ACE Inhibitors; ARBs/Lithium Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Your blood pressure/heart medicine may slow the elimination of lithium from your body.

What might happen:

Your blood levels of lithium may increase and cause toxic effects.

What you should do about this interaction:

Make sure your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together.If you experience new or worsened tremors, fatigue, muscle weakness, confusion, slurred speech, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, blurred vision, trouble walking, ringing in the ears, seizures, dizziness, or heart palpitations call your doctor or get medical help right away. Your doctor may need to temporarily stop or reduce your dose of lithium, or change you to a different medicine for your high blood pressure/heart/kidney protection. It may be necessary to monitor the lithium levels in your blood more often.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
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