What is the best diet for lithium?

Official answer. There are no specific dietary requirements while taking Lithium. Generally you can eat what you like. However Lithium requires consistent monitoring to ensure you maintain the right balance of lithium in the blood to avoid the dangerous condition of lithium toxicity

lithium toxicity

Lithium toxicity, also known as lithium overdose, is the condition of having too much lithium. Symptoms may include a tremor, increased reflexes, trouble walking, kidney problems, and an altered level of consciousness. Some symptoms may last for a year after levels return to normal.

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Lithium toxicity - Wikipedia

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What foods should you avoid when taking lithium?

Avoid excessive intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, cola or energy drinks, since these may decrease levels of lithium and decrease effectiveness of the medication.

What foods can increase lithium levels?

Lithium in Food Products

The main sources of Li in the diet are cereals, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and some mineral waters [44]. It may also be found in some spices such as nutmeg, coriander seeds, or cumin; however, their share in the total supply of this element is negligible in many geographic regions [49].

What blocks lithium absorption?

Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics increase sodium reabsorption which decreases the clearance of lithium and significantly elevates lithium concentrations in serum.

What vitamins should I take with lithium?

Top Foods for Lithium Boost Mood, Stem Cells, Longevity + More! | John Douillard's LifeSpa

Does caffeine affect lithium?

Heavy caffeine consumption can affect the blood levels of lithium, a mood stabilizer that doctors commonly use to treat bipolar disorder. The body excretes lithium in the urine. As caffeine is a diuretic, it may lower the levels of lithium in the body by increasing the urine output.

Does caffeine deplete lithium?

Notes for Consumers: Caffeine may decrease the effectiveness of Lithium. It is advisable to limit your caffeine intake (including teas, coffees, colas and non-prescription or herbal medicines containing caffeine) while taking Lithium.

What organs can lithium damage?

Lithium has adverse effects on the kidneys, thyroid gland and parathyroid glands, necessitating monitoring of these organ functions through periodic blood tests. In most cases, lithium-associated renal effects are relatively mild.

Should you drink a lot of water when taking lithium?

If you take lithium in the morning, do not take it until after your blood work is done. It is important to drink 8-12 glasses of water/fluid every day.

Is lithium hard on kidneys?

Lithium may cause problems with kidney health. Kidney damage due to lithium may include acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) kidney disease and kidney cysts. The amount of kidney damage depends on how long you have been taking lithium.

How do you protect your kidneys from lithium?

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that can protect and even reverse renal toxicity, including toxicity from lithium.

What are two long-term side effects of lithium?

Results: Long-term lithium treatment is associated with a reduced urinary concentrating ability, with subsequent polyuria and polidypsia and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (in 10-40% of patients).

Why do people quit lithium?

Adverse effects were the most common cause for lithium discontinuation. Among the adverse effects, diarrhoea, tremor, creatinine increase, polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus and weight gain were the top five reasons for discontinuing lithium.

Does lithium shorten your lifespan?

Lithium May Extend Longevity

In addition to the well-known positive effects on mood,¹⁸ lithium has also been linked with longer overall longevity. Two studies have found that individuals living in areas with even modest, low levels of lithium in the drinking water tend to live longer.

Can you exercise on lithium?

Exercising – it's good to exercise regularly, provided that you're getting enough fluids and salt. But you should try to avoid taking your lithium dose just before doing vigorous exercise.

Does lithium cause memory loss?

A common complaint made by those who take lithium, but one which may easily be overlooked, is cognitive compromise. Clinically, patients describe this as “brain fog”-an elusive admixture of complaints regarding attention, concentration, and memory occurring in conjunction with a slowing of thought processes.

Should lithium be taken in the morning or evening?

Take your lithium each night at the same time. You need to take it at night because blood tests need to be done during the day, 12 hours after a dose (see Section 4 'Blood tests after starting to take lithium').

Does lithium dull your emotions?

Substantial affect and mood changes are induced by lithium carbonate. Lethargy, dysphoria, a loss of interest in interacting with others and the environment, and a state of increased mental confusion were reported.

Does lithium affect motivation?

Chronic lithium alone slowed PRLT acquisition. Reduced DAT functioning increased motivation (PRB), an effect attenuated by lithium in GBR12909-treated mice. Neurochemical analyses revealed that DAT knockdown mice exhibited elevated homovanillic acid levels, but that lithium had no effect on these elevated levels.

Can you take vitamin D with lithium?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between lithium and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

What is the best vitamin for bipolar disorder?

B vitamins are often used to treat mood

Anxiety disorder often accompanies bipolar disorder. Vitamin B1 can help ease anxiety and irritability for some adults, according to a 2021 study .

Can B12 affect lithium?

How Do Lithium and B12 Work Together? Vitamin B12 requires lithium to work its best. You can think of lithium like a taxi that transports B12 into our cells. Lithium attaches to the B12 and moves it into our cells where it can be useful.

What can replace lithium medication?

Alternatives to lithium in the prevention of relapse of recurrent affective disorders include antidepressants, carba- mazepine and ECT.