Lithium and chronic kidney disease

[Mousse1990]

I've been on lithium for 10 years (I'm 35) and recently had to come off due to it affecting my kidneys.

It's been affecting my kidneys for years but the past 18 months or so my GFR has decreased gradually to 60ish now down to 51. It was going down roughly 1 point every blood test but now has gone from 55-51 between blood tests.

I thought that after discontinuing lithium that my kidney function would return to normal. This has not been the case and it has actually got worse.

They want to retest in 6-8 weeks (they just sent me a text message, no chat with a doctor) and told me to drink lots of water (I already drink loads).

Has anyone experienced this before? Slightly worried now that this is going to be permanent because of the lithium. I really did think it would just go back to normal. 😕

I’m sorry this is happening op. My last psychiatrist specifically didn’t prescribe lithium when I asked for it because he said he’s seeing so many patients who got this “gold standard” treatment who ten or twenty years later are suffering from kidney failure. But I’m currently on a 24 hour heart test as my bipolar medication has caused heart problems. It’s absolutely shit that doing the right thing can fuck you over like this.

Thank you for replying, and I'm sorry that you're in a similar situation! My original psychiatrist prescribed it 10 years ago and she didn't really want me to try it but there's never been any mention of permanent side effects 😔