Food and medicine interaction
Salt, fluids and caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) and lithium (Lithobid) for bipolar disorder
EstablishedEvidence level: established. Shown in drug labeling or in controlled studies in people.
Last reviewed
What can happen
Changes in salt, fluid or caffeine intake can move lithium blood levels up or down. In two reported cases, lithium tremor got worse after the person stopped drinking coffee, linked to a rise in lithium levels.
- Why it happens
- The kidneys clear lithium, and changes in salt, fluid and caffeine intake change how fast they clear it.
- At ordinary food amounts
- Everyday amounts matter: MedlinePlus asks about ordinary salt, fluids and caffeinated drinks, not supplements. Keeping your intake steady and telling your prescriber before big changes is the safer pattern.
What to do
MedlinePlus says to follow a proper diet with the right amounts of fluid and salt, and to talk to your doctor about caffeine. Make big changes, such as quitting coffee or starting a low-salt diet, only after talking to your prescriber, who may check your lithium level.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber.
Common questions
Can I have salt, fluids and caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) while taking mood stabilizers?
MedlinePlus says to follow a proper diet with the right amounts of fluid and salt, and to talk to your doctor about caffeine. Make big changes, such as quitting coffee or starting a low-salt diet, only after talking to your prescriber, who may check your lithium level. Everyday amounts matter: MedlinePlus asks about ordinary salt, fluids and caffeinated drinks, not supplements. Keeping your intake steady and telling your prescriber before big changes is the safer pattern.
Sources
Related
- RemedyCoffee: the full evidence pageThe most widely used stimulant in the US. Caffeine's short-term effect on alertness is well tested; the long-term health links come from observational studies.
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