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What Are the Risks of Combining Lithium and Alcohol?

Amanda Barnhart
Amanda Barnhart

Combining lithium and alcohol can have serious risks and may make the medication less effective. Lithium is typically prescribed for patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, though it may also be used in patients with depression who do not have manic episodes if their depression does not respond to antidepressants alone. The medication helps stabilize the patient's moods and provides relief from other symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression, such as difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, and decreased energy. Lithium is a salt and can create severe problems if too much water or salt is lost, a common problem when combining lithium with alcohol. The medication also acts as a sedative, which can be increased if the patient consumes alcohol.

The combination of lithium and alcohol can lead to a dangerous condition known as lithium toxicity if too much of the drug builds up in the body. Alcohol can cause dehydration, depriving the body of the necessary water levels to process lithium and keep the drug at safe levels. Lithium toxicity symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and tremors or muscle twitches. Patients who experience symptoms of lithium toxicity, particularly after drinking alcohol, should seek emergency medical attention to prevent coma and kidney problems.

Drinking alcohol with lithium may affect the potency of the lithium.
Drinking alcohol with lithium may affect the potency of the lithium.

Many lithium patients experience a sedative-like effect after taking the drug. Alcohol can increase this side effect, leading to fatigue, disorientation, and muscle weakness. Combining lithium and alcohol is particularly dangerous when using dangerous machinery or equipment or while driving, since it may impair the patient's ability to do these activities safely.

Alcohol can make lithium less effective in people taking it for bipolar disorder or depression.
Alcohol can make lithium less effective in people taking it for bipolar disorder or depression.

Drinking alcohol while taking lithium can also make the drug less effective. Many patients experience worsening depression symptoms when they drink, negating the beneficial effects of the drug. Lithium patients should never take more than the prescribed dose of the medication in an attempt to boost the effectiveness, since this can lead to dangerous levels of the drug in the bloodstream.

Lithium has sedative qualities that could be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
Lithium has sedative qualities that could be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

Patients react differently to lithium and alcohol. Many patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder suffer from alcoholism and other substance abuse problems. Patients should be honest with their doctors about their alcohol consumption, particularly if they take lithium, to avoid a dangerous interaction. A doctor may suggest gradually decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed while increasing the patient's lithium dosage over time to reduce the risk of serious complications. Patients who have trouble controlling their drinking should discuss the problem with their doctors to allow them to consider other medications or methods of reducing alcohol intake.

Discussion Comments

anon996050

I'm on 1500 milligrams of lithium a day and I drink anywhere from a 12 pack to a case of beer a day. Lately I've been getting violently ill almost every day. I wondered if it was the lithium. Now I know it is. I just hope I didn't do a lot of damage. I will have to quit drinking at once. I wasn't getting the benefits from the alcohol anyway. It didn't matter how much I drank; I could never get drunk

serenesurface

Lithium and alcohol together make me extremely sleepy. I have a high tolerance to alcohol but when I'm on lithium, just one beer will knock me out. It's just a party pooper.

discographer

@ZipLine-- Yea and the other part is that lithium, like all medications, is thrown out of the system by the kidneys. Alcohol also tires out the kidneys, partly due to its dehydrating effects.

So drinking while on lithium means that the kidneys will be strained a lot. If someone is inclined to have kidney problems, this can trigger it.

The hangovers can be pretty bad too.

ZipLine

Drinking while dealing with a psychological problem like depression or bipolar disorder is a bad idea in general because alcohol depresses the central nervous system. So it will aggravate the symptoms of depression and make you feel ten times worse.

Forget about taking lithium with alcohol, I don't think that anyone with bipolar should be drinking whether they're on medications or not.

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    • Drinking alcohol with lithium may affect the potency of the lithium.
      By: draghicich
      Drinking alcohol with lithium may affect the potency of the lithium.
    • Alcohol can make lithium less effective in people taking it for bipolar disorder or depression.
      By: Eléonore H
      Alcohol can make lithium less effective in people taking it for bipolar disorder or depression.
    • Lithium has sedative qualities that could be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Lithium has sedative qualities that could be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
    • The combination of lithium and alcohol can lead to a potentially dangerous medical condition called lithium toxicity.
      By: Minerva Studio
      The combination of lithium and alcohol can lead to a potentially dangerous medical condition called lithium toxicity.
    • Alcohol dehydrates the body which can lead to dangerous levels of lithium in the body if both are taken at the same time.
      By: orcea david
      Alcohol dehydrates the body which can lead to dangerous levels of lithium in the body if both are taken at the same time.
    • Combining lithium and alcohol may lead to coma and kidney problems.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Combining lithium and alcohol may lead to coma and kidney problems.
    • Mixing alcohol with lithium can create emotional numbness.
      By: Gina Sanders
      Mixing alcohol with lithium can create emotional numbness.