Lithium and heart burn

[mejeba]

I've heard it mentioned that Lithium can cause heart burn or acid reflux, but can't find anything about it on all the sites I've looked at.

Heard/know about this?

[grousemouse]

i haven't heard of that or experienced either while on it (well, heartburn once). but i do know that you should drink (water) with lithium like you've never drunk before. it is salt after all.

grouse.

[AirMarshall]

Too late for me to research (read: lazy). But it wouldn't surprise me. Lithium can upset the GI tract. The best recommendation is to take you meds with food or a meal. Early on, I would go so far as to put my pills by my plate, have a few bites, swallow the lithium then eat the rest of the meal. Food doesn't affect the absorption.

I'm pretty sure we have had others complain of heartburn. The PI sheet recommends drinking 2-3L of water per day.

The extended release form (usually in 450mg tabs) was created to minimize GI problems and really made Lithium a success from 1978 onward.

The other thing you could do is split dose you lithium thru the day to lower the peak exposure in the stomach.

That's a starting point for things to try or think about. Other possibilities that might need exploring if this doesn't clear up include, refluc /GERD, Hiatal hernia, and asthma.

Hope you feel better, a.m.

p.s. tums, rolaids, or the newer things like pepsid etc, shouldn't interfere with your lithium, but should be checked against other your other meds.

[mejeba]

Thanks!

[hnone]

Thanks!

After taking Lithium I'll have an acidy feeling in my stomach for an hour or so. It hasn't bothered me too much but you may try prevacid or some other antacid. Check with your pdoc first for interaction, of course.