lithium + antipsychotic meds plus vegetarian diet cause tremors and similar nervous system symptoms?

Question

I am a bipolar male in my 40s taking lithium and seroquel (or zyprexa). When I eat a vegetarian diet for more than a few days I get rapidly escalating symptoms of med side effects. I imagine this is a fat ratio problem, but I don't know. Any clues on where to look would be helpful.

Answer 1

First of all, relate this to your doctor, sooner rather than later. Lithium side effects are nothing to mess around with.

As for the cause: it is probably a decreased intake of sodium (salt) with the vegetarian diet. Sodium and lithium are both filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. The body likes to hold onto its electrolytes, so both are reabsorbed into the blood soon after they are filtered. However, they complete for the same transporter. If you drop your sodium intake and have less in your blood, less is going to be filtered out by the kidney and less is going to be present to compete with lithium for the reabsorption transporters. So the end result is going to be more lithium reabsorption and higher levels of lithium in the blood. This can lead to toxicity.

All this said, the solution to this is talking to your doctor, not taking my word for it and having a salty snack and forgetting about it. This is for future reference - you need to contact your doctor to take care of the current situation.

Answer 2

i don;t know about the fat ratio thing.my son is on 6meds and one is benstophene and if he doesn't take lamictal with it he has tremors and some jerks..I'm trying to get him changed to something more safer..at least he's not hearing voices anymore.since he got back from Iraq. his mind and soul were shattereds itf the meds help then that's what it takes,,,,,good=luck call your doctor and ask about your side affects or call the drug store[walgreens are good at getting answers] and find out about meds too,,

Answer 3

Ask a doctor, not a clown.