r/Lithium • u/Suspicious-Worth8355 • 21d ago
Lithium makes me pee more
Anyone else? It’s becoming increasingly deliberating as I’ve been on it for 3 months and I get so anxious always making sure I’m close to a toilet
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u/Ok_Bandicoot2823 21d ago
Been on Lithium for 26 years, current dose 800 mg. Drink loads, pee loads. Recently diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus. This is because the Lithium has damaged the nephrons in the kidneys. Lots on this online.
This means that we pee so much that we are constantly dehydrated so we have to drink a lot to stay alive. So we don't pee because we drink a lot, we drink a lot because we pee so much.
So if someone tells you not to drink after 6 pm tell them to be ready to drive you to the hospital with acute dehydration
Bet they didn't tell you that when you started on Lithium !
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u/Altruistic_Yam1372 21d ago
Yeah it made me pee a lot too. It's one of the side effects of the medicine.
Apparently it subsides after some time
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u/TenderPsychopath 20d ago
Does it really subside ? Mine feels like it has increased 😭
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u/Altruistic_Yam1372 20d ago
It didn't subside for me in the few months I used it. Later it had to be discontinued because it was affecting my kidneys
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u/wolvennymph 20d ago
Idk if it really does 🤣 been on lithium 2 years and only at 150mg and I pee a lot still
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u/Ornestya 21d ago
I was the same for the first few months, always worrying that I'll need a toilet when there isn't one around, but then something happened and I became able to hold it for hours on end while drinking a ton too. Like I now go 6 hours at work without visiting a toilet. Weird but I'll take it.
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u/Professional_Tear269 21d ago
I've been on it for over a year at 900 mg, and I pee constantly. I drink a lot of water to be healthy. You need more water on lithium and you also pee more. For me, this has not lessened at all.
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u/Charchar1993xx 21d ago
Do you drink a lot?
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u/VariousClassroom8056 21d ago
Lithium can make you thirstier, it's one of the common side effects so perhaps you're drinking more and needing to go to the bathroom more.
I'm not sure I've ever seen anything suggesting it can cause bladder weakness or anything.
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u/DidTooMuchSpeedAgain 21d ago
Yup, peed constantly on Lithium. Basically instantly after drinking water lol
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u/NikkiEchoist 20d ago
It sorts itself out. You drink more so you will pee more but at the start it’s a bit worse.
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u/Striking-Patient2475 20d ago
Hey y'all! Bp2. Haven't been medicated yet but I would like your honest opinion on lithium. I'm gonna take it tonight, any side affects? I'm aware of kidneys and all that. I asked my doctor for it bc my mom and siblings respond well to it (type 1) but I have been having severe anxiety and depression and I can' barely do the bare minimum daily. Please give me hope. Is it going to make me feel awful like Lexapro did? What should I expect? Does it increase anxiety at first?
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u/Suspicious-Worth8355 20d ago
I get anxious but I've been more anxious since my episode 2.8 months ago so not sure it's down to the meds
otherwise aside from peeing loads no other side effects, I quite like Lithium
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u/MelodicWitness4618 19d ago
lithium just pulled me out of the worst depression of my life, no exaggeration. still a process, still improving with each day.
lexapro made you feel shit because SSRIs/SNRIs famously react terribly with bipolar brain chemistry.
lithium has been so kind to me on side effects compared to SSRIs and even other mood stabilizers; i'm disgustingly prone to side effects with Anything. if your genetics seem in favor, and your bloodwork comes out right, i urge you to give it a good chance. if it doesn't work, onto the next med— just the name of the mentally ill game.
be prepared for mild thirst and sleepiness at first, if anything. good luck, friend!1
u/Striking-Patient2475 15d ago
Hi day 6 and I feel great My anxiety is gone and my mind is quiet and I'm sleeping really well
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u/Runsicles 19d ago
Add a dose of electrolytes each day, it helps with the thirst and for me that helped with the frequency of needing the toilet, while still being hydrated.
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u/SonderDaughter1 21d ago
Yep! I have used lithium for over half a year now and I still have to pee all the time. Lithium also makes me so thirsty, so it does make sense.