Suggest Ways To Loose Weight When Weaning Off Lithium

Posted on Sat, 14 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 14 Feb 2015 Answered on

Fri, 13 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been on lithium for 17 years and never had my blood levels checked because the doctor I was seeing did not do this. I gained 100 lbs from it. Now that I am off of it will the weight come off on its on with time? Also should I have my kidneys checked because I was not monitored with my blood levels over the years?

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Your weight will come back to normal with time/Get KFT done.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient with this medical history,my clinical explanation would have been-

Lithium causes weight gain by decreasing the matabolic rate of the body.Once you have stopped the drug,metabolic rate will improve gradually over time, and your weight will come back to normal.

Kidney function tests are to be monitored every 6 months, when patient is on Lithium therapy.You have been on lithium for a long time and it's good if you get the Kidney function tests monitored.

Hope I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T