Drinking alcohol while on lithium can be dangerous to both your health and mental state because it can increase symptoms and lead to lithium toxicity.
Lithium carbonate and lithium citrate are forms of psychiatric medication most commonly used as mood stabilizers. For many individuals who take this drug, the question of whether it’s safe to combine lithium and alcohol is an important one that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Article at a Glance:
- Drinking alcohol while taking lithium usually isn’t advised because it can make the side effects of the medicine and the symptoms of bipolar disorder more pronounced.
- Drinking alcohol while on lithium can cause lithium toxicity due to dehydration from alcohol intake.
- In general, combining lithium and alcohol may not be advised, and you should always speak to your doctor about potential risks and side effects.
Lithium is a common drug prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, mental health problems like bipolar disorder are also closely linked to drinking and alcohol abuse. If you have been prescribed lithium and are interested in drinking, there are several factors to take into account before you have alcohol.
Mixing Lithium and Alcohol
Because lithium and alcohol both affect the central nervous system, understanding the potential effects of drinking alcohol and taking lithium is important. Mixing these two substances has its own side effects, impacts your mental health and dehydrates the body. It is important to take all of these factors into account before drinking.
What Is Lithium?
Lithium is a drug that is FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder, a mental health problem characterized by severe mood swings. Some characteristics of lithium include:
| Brand name | Lithobid |
|---|---|
| Conditions it can treat | Bipolar disorder |
| Drug type | Antimanic agent |
| Controlled substance status | Lithium is not a controlled substance. |
| Side Effects | Underactive thyroid, heart conduction problems, rash, swelling, confusion, fatigue |
| How long it takes to have its peak effect | Within 6 hours |
| Duration of effect | 8 to 12 hours |
Lithium and Alcohol Side Effects
Because alcohol and lithium both affect the central nervous system, taking them together can increase side effects. Some of the side effects that can be amplified by combining alcohol and lithium include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Trouble concentrating
- Cognitive problems
- Trouble with judgment
- Coordination problems
What Are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol on Lithium?
The risks of drinking on lithium involve your health and your mental status. Besides the potential for worsened side effects when you combine lithium and alcohol, drinking may also exacerbate your bipolar disorder and can lead to dehydration. Dehydration, in turn, can cause your lithium levels to increase dangerously.
Alcohol, Lithium and Dehydration
An important consideration to keep in mind about alcohol and lithium is that drinking alcohol can be dehydrating. This can cause the amount of lithium in your blood to rise, which can become toxic.
Even when you’re not planning to combine alcohol and lithium, you should stay hydrated throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Further, people on lithium are advised to maintain a balanced diet, which can be interrupted by heavy drinking.
Alcohol and Bipolar Disorder
When you suffer from bipolar depression, alcohol can make your symptoms worse, regardless of whether or not you’re on lithium. Alcohol is a depressant, so it may not be advisable for someone with bipolar disorder to drink, particularly not excessively.
Continue reading at Alcoholism and Bipolar Disorder.
Taking Lithium After Alcohol
You should always take your lithium exactly as prescribed and when the dose is scheduled to be taken. Because lithium can last for hours in your body and is intended to be dosed around the clock to stabilize your mood, it is unclear what the safest time to take lithium after drinking is.
Drinking After Taking Lithium
Because lithium is dosed multiple times a day to keep a stable level of the drug in your body and control your mood, it is unclear if there is a safe window for drinking after you have taken a dose of lithium.
Can You Overdose on Alcohol & Lithium?
Becoming dehydrated from vomiting or urinating after drinking can cause the lithium levels in your blood to increase to toxic levels. Your doctor likely keeps a close eye on your lithium levels for this reason. It is important to remain well-hydrated while on lithium and to replace any fluids you lose from vomiting or excessive urination after drinking.
Signs of Lithium Toxicity
Symptoms of lithium toxicity include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Tremor
- Gait problems
- Drowsiness
- Muscle weakness
Drug overdose can be fatal. If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. Do NOT be afraid to seek help. If you do not have access to a phone contact Web Poison Control Services for online assistance.
If you take lithium regularly and you’re struggling with your alcohol use, you may want help for alcohol addiction. Addiction experts at The Recovery Village can help you stop using alcohol while simultaneously treating co-occurring mental health issues like bipolar disorder. Contact us today to discuss individualized treatment options that can work well for your situation.
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Drugs.com. “Drug Interaction Report: Lithium and Ethanol.” Accessed June 1, 2021.
Drugs.com. “Lithium.” July 15, 2020. Accessed June 1, 2021.
Sonne, Susan C.; Brady, Kathleen T. “Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism.” Alcohol Research & Health, 2002. Accessed June 1, 2021.
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