High Lithium Level

[mrjones]

I know or I think I know the therapeutic range is .8-1.2   My gp took it and it is 1.8 is this something to TRY to tell my Pdoc about who has been canceling on me since jan. 18 of just wait for my tentative appointment may 31st.  Mind you I have a better chance of getting Brad Pitt to return a call than my Pdoc.

[Teh Gaben]

I've always been told therapeutic range is 0.4-1.0. Even so, 1.8 is pretty high. Are you getting any side effects from the increased levels? If I were you I'd be trying to bring my pdoc appt forward to ask for his/her opinion on the results.

[Iceberg]

1.8 is rediculous 

[Butterflykisses]

The highest mine has ever been was 1.2 and with that I was crazy sick from dehydration, my dose was even small that time it happened. I am on a higher dose now and my level is about 0.7. 

Are you having any symptoms?

Maybe get it re-checked to make sure it wasn't a lab error

[melissaw72]

3 hours ago, mrjones said:

I know or I think I know the therapeutic range is .8-1.2   My gp took it and it is 1.8 is this something to TRY to tell my Pdoc about who has been canceling on me since jan. 18 of just wait for my tentative appointment may 31st.  Mind you I have a better chance of getting Brad Pitt to return a call than my Pdoc.

Yes, this is something to tell your pdoc about, at least IMO.

To me it seems ridiculous that your pdoc has been cancelling on you since January!  For now, I would try to get an earlier appt.  Maybe call the pdocs office in the mornings (every morning) because people cancel appts, and you might luck out with an opening for an earlier appt.  Or maybe be put on a cancellation list?  If my pdoc kept putting me off for that long, I would be looking for another pdoc (easier said than done but I would be looking).

I have had high lithium levels (close to 2.0) in the past and they had me get an immediate EKG, and then ones following that until my level was back to within the normal range.  (was also having the lithium level tested/blood work until it was back to normal).

I think @Butterflykisses has a good idea of getting the lithium level re-checked.

[dtac]

Ranges are determined by the specific lab. Usually the lab will indicate the values WNL and whether the observed value is high or low. While some lab draws are fairly standard (lithium level is very common) I would never memorize a range and apply that to every returned lithium test. The lab result/range should always be looked at.

That being said, if it is high, I would talk to your GP and see if he/she is willing to monitor your dosage and titrate it until you can see a pdoc. Lithium can cause damage to your kidneys and thyroid at high levels, and it needs to be well monitored. If your pdoc is unavailable, I would find another one (yeah, definitely easier said than done.) More than likely, if your level is high, your pdoc is just going to titrate the dosage downward anyway and order a repeat lab to check it.

[mrjones]

Thanks for all the great answers everybody, very informative.  I have another question if anyone knows......What are the psychological effects or symptoms if any?  depression, mania..........

[melissaw72]

15 hours ago, mrjones said:

Thanks for all the great answers everybody, very informative.  I have another question if anyone knows......What are the psychological effects or symptoms if any?  depression, mania..........

Do these help?

Psychological effects:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7171912

 

(bold): Do you mean side effects?

Here is a link on side effects:

https://www.drugs.com/sfx/lithium-side-effects.html

 

[Alien Navel Cord]

The last time mine were checked, it was .4 which my pdoc was saying was a low level, but since I was doing fabulous, wouldn't change it. She told me that 1.2 is the highest you could go in a healthy manner, anything over that is something up to you and your pdoc to discuss if it is an acceptable value. oftent imes it is not, she said.

[Rabbit37]

I was wondering, when were your levels checked in regards to your last dose? It is my understanding that blood work should be done 12 hours after last dose, too soon could alter the level (and, too late after as well).

i take 600mg, have steady results of .8. 

[melissaw72]

6 hours ago, Rabbit37 said:

I was wondering, when were your levels checked in regards to your last dose? It is my understanding that blood work should be done 12 hours after last dose, too soon could alter the level (and, too late after as well).

i take 600mg, have steady results of .8. 

You're right ... I was told differently (12 hours before the blood draw, regardless of when you take lithium last), but you are right.  I was told it wrong.

[Geek]

That's a high level. When I was taking 1500mg of Lithium I got a level of 1.6 (she told me that max therapeutic on that draw was 1.4). My pdoc had me titrate back to 900mg (a previously "safe" dose) right away even though it would be less than a week from when the results of the draw came in and when I saw her. So yes, call your pdoc.

At that high dose of lithium I had tremors in my hands which eased at lower doses. 

[mcjimjam]

I would try to get in touch ASAP. It is a very high level. Your pdoc will probably want to reduce your dose to bring it down.Unless you are manic it is usually 0.6-0.8. You should research the effects of lithium toxicity so you recognise it if it happens.

[aura]

Can your GP lower your lithium, in case pdoc can't be contacted?