Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can Lithium Cause Muscle Stiffness?
Question: My sister is 63 and has bipolar disorder. She was taking Latuda for a couple of months and her doctor just changed her back to Lithium, which she took for many, many years. He did this because she became 'destabilized' on the Latuda. She is now experiencing muscle and back pain, to the extent that she went to the ER earlier today, and they said she had "inflammation" and sent her home with pain pills and muscle relaxants. She does have fibromyalgia and arthritis, and has been laying around the house and very inactive for about two months, which might account for the stiffness and pain, but I am wondering if she should tell her psychiatrist about this bout of body pain. She did see him on Tuesday, but he didn't seem concerned, but her back and muscle pain weren't that bad on Tuesday. By the way, the reason she was originally taken off of Lithium is because she had developed tremors and a change in her walking gait, and a neurologist suggested that she get off of lithium - hence the change to Latuda. My question is: can muscle stiffness and generalized back and body pain possibly be a side effect of the Lithium?
Brief Answer:
The lithium is unlikely cause for muscle stiffness
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your post about the problem faced by your sister and understand your concerns.
The lithium as causative agent for generalised body ache and muscle stiffness is very unlikely and other possible causes should be exhausted before thinking about it. In my 10 years of practice in psychiatry and making thousands of prescription for lithium I am yet to any individual with muscle stiffening or severe body ache attributable to lithium.
Having said this the prescription of pain killers should be reported to your psychiatrist as many of the NSAIDS (pain pills) cause elevation of lithium in plasma which could affect overall health of your sister. In some circumstances even lithium can reach to toxicity level and dose adjustment may be necessary.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
The lithium is unlikely cause for muscle stiffness
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your post about the problem faced by your sister and understand your concerns.
The lithium as causative agent for generalised body ache and muscle stiffness is very unlikely and other possible causes should be exhausted before thinking about it. In my 10 years of practice in psychiatry and making thousands of prescription for lithium I am yet to any individual with muscle stiffening or severe body ache attributable to lithium.
Having said this the prescription of pain killers should be reported to your psychiatrist as many of the NSAIDS (pain pills) cause elevation of lithium in plasma which could affect overall health of your sister. In some circumstances even lithium can reach to toxicity level and dose adjustment may be necessary.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
