Took Lithium Carbonate. Hardly Urinate Even Though Feel Like. What To Do?

Posted on Sat, 22 Jun 2013

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

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 Answered on

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I took lithium carbonate for 25 years and my doctor said my kidneys "took a big hit" Now I can hardly urinate even though I feel I have to.

Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (7 hours later)

Hi XXXXX,
Welcome to healthcare Magic!
Lithium is not per se that much toxic for kidney as to cause a great hit.
You may be having kidney problem due to other hidden trouble. You have difficulty in passing urine that means urine must be there.
Please get a physician review again and also get renal function test and complete blood counts done to get an idea of the problem.
I am enumerating the adverse effects of lithium just for your knowledge, you can see kidney problem is not a major issue but if you have kidney problem for some reason the dose of lithium needs to be decreased.
Adverse effect of lithium therapy-
Exacerbation of psoriasis, acne, rash; nausea, diarrhoea, vertigo, muscle weakness, dazed feeling; loss of concentration; tremors; hypothyroidism; weight gain, oedema; cardiac arrhythmias; exophthalmos; restlessness; electrolyte disturbances.
Potentially Fatal: Severe neurotoxicity, leucopenia.
I hope the advise would be informative and useful for you.
Take Care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Monika Choudhary (3 hours later)

What kind of doctor should I go to? XXXXXXX Wiley

Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (29 hours later)

Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to back to Healthcare Magic.
A XXXXXXX Physician that is an XXXXXXX Medicine doctor would be the most appropriate person to have a clinical examination, assessment and plan treatment
in your case.
He may want you to undergo some investigations as I have advised in the previous answer.
I hope the answer will be helpful for you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar