[lellow_171]

Hi! So I just started the medifast diet but I am on lithium at the same time, and I read the warning about it however I am unable to meet with my health care provider for another month and I was wondering what it is I need to be cautious about when on medifast and lithium?

I don't really want to post-pone my dieting as I'm afraid of losing the strength to diet if I put it off.

Is there any particular danger with the low calorie diet and lithium? I haven't really been able to find information anywhere.

Thank you in advance for your responses

[CANDC]

Welcome to Psych Central. There are particular things about Lithium that indicate the need not to be on "draconian diets"
psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/.../6-bipolar-rules-for-eating/

A low sodium diet is important
Psych Central Reviews - Lithium carbonate

Crash diets can exaggerate the effects of lithium
psychcentral.com/lib/medications-for-mania-and-manic.../2

Other articles are available - search box is in upper right hand corner of web pages linked to above.

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by lellow_171

Hi! So I just started the medifast diet but I am on lithium at the same time, and I read the warning about it however I am unable to meet with my health care provider for another month and I was wondering what it is I need to be cautious about when on medifast and lithium?

I don't really want to post-pone my dieting as I'm afraid of losing the strength to diet if I put it off.

Is there any particular danger with the low calorie diet and lithium? I haven't really been able to find information anywhere.

Thank you in advance for your responses

Let me know if I'm correct, but medifast is similar to nutrifast, right?
The big thing with lithium is to keep your sodium levels consistent, not low one day, higher the next. Lithium "looks" the same as sodium to certain receptors so varying levels can affect lithium levels. Low sodium diets often result in higher lithium levels, while high sodium diets can cause drops in lithium. Higher lithium levels are much more dangerous physically than low levels, so avoid suddenly beginning a low sodium diet if you eat a more or less normal diet now. Same regarding caffeine. Keep it consistent. Don't drink more or less from day to day. Less caffeine can cause an increase in lithium levels if you normally drink more, drinking more than normal can cause a drop. Avoid alcohol.
Those are the three big things. Take home message. Don't make any sudden changes, and if you do change your diet suddenly, get your lithium level checked, you can often just have your doctor call in an order for this, you may not even need an appt.
Good luck. Hope it works for you and be careful. Oh, also avoid any supplements because a lot of them interact with lithium.

I'd let my pdoc know I was on this diet and have him do a bit more frequent bloodwork. You do NOT want to screw up your lithium levels. Can be very dangerous. Stay well-monitored.