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Took Lithium Carbonate. Hardly Urinate Even Though Feel Like. What To Do?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Jul 2013
Question: I took lithium carbonate for 25 years and my doctor said my kidneys "took a big hit" Now I can hardly urinate even though I feel I have to.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (1 hour later)
Hi XXXXX,
Welcome to healthcare Magic!
Lithium is not per se that much toxic for kidney as to cause a great hit.
You may be having kidney problem due to other hidden trouble. You have difficulty in passing urine that means urine must be there.
Please get a physician review again and also get renal function test and complete blood counts done to get an idea of the problem.
I am enumerating the adverse effects of lithium just for your knowledge, you can see kidney problem is not a major issue but if you have kidney problem for some reason the dose of lithium needs to be decreased.
Adverse effect of lithium therapy-
Exacerbation of psoriasis, acne, rash; nausea, diarrhoea, vertigo, muscle weakness, dazed feeling; loss of concentration; tremors; hypothyroidism; weight gain, oedema; cardiac arrhythmias; exophthalmos; restlessness; electrolyte disturbances.
Potentially Fatal: Severe neurotoxicity, leucopenia.
I hope the advise would be informative and useful for you.
Take Care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monika Choudhary (3 hours later)
What kind of doctor should I go to? XXXXXXX Wiley
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monika Choudhary (29 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to back to Healthcare Magic.
A XXXXXXX Physician that is an XXXXXXX Medicine doctor would be the most appropriate person to have a clinical examination, assessment and plan treatment
in your case.
He may want you to undergo some investigations as I have advised in the previous answer.
I hope the answer will be helpful for you.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Monika Choudhary

OBGYN

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 816 Questions

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Took Lithium Carbonate. Hardly Urinate Even Though Feel Like. What To Do?

Hi XXXXX,
Welcome to healthcare Magic!
Lithium is not per se that much toxic for kidney as to cause a great hit.
You may be having kidney problem due to other hidden trouble. You have difficulty in passing urine that means urine must be there.
Please get a physician review again and also get renal function test and complete blood counts done to get an idea of the problem.
I am enumerating the adverse effects of lithium just for your knowledge, you can see kidney problem is not a major issue but if you have kidney problem for some reason the dose of lithium needs to be decreased.
Adverse effect of lithium therapy-
Exacerbation of psoriasis, acne, rash; nausea, diarrhoea, vertigo, muscle weakness, dazed feeling; loss of concentration; tremors; hypothyroidism; weight gain, oedema; cardiac arrhythmias; exophthalmos; restlessness; electrolyte disturbances.
Potentially Fatal: Severe neurotoxicity, leucopenia.
I hope the advise would be informative and useful for you.
Take Care!