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Can I Take A Substitute Of Lithium When Suffering From Kidney Disease?

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Posted on Wed, 12 Feb 2014
Question: -Can you go off Lithium after 20 years, and take a substitue drug ,as need because of Kidney disease, without bad effects?
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Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Yes you should. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. Lithium is a good mood stablizer but you should not use it if you have a kidney trouble. Kidneys are the main outlet for the lithium and if there is a kidney disease then lithium may not come out and cause toxicity. Other good options are valproate and carbamazepine. But while coming off lithium make sure it is done very gradually or it will precipitate a mood episode. You need to cross taper lithium with valproate. Like lithium even the valproate levels can be measured in the lab and that makes it helpful. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2770 Questions

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Can I Take A Substitute Of Lithium When Suffering From Kidney Disease?

Brief Answer: Yes you should. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. Lithium is a good mood stablizer but you should not use it if you have a kidney trouble. Kidneys are the main outlet for the lithium and if there is a kidney disease then lithium may not come out and cause toxicity. Other good options are valproate and carbamazepine. But while coming off lithium make sure it is done very gradually or it will precipitate a mood episode. You need to cross taper lithium with valproate. Like lithium even the valproate levels can be measured in the lab and that makes it helpful. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.