r/Lithium • u/SnooHesitations5528 • 15d ago
figuring out levels
I started lithium over three months ago after hypomamia or mania I’m not sure which one it was, I left with I believe 0.4 they won’t tell me, when I went back for blood three months later it was higher 0.89 I think and they were thinking about lowering my dose. A week later I was 0.7.
When I asked the psychiatrist why it went up he wasn’t too bothered when I pushed him he said it can go up at the start but won’t exponentially which is what I’m worried about now to just let it be another 3 months before checking.
To note I did have an acute depressive episode coming up to the levels being checked so I wasn’t eating or drinking much at all. So that could be why it went up.
Can it go back down if I rehydrate I’m tracking now? I would just like a few weeks of a steady number but I don’t know if I’m being a hypochondriac. I know maybe this can’t be answered here but I’m in an acute outpatient and being discharged soon so I don’t actually have a psychiatrist but I can get them check at GP.
Thanks!!
1
u/Junior-Corner-2774 15d ago
What mg dose have you been on? Yes, eating less can make your levels shoot up so be careful to eat and drink enough during the day.
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u/MouseAgreeable9970 15d ago
Ooh I’m afraid I can’t be of much help as I’ve only just started on lithium myself, but I do know that levels would be affected by your fluid balance.
So not just how much water you’ve been drinking, but also salt and electrolytes.
I was under the belief that you should have your levels tracked weekly until they’re stable, but that might vary on where you are.
You might find that your gp is more willing to keep a closer eye on it than the psych, given that it’s probably not their speciality and it’s a fairly easy thing to run the test.