Posted by SLS on February 1, 2023, at 17:48:59
In reply to Lithium and kidney function review, posted by undopaminergic on February 1, 2023, at 14:16:04
> Hi all,
>
> For anyone interested in the question of the effects of lithium on kidney function (and structure), here is a review article which offers a discussion of the topic, as well as clinical guidelines as to when to terminate lithium therapy for nephrological reasons.
>
> "Lithium and nephrotoxicity: a literature review of approaches to clinical management and risk stratification"
> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30390660/
> Full article:
> https://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-018-1101-4
>
> Note that the article does not attempt to elucidate the mechanisms though which lithium may cause harm to the kidneys.
>
> -undopaminergic
I don't think the article emphasizes enough that kindney damage is dosage dependent. I've been taking lithium 300 mg/day for over 10 years. Regular blood tests have never shown any abnormal results. My thyroid has been normal all of this time. As the article states, the longer one takes lithium for, the higher the risk of developing nephrotoxity - but this applies to *normal* (high-dosage) therapeutic dosages of 900-1500 mg/day. At low dosages (150-450 mg/day), the length of treatment is no longer a risk factor.Another thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is that taking the entire daily dosage as a single dose at night reduces the risk of nephrotoxicity.
In 2023, I think lithium is under-utilized.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
poster:SLS
thread:1121708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20230117/msgs/1121711.html