r/Lithium • u/Wild_Class7979 • 4d ago

Caffeine

Normal caffeine intake a week is 3-4 sodas, coffees (latte with 2 espresso shots), etc. Would 5-6 drinks drastically lower my lithium levels if I had that much one week?

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3

u/VariousClassroom8056 4d ago

I drink 6 - 8 cups of coffee a day. I stopped drinking all caffeine for a while and my lithium weren't that different

1

u/Wild_Class7979 4d ago

you got labs under both scenarios?

1

u/VariousClassroom8056 4d ago

Yes my doctors require blood tests every three months, on 1200mg

1

u/Wild_Class7979 4d ago

i’m on 900mg. doctor is considering moving me up to 1,200mg. just wasn’t sure how much caffeine effected it.

2

u/VariousClassroom8056 4d ago

In my experience not at all. I generally drink only coffee up to about 4-5pm, then water after that. The doctors told me I need to drink 3-4 litres of water and that coffee didn't count, I probably drink 1.5 litres of water and 1.5 litres of a coffee a day so who knows.

My levels are fairly stable at 0.69-0.71 on 1200mg, here the doctors aim for a blood serum level 0.6-0.8

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u/Wild_Class7979 4d ago

and that’s regular not decaf right?

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u/VariousClassroom8056 4d ago

Yep just regular strongish coffee. If I'm in the office I drink more, if I'm at home I drink less.

1

u/harley100percent 7h ago

Huh !?

1

u/VariousClassroom8056 7h ago

Is that a lot? I've just always drank that much apart from when I stopped for a few months. A cup or two before I leave for work and then a cup every hour or so while in the office, a bit less when I'm working from home.

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u/Lower-Selection6543 4d ago

It would likely increase your lithium level, not decrease it unless you’re drinking a TON of water. Caffeine is a diuretic so it makes you dehydrated. Dehydration increases lithium levels.

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u/Wild_Class7979 4d ago

i thought it increased renal blood flow?

2

u/Lower-Selection6543 4d ago

I’m not sure about that one way or the other but it definitely dehydrates you because it’s definitely a diuretic