Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 5/25/2005

Question
Doctor;
My mom has been on lithium for several years, she is now 65 and her blood work for her kidneys has me concerned, she has been running 1.6 on creatinne and her urea level is 7.

She has had problems in the past changing drugs, a few years ago she was on 1000mg of depakote and she could barely walk!!

So i guess her psychiatrist is keeping an eye on the levels and keeping her on the lithium since she has had problems in the past, and the lithium stablizes her.

Can you tell me, if she would have to go off the lithium what would be a good choice to try?  She also takes Navane.

And do you think those blood levels warrant any major concern or just continued monitoring?

Answer
Hi . . .

I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I was out of town at a psychiatric meeting.

I think he important thing is for a nephrologist to review the creatinine tests from the past few years and make a determination regarding the necessity of stopping lithium. Many nephrologists are willing to see the creatinine go higher if the rate of elevation is slow.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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