Lithium + Alcohol

[utaninja]

I’ve created this as a discussion for hope for more input on this combination. Here is what I’ve found-

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4006376/ - “Our data suggest that alcohol has limited effects on lithium carbonate kinetics. The possibility of elevated serum lithium concentrations when lithium is taken with alcohol is suggested.” however this might not be significant enough to mention in the message

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25850902/ - “Alcohol and lithium have opposing effects on the period and phase of the behavioral free-running activity rhythm” - this seems mainly direction for bipolar patients and might not be significant enough to mention in the message.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/322635/ - From my understanding it seems Lithium doesn’t affect the Alcohol high much. There was also “Alcohol was seen to reverse aspects of lithium-induced dysphoria and there is a suggestion that lithium may attenuate alcohol-induced cognitive inefficiency.” however this was a small study and I couldn’t find more on this.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5164879/ - Lithium can cause dehydration

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499992/ - Lithium toxicity

Lithium and Alcohol both can increase dehydration can add risk to lithium toxicity which can be dangerous.

Leaning towards-

Lithium + Alcohol = Caution

Something on the lines of “Both substances can increase dehydration which can be dangerous at higher amounts.” I’m sure about mentioning anything else noted by the studies above, however it would seem not to hurt if done.