Lithium Made My Pee Smelly?

[Anodyne Oblivion]

The day following my first dose of Lithium, I had a bad sulfur-type smell to my pee. (For those of you in the U.S., it smelled like the additive they add to our natural gas for stoves, etc.)

I did not take the dose the second day, but it still smelled. (If I take another, it will be at night time tonight, so I have only missed one.)

But now in the middle of the day 2 days later, the smell is going away. The last time I smelled it (excluding this morning because of dehydration), I had normal pee, i.e. it was not concentrated or anything due to dehydration, but still smelled bad. I know that Lithium can affect the kidneys, and kidney stuff can affect urine odor, but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

I plan on asking my doctor about it, but just wanted to see if anyone had any input.

I just thought it was odd that after taking a drug that can affect your kidneys my pee started to smell. I doubt I have any sort of UTI, as I've only had one in my 30 years on earth, which went away on its own. I haven't done anything in nearly 2 weeks that'd up my risk for getting a UTI either. I also haven't eaten anything out-of-the-ordinary that would account for the odor.

Any in put is appreciated. Thanks.

[Guest]

I assume that as part of the new treatment you will be having your kidney functions tested? I have been on lithium a while and if i don't drink enough fluid, my urine is more pungent.

[Anodyne Oblivion]

Yeah, I'm supposed to take them for 10 days, then call the doc for a blood test. I also had a blood test performed before she prescribed it to make sure nothing wacky was going on with my kidneys, etc.

It's definitely not just "more pungent". There's a distinct mercaptan/sulfur smell.

[Anna]

I think I've heard other people say lith made their pee smell weird.... it doesn't necessarily mean anything is going on with your kidneys and they are unlikely to fail in 10 days. I'd stay fluided up, keep taking it, and put a call into pdoc if you are really worried.

Anna