Lithium/Loop Diuretics 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:

When these two medicines are taken together, your body may not process lithium properly. Your diuretic may interfere with the benefits of lithium.

What might happen:

The effects of lithium may decrease or increase causing either decreased effectiveness or an increase in toxic effects.

What you should do about this interaction:

Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together.If you experience new or worsened hand tremors, fatigue, muscle weakness or unusual stiffness, confusion, slurred speech, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, blurred vision, trouble walking, ringing in the ears, seizures, dizziness, or heart palpitations call your doctor right away. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of your medicine and it may be necessary to monitor the lithium levels in your blood more often.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Keep all of your appointments with the doctor and laboratory. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
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