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I'm supposed to be starting on lithium at some point this week. Here's the question: What is up with the link between lithium and caffeine? Every time I read something about lithium I see a warning that you shouldn't drink caffeinated beverages. One, why is that, and two, why only drink things with caffeine? I'm confused...

Hey, I have been taking Lithium for 15 years and never saw all those warnings about caffeine.

But, caffeine may lower lithium serum concentrations by increasing urinary lithium excretion; ie it makes you pee out lithium more.

Personally, I drink 2-3 diet cokes a day. Mostly just make sure that your blood levels are monitored and you will get a feel for it.

PLus caffeine might not make quench your thirst as much as water or other drinks. Watch that you don't start drinking TONS of juice because you might gain weight.

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Ok. I'll keep that in mind.

I've asked around about this one... it's kinda weird, because half of the people on lithium have never even heard about this stuff... weird.

Yeah, there are so many things that interact with Lithium. Once my family doc prescribed something, I went to get it at the pharmacy, and the pharmacist stopped it because it increased lithium levels! The docs don't even know!

Oh yeah, FYI, if you get sick with vomiting or diarrhea, make sure you keep hydrated. Lithium toxicity can happen fairly quickly if you get dehydrated and you may not be able to tell because some of the symptoms are diarhea, etc.

It's a great drug for mood stabilization, but it is not the easiest drug to be on.