about 40oz of beer or about 3 shots of whiskey. But what is the point? After the initial buzz, lithium kind of puts a damper on any euphoria you are searching for. I was drinking a couple of shots/day for about a year and was pretty moody. My family and friends had to point it out to me. Then I started getting gout, so I quit and have maybe a couple beers a week now. Beer is a diuretic so you have to be careful of li concentration. Good luck.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.