Published 3 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2452
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2452

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Lithium and chronic kidney disease

Mukesh Kripalani, specialist registrar1, James Shawcross, speciality registrar2, Joe Reilly, professor of mental health3, John Main, consultant renal physician2

1 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, St Luke’s Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3AF, 2 South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, 3 Durham University, School for Medicine and Health, Wolfson Research Institute, Stockton on Tees TS17 6BH

Correspondence to: J Reilly j.g.reilly@durham.ac.uk

Lithium use is associated with renal disorder and renal failure; this article offers guidance on monitoring, drug interactions, and when to consider stopping the drug

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Lithium remains a key drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder1 and recurrent depressive disorder, and renal monitoring is essential for safe prescribing. The recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on early identification and management of chronic kidney disease mentions lithium as a nephrotoxin and emphasises active management of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors.2 Lithium prescribers in the United Kingdom already receive estimated glomerular filtration rate results when monitoring renal function in lithium users,3 and the inclusion of lithium monitoring in the primary care quality and outcomes framework has raised awareness about its importance. This article discusses the effects of lithium on the kidney and looks at existing evidence to guide treatment when incidental chronic kidney disease is detected in those in whom lithium is being considered or when long term lithium users develop chronic kidney disease.

Lithium use is associated with a . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • (2009). Lithium and Chronic Kidney Disease. JWatch Psychiatry 2009: 2-2 [Full text]  

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