How do I convince the psychiatrist to prescribe llthium? Or adjust the medication.

Question

Hello, I took lithium for 25 years. It was stopped because of moderate renal failure (48). It has been 3 or 4 years. Since then, I am fine for 2 to 3 weeks then not fine for 2 to 3 weeks. I was taking seroquel and lamictal that I continue. After several trials (epival,wellbutrin)¸ zyprexa was added then latuda. The pharmacist contacted the psychiatrist. She told him about taking 3 anti-psychotics. The psychiatrist said he would remove the zyprexa. He did not. He adamantly refuses to go back on the lithium.

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, Nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) from lithium is common after more than 20 years of treatment (about 1 in 6 people). If lithium is continued despite the damage now seen to your kidneys, you may find your kidneys functioning less and less well, up to the point of needing dialysis in some situations. In my opinion, it is best to try to see about other combinations than the one you are currently taking before considering lithium again. Once we exhaust other possible combinations, there may be no choice but to go with lithium and monitor your kidneys. In the end, it is your decision which treatment is best for you, as long as you are in agreement with the risks described here. :)