Lithium & Gout

[RedRocket]

My big toe has been killing me lately and sounds and feels alot like gout.  I know that gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid so could my kidneys just be too busy processing all the lithium and now my toe is killing me or am I a hypochondriac?

[AirMarshall]

Eskalith PI Sheet:  Urea, mannitol and aminophylline all produce significant increases in lithium excretion.

Off hand from looking at the PI sheet, it appears that the opposite is true.  High levels of urea in the blood would force lithium levels down by increasing excretion through the kidneys into the urine.

I'm lazy and don't feel like reading up on gout at the moment.  You might check on how/where the nitrogenous wastes get converted to urea and uric acid. 

A.M.

[Jenni]

Actually, lithium was originally used to treat gout.  Here is some more information on that:

http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Lithium-carbonate.html

[RedRocket]

Thanks for the link, Jenni

[ncc1701]

Heya RedRocket,

Jenni, you beat me to it!

Rocket, unless you have other reasons for your kidneys to be stressed, lithium won't cause your kidneys to retain uric acid.

At least, there's no interaction I can find.

Not to say you can't have gout or pseudogout anyway.  Red and swollen?  Had someone lay eyes on it?  Wish you could just send me a picture, I love pictures.

Or, your toe could be killing you b/c you dropped the vacuum on it.

Oh no wait, that's me.

--ncc--